The Pillars of the Earth (TV miniseries)
| The Pillars of the Earth | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Genre | Historical drama |
| Based on |
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett |
| Screenplay by | John Pielmeier |
| Story by | Ken Follett |
| Directed by | Sergio Mimica-Gezzan |
| Starring | |
| Theme music composer | Trevor Morris |
| Country of origin | |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 8 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) |
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| Running time |
(Episodes) 60 minutes (Full running time) 428 minutes |
| Production company(s) | |
| Budget | $40 million |
| Release | |
| Original network | |
| Original release | July 23 – August 27, 2010 |
| Chronology | |
| Followed by | World Without End |
| External links | |
| Website | |
(Episodes) 60 minutes
The Pillars of the Earth is an eight-part 2010 TV miniseries, adapted from Ken Follett's novel of the same name. It debuted in the U.S. on Starz and in Canada on The Movie Network/Movie Central on July 23, 2010. Its UK premiere was on Channel 4 in October 2010 at 9pm. In 2011, the series was nominated for 3 Golden Globes, including Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, Ian McShane for Best Actor and Hayley Atwell for Best Actress at the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Like the novel on which it is based, the miniseries centres on the construction of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge during a tumultuous period of English history known as The Anarchy in the 12th century.
A number of character changes were made for the series. For example, Waleran is older and Remigius is younger in the series than the novel. Similarly the actors playing Alfred, Jack, Richard, and Aliena are initially older than those portrayed in the novel. Also, the characters of Henry of Blois, Andrew Sacrist, Milius the kitchener, or Thomas Becket are not introduced in the series. The incestuous fixation of Regan to her son William in episode 2 is not introduced in the novel. Further, the thief character who attacks Martha and steals their pig is merged to become the monk Johnny Eightpence.
Character events were also modified on occasion. Shareburg, Ellen's lover and the father of Jack, is not hanged but burnt at the stake, and does not sing the minstrel song seen in the novel. In the TV series, Ellen is not pregnant at that time (but holds a baby) and does not use a cockerel during her curse. The romantic tryst between Ellen and Tom in the woods after the death of Agnes as per the novel does not occur, rather they become closer after Ellen states that Jack needs a master builder to apprentice to. Similarly, Alfred is not seen physically bullying Martha or Jack in the series either. The execution scene of Bartholomew (and Aliena's appeal to Stephen for mercy, and Stephen's offer of a knighthood to Richard) in episode 3 do not occur in the novel, where he simply languishes and dies alone in prison. Also, Jack does not duel Walter for the rights to the quarry as shown in episode 3, nor have his hand broken. In the novel Percy Hamleigh dies of unknown causes, whereas in episode 4 he is bled to death by his ambitious wife Regan,and the poisoning of Jack in episode 6 was added by the series.
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