The Woman in White (1997 TV series)
| The Woman in White | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Costume drama |
| Based on | The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins |
| Written by | David Pirie |
| Directed by | Tim Fywell |
| Starring |
Tara Fitzgerald Justine Waddell Andrew Lincoln Susan Vidler James Wilby Simon Callow John Standing Ian Richardson Corin Redgrave |
| Theme music composer | David Ferguson |
| Country of origin | United States United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 2 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
David M. Thompson Ted Childs Jonathan Powell Rebecca Eaton |
| Producer(s) | Gareth Neame |
| Cinematography | Richard Greatrex |
| Editor(s) | Robin Sales |
| Running time | 125 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Carlton Television in association with WGBH Boston for BBC |
| Distributor | ITV Studios |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One |
| Picture format | 14:9 |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | 28 December – 29 December 1997 |
The Woman in White (1997) is a BBC television adaptation very loosely based on the 1859 novel of the same name by Wilkie Collins. Unlike the epistolary style of the novel, the 2-hour dramatisation uses Marian as the main character. She bookends the film with her narration.
Marian Fairlie (Tara Fitzgerald) and Laura Fairlie (Justine Waddell) are half-sisters (same father but different mothers). Laura's mother died, leaving Laura an inheritance which she will receive when she comes of age. They both live in Limmeridge with their uncle, Mr. Fairlie (Ian Richardson), who hires a new tutor, Walter Hartright (Andrew Lincoln). Marian tells Hartright that she and Laura are very close, agree in everything and refuse to be taught separately.
On the night Mr. Hartright arrives at Limmeridge, he bumps into a woman in white. She speaks cryptically, and inquires if he is to stay with the Fairlies. When a carriage arrives, she runs off. Mr. Gilmore, the Fairlies' attorney, tells him that the woman must have been a villager. When Hartright meets the two sisters, he mistakes Laura for the woman in white because of the strong resemblance.
As Mr. Hartright teaches the sisters, he grows especially fond of Laura. However, Marian makes it clear to him that her sister is already engaged to Sir Percival Glyde. Though she senses that something is not quite right, she cannot find fault in Sir Percival, who is kind, attentive, and rich. Laura and Mr. Hartright acknowledge their feelings for each other, but they cannot be together. Marian asks Hartright's help in tracking down the woman in white. Hartright agrees to stay outside at night to lure the woman in white. One night, Marian sees a servant girl rush out from the woods, screaming for help. Right behind her is Mr. Hartright, whom she accuses of trying to rape her. (The servant has been paid off by Glyde to frame Hartright.) Hartright is immediately disgraced and sent away, but not before he warns Laura that she is in great danger. Laura ignores him and marries Glyde.
When Laura returns from her honeymoon, Marian visits her and plans to stay for a while. However, Laura is not herself and refuses to speak to or even see Marian for four days. After threatening to leave, Laura asks her sister to stay and soon reveals the terrible truth. Despite seeming to be kind, Sir Percival abuses his wife in private. She ultimately reveals that she is afraid her husband will kill her to steal her inheritance. Marian believes her and tells Laura to lock Sir Percival out of her room at night.
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