Victorians! discussion

I am very interested in books on film, so I am taking the liberty of starting a thread for discussion of the various film versions.

I am near the end of the 2018 version starring Jessie Buckley as Marian Halcombe, Ben Hardy as Walter Hartright, and Olivia Vinall in dual roles as Laura Fairlie and Anne Catherick.

My co-viewer, who has not read the novel, finds the version completely engaging and coherent. I am very interested in the changes the filmmakers made. Are they effective? Necessary? The major change for me is the created character of Erasmus Nash. He is a detective hired by Marian and Walter to pursue the truth of the matter. This results in cooling down the melodrama, much of which comes from Walter's narration. Perhaps a good idea for modern audiences--even in our discussions readers are struggling with the use and repetition of coincidences.

There are other changes (check outhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2018/0...), but overall most of the major events are included. I am liking it very much so far.

If you have access, you may be interested in this podcast produced by Apple which describes a journey made by Olivia Vinall to Cumbria visiting the locations described in The Woman in White and in ‘The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices’ by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...

I have visited that area, including Allonby, Maryport and the site of Limmeridge House.

I did enjoy the TV production despite the changes, because the main elements of the plot remained and the essence of the author’s work was promoted by both the script and way most of the characters were depicted.

There is quite a good version with Jessie Buckley who is excellent as Marian. I ship Marian and Walter, Laura is much too boring.

I have not watched any versions of this story but will definitely check them out now that we have reached the end of the book. Since the Buckley version is receiving these accolades, it sounds like that would be a good place to start!

Thank you for the rec! I'm definitely curious what others have to say on the different adaptations. I read The Woman in White last fall and have been meaning to watch an adaptation of the book, but didn't yet. Part of the reason definitely is that I was a bit disappointed with the book. I just couldn't care much for the MCs Laura and Walter especially and Marian deserved a better story than she got. I think I might be sold on the story though with a good adaptation.

There is another film adaptation of The Woman in White, starring Tara Fitzgerald as Marian and Justine Waddell as Laura. It was shown on TV as a two part mini series released in 1996.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137279/

I haven’t watched it but will look around to see if and where it is available now.

Just found it on You Tube ( with added sub titles) here….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIr9a...

I have also found a 1982 five part adaptation. Here are the details……

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133324/...

This adaptation is available free (with adverts) on Plex - here…..

https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/show/the-...

I’m ready to take on some of the film versions. Heading to IMDb to see what I can locate at my local library. Thanks for the critiques!