MASTERPIECE THEATRE: CLARISSA {EPISODE 1} (TV)
Summary
One in this ongoing series of dramas presented under the umbrella of "Masterpiece Theatre," hosted by Alistair Cooke. This program is part one of three in a three-part adaptation of Samuel Richardson's seven-volume work, "Clarissa," about the decisions a young woman makes when her family forces her to marry against her will. The story begins as the Harlowe family gathers around for a reading of the deceased patriarch's will. To everyone's surprise, the elder Harlowe leaves the bulk of his estate to his granddaughter Clarissa. However, Clarissa makes it clear that she does not want her life to change. She asks her father to control the estate, and expresses that she has no interest in marriage, even though her new wealth makes her highly eligible. She is content with the secluded life of a dutiful daughter -- until she meets her sister Bella's suitor, Lovelace, the notorious rake. Clarissa becomes infatuated with Lovelace, and he becomes determined to seduce Clarissa and ruin her purity, as he has done with many other women. Because Clarissa is the heiress in the family, and because she has stolen Bella's suitor, Bella and their brother James begin a plot to put Clarissa back in her place. Soon after, the Harlowes arrange that Clarissa should marry a well-bred, but repulsive suitor named Solmes. A huge battle of wills ensues, as Clarissa refuses to marry, and her family insists that she drop Lovelace and accept Solmes. Clarissa finds herself trapped. She will not marry Solmes, but she is scared of Lovelace because of his horrible reputation. Part one ends as she tries to free herself in the only way she knows how. Continues with T:29938.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 1998.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: April 5, 1992 Sunday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:54:34
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:29937
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Michael Wearing … Executive Producer
- Kevin Loader … Producer
- Robert Bierman … Director
- Samuel Richardson … Based on the novel by
- David Nokes … Writer
- Janet Barron … Writer
- Colin Towns … Music by
- Sean Bean … Cast, Lovelace
- Saskia Wickham … Cast, Clarissa
- Jonathan Phillips … Cast, James
- Lynsey Baxter … Cast, Bella
- Jeffry Wickham … Cast, Mr. Harlowe
- Frances Viner … Cast, Mrs. Harlowe
- Ralph Riach … Cast, Uncle Anthony
- Hermione Norris … Cast, Anna Howe
- Sean Pertwee … Cast, Jack Belford
- Lorna Heilbron … Cast, Mrs. Howe
- Julian Firth … Cast, Solmes
- Jon Sotherton … Cast, Hickman
- Malcolm Terris … Cast, the Lawyer
- Allison Hancock … Cast, Betty
- Matthew Wait … Cast, Joe Leman
- Sophie Heyman … Cast, Hannah
- Jessie Walker Stewart … Cast, the Barmaid