Poll Results: Who Do You Watch Period Dramas With?

My poll recently closed so here are the results. Based on 27 votes. Voters were allowed to choose multiple answers.

Who Do You Watch Period Dramas With?

My Whole Family - 13 (48%)

My Friends - 5 (18%)

My Parents - 14 (51%)

My Siblings - 19 (70%)

Just By Myself - 15 (55%)

With 19 votes most readers of Old-Fashioned Charm answered that they watch Period Dramas with their siblings. A lot of readers watch Period Dramas by themselves, closely followed by parents and their whole family. Only 5 votes for watching Period Dramas with friends.

It seems that many of my readers are perhaps like me. Most of my real life friends aren't as interested in watching Period Dramas as I am. I've gotten a few of my friends interested, especially in Jane Austen adaptations, but most don't have the patience to sit through a miniseries or they have a hard time following the plot. I confess I was a bit like that when I started because I was young, but I just can't get enough of Period Dramas now! I started out watching Jane Austen and Charles Dickens adaptations with my whole family. Now I actually watch most Period Dramas by myself, but my parents and siblings still enjoy watching with me from time to time.


What do you think of the results? 
What are your experiences with watching Period Dramas?

Nicholas Nickleby (2002)

I've been in a Dickens mood lately, first with Great Expectations, then two different versions of Nicholas Nickleby and also I've been re-watching a David Copperfield which I hope to review soon.
I had only seen Nicholas Nickleby (2002) once when it first came out on VHS back in 2003 or 2004 so I was excited to watch it again. The only things I remembered about it was that it was rather short, the school Nicholas went to was horrible, and that Anne Hathaway is at the end of this film using a less than convincing British accent.

Plot: When Mr. Nickleby dies penniless his widow and two teenage children are left at the mercy of his rich but stingy brother Ralph Nickleby. Young Nicholas Nickleby is sent as a teacher to a boys school in Yorkshire where conditions are less than pleasant, and he endeavorers to make life tolerable for his students. When he quarrels with the schoolmaster he travels across the country in search of work with his crippled friend Smike in tow. Meanwhile his sweet sister Kate is set up in as a dressmaker's shop assistant and her uncle introduces her to rich young men in the hopes she'll make a good match. Nicholas meets a wide variety of characters as his story progresses and discovers the mystery behind Smike's parentage.  

Settings, Costumes & Soundtrack: Settings were dark and bleak but not as dirty and grungy as in the 2001 BBC adaptation. Almost everything was true to the Victorian era time period. Some outdoor scenes are stunning. With costumes the overall color scheme is black because many of the characters are in mourning throughout the film. There are some lovely bonnets and hairstyles, top hats and vests. The soundtrack is simply lovely! The music style may be familiar because it was composed by the delightful Rachel Portman who also composed the soundtrack for films like Emma (1996).

Actors You Might Recognize: Many, it was lovely to see so many familiar faces popping up at every turn! Here are just a few:

• Ramola Garai as Kate Nickleby - Emma 2009, Daniel Deronda, Amazing Grace, As You Like It
• Christopher Plummer as Ralph Nickleby - seasoned actor, my readers might remember him from Sound of Music among other things
• Anne Hathaway as Madeline Bray - American actress also stars in Becoming Jane,  The Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted
• Jim Broadbent as Mr. Squeers - The Young Victoria, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Young Visiters, Silas Marner
• Juliet Stevenson as Mrs. Squeers - Emma 1996 as Mrs. Elton, Marple: Ordeal By Innocence
• Sophie Thompson as Miss Lacreevy - Persuasion 1995, Emma 1996, The Young Visiters, many others
• Edward Fox as Sir Mulberry Hawk - Daniel Deronda, The Importance of Being Earnest, Oliver Twist 2007, and many others
• Timothy Spall as Charles Cheeryble - The King's Speech, From Time to Time, Oliver Twist 2007, Our Mutual Friend, and a ton of other period films
• Alan Cumming as Mr. Folair - most notably as Mr. Elton in Emma 1996, also host of Masterpiece Mystery on PBS

My Thoughts: This isn't my favorite Charles Dickens' adaptation because it is shorter and moves very quickly. I don't hate it either. I really enjoy the character of Nicholas Nickleby, he's so human and yet of a great noble character that hates injustice and always does what is honorable despite his youth and inexperience. I'm not a huge fan of actor Charlie Hunnman's portrayal of him in this film, his mannerisms are quite true to the period and his acting style is a bit too modern and affected. Others characters and settings are fine. The story holds the viewer's interest, we want to know what is going to happen to Nicholas and his family. It ends happily, even though sadness must come first.

My Recommendations: There is some innuendo and a few scary scenes so this film isn't for young children. If you've read and love the book this probably isn't the adaptation for you. But if you are interested in the story and don't want to sit through the longer adaptation or just want a quick fix of Dickens this film is for you.

Have you ever seen this adaptation? Did you enjoy it?
If you've read the book how does this adaptation compare?
Do you have a favorite character from Nicholas Nickleby?


Film Clip: Mr. & Mrs. Squeers

Humble Mrs. Squeers




Nicholas Nickleby

— MOVIECLIPS.com

An Everyday Curtsey

"I curtsey many times each day in this job. At first I found [it] very strange and even awkward, but now it comes as second nature and is even fun actually!" - Miss Claire

Last January I wrote a post on the Decadence Of The Curtsey, in which I mentioned how much I wish the curtsy was still used commonly in our modern society.
At the time I had several encouraging comments from readers who share my desire to bring back this charming custom.

Just recently I received an e-mail from dear Miss Claire who wanted to tell me that she curtsies every day in her work as a ladies maid! I was immediately intrigued and had a million questions which Miss Claire very kindly answered.

She has also kindly given me permission to share her story with all of my readers "especially if it may give others the courage to do likewise".

Miss Claire was just an Irish lass working as a chambermaid at a prestigious inn when a titled Lady guest asked her to zip up the back of her dress for her. The two got talking and the Lady mentioned her intention to hire a live-in maid for her London apartment. Miss Claire was able to apply for the job on the spot.

She remembers from their conversation:  "I don't know why but I asked as she is titled would I be required to curtsey? She said she would be afraid to ask especially as it is only royalty who require it nowadays, but would adore having a maid that would curtsey and show her such respect! I immediately caught my dress and bobbed her a curtsey and said if she employed me I would be proud to curtsey for her. I guess the sight of me in my dress and apron uniform curtseying was just right as now I am her live-in maid!"




Miss Claire moved from Ireland to her employer's London apartment and has been working as a maid there since August. She is responsible for all of the housekeeping, a bit of the cooking, and sometimes serves as a personal maid helping with laying out clothes or drawing a bath. Like maids in the Victorian era she has a day and a half off each week with plenty of time to attend church on Sundays.



While on duty she always wears a uniform - navy or gray dress with white cuffs for mornings and a more formal black dress with 3/4 sleeves and lace cuffs for evenings.
"I am always neat with a clean apron, my apron lightly starched and [my employer] especially likes the bow to be perfect behind my back! This in fact took a lot of practice to perfect."

When and how many times a day is Miss Claire required to curtsy? 

"Every-time I enter her presence or leave a room she is in, I am required to curtsey to acknowledge her status and when asked to do something I will also curtsey before leaving. For instance if she asks me to prepare her bath, I will say 'Certainly My Lady' and curtsey and then suppose immediately she says lay out her clothes etc for her, I will again re-curtsey! In fact I really love waiting on her Ladyship as personal maid the best."

She also admits "I know it sounds so old fashioned, but I truly love it. I address her as 'My Lady' and always curtsey if she enters a room I am working in or every time I answer 'Yes My Lady' or always before I leave her presence. I know she loves me doing so and that is why I am here in the first place. In fact I was even shown how she would like me to curtsey!"





So what is the proper way for a maid to curtsy to her employer?
"I was taught the correct way to curtsey on my arrival in London and when and where. I am left handed, so I place my left foot behind my right foot, catch my dress with my finger-tips and widen my dress slightly and bend my knees and lower my body about 2 or 3 inches etc, hold there a second and rise again. ...I do not bow my head, but do not make eye contact either."

1950's Debutantes learn to curtsy

I didn't know this before but there are different types of curtsies to be used for different people. For instance if you were curtsying to royalty (such as the Queen of England) your curtsy would we low with head bowed. If you were curtsying before an English country dance began it would be a grander more exaggerated curtsy than if you were just bobbing to friend or acquaintance. I also hadn't thought of this before but other countries, particularly African countries still use curtsies on a regular basis!

Miss Claire passed on this bit of information about curtsying she has learned: "In Monaco I am told it is still very common as its seen as a symbol of status and personal wealth when the house owner is entertaining. Then in countries like Zimbabwe its the tradition that women, especially from the Shona tribe always curtsey when greeting one another, how beautiful I think! However its in a different style, they join their 2 hands together and then bend their knees, unlike the British style I practice. Its amazing once you are seen to curtsey, the information you find out from guests and other's comments."

I have to admit that the idea of a Lady in this modern age having a live-in maid does seem a bit odd, but to me it sounds so charming! How lovely to be able to curtsy each day! And having the privilege of caring for another person in this way is awesome. 

I've really enjoyed reading Miss Claire's letters, asking her questions and hearing her thoughts on being a maid.

"I really really love my job and its so much nicer than all the modern fast pace jobs my friends and peers have I think anyway.  ...I just adore dropping a graceful curtsey for my employer, Its just like I was a maid in a former life or something, it just seems so natural for me to do so. Yes my job is really interesting and so old world...We both love our new lives inside these four walls and are really good friends even though [we are] from totally different backgrounds. A Lady and her maid relationship is special when both understand their place. I just thought you might like to know somewhere in the world, a real upstairs downstairs still exists in this horrible modern world." - Miss Claire

A big thank you to dear Miss Claire for allowing me to share her special story with my readers! I pray that the Lord continues to bless you in your work! You have encouraged me to keep treasuring the job of caring for others and have inspired me to practice my curtsy. Maybe I'll even find ways of using it in my everyday life! How I love old-fashioned things like this!



Very Truly Your's


P.S. For those who may be wondering in this post I have used the American spelling of "curtsy" as my spell checker has told me is correct. But the "curtsey" spelling is also correct and used frequently in other English speaking countries. Also all of the photos in this post are ones I found online and edited the faces out myself.

Great Expectations (1999)

Staring Ioan Gruffudd & Justine Waddell

I recently re-watched Great Expectations (1999) and realized I'd never done a review about it. When I first watched this film adaptation I had a hard time getting into the story and didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. But this time, probably because I've seen the longer 1971 BBC adaptation, I understood the story and was able to enjoy the film more. I still haven't read the book but hope to read it one day. 

Abel Wagwitch (Bernard Hill) & Young Pip 

Storyline: When the story begins Pip is a young orphan living with his strict bitter sister and her kindly blacksmith husband Joe. One day when he's visiting his parent's graves he meets up with an escaped convict, Abel Magwitch, who scares Pip into bringing him provisions. Abel is later caught by the police but Pip never betrays him. Pip's prospects begin to look up when he is engaged by the mysterious Miss Haversham to play with her ward the beautiful but haughty Estella. Pip grows up being trained as Joe's blacksmith apprentice but dreams of becoming an educated gentleman. His dreams come true when a mysterious benefactor provides for him to live in style putting him in league to court the lovely Estella. Who is Pip's mysterious benefactor? Why does Estella seem to like him one moment and detest him the next? Will he ever find out the secret of her parentage? 

Actress Charlotte Rampling as Miss Havisham

Settings:  Dark, dreary and very Dickenesque! Miss Havisham's rambling house is particularly well done - all overgrown weeds, cobwebs, and shadows. Outdoor scenes are are bleak and well done. Sets are filled with amazing period furniture, fabrics and props. Miss Havisham's wedding hall is particularly hasty, filled with mice, roaches and maggots that are a little creepy but to great effect.

Lovely Justine Waddell as Estella

Costumes:All costumes are in perfect keeping with the late Victorian time period. Great distinction is made between the poorer characters and the rich characters. Miss Havisham is stuck in the styles of her youth. Grown up Pip's high top hats, pattern vests and charming cravats are very well suited. Estella's gowns and bonnets are perfectly exquisite! And her hair is done is several very pretty Victorian styles which I've tried to duplicate. I only wish I could find more photos of her lovely gowns!

Actor Clive Russell as Joe Gargery

Actors You Might Recognize:

• Ioan Gruffudd as Pip - I've enjoyed post of this Welsh actor's performances and he did a wonderful job as the youthful and sometimes unwise Pip. His other period dramas include: Amazing Grace, Horatio Hornblower films, King Arthur, The Forsyte Saga. He's also great in the modern day films 102 Dalmatians and Fantastic Four. 
• Justine Waddell as Estella - In the late 1990's sweet Justine Waddell starred as the heroine of many period dramas. Her portrayal of haughty flirtatious Estella is very different from her other roles but she does an amazing job in the role! Her other period dramas include: Wives & Daughters (my favorite!), The Woman In White, Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1998), Mansfield Park (1999), The Moth and Anna Karenina (1997, which I haven't seen).  
• Bernard Hill as Abel Magwitch - I knew I recognized this actor's face but was surprised when I discovered that his well-known role is Theoden in the Lord of the Rings films. He was very good in the role of the multifaceted criminal. His other period dramas include: First Knight, The Mill on the Floss (1997), Titanic (which I've never felt the desire to see), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and a few others which I hesitate to mention lest you think I'm recommending them.  
• Ian McDiarmid as Mr. Jaggers - I've seen Mr. McDiarmid in several things but his is most recognizably from the Star Wars films as the evil Emperor Palpatine. He's very good at playing the "evil" characters and acts Mr. Jaggers perfectly! His other period films include: Rebecca (1997), Sleepy Hollow, and a few others.  His Star Wars films include: Return of the Jedi, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. 
• Clive Russell as Joe Gargery - Joe is probably my favorite character from this story, he's just the nicest, humblest man! Clive Russell does a good job portraying the character but my favorite is still from the 1981 adaptation. His other period films include: Middlemarch, Oliver Twist (1999), The Railway Children (2000), The Mayor of Casterbridge (2003), Ladies in Lavender, King Arthur and Sherlock Holmes (2009).
• Daniel Evans as Herbert Pocket - Not a recognizable name but if you've seen Daniel Deronda then you'll recognize him as Mordecai and won't want to miss his role as Pip's friend in this film.  
• Lesley Sharp as Mrs. Joe - Pip's bitter sister looked familiar to me and after looking her up I realized I had just recently seen her as Mrs. Bell in Return to Cranford. She's had small roles in other period dramas including: The Moonstone, Poirot: The Clocks, Inkheart and The Diary of Anne Frank (2009).
• David Horovitch as Matthew Pocket - Definitely not a well-known actor but I recognized him because I'd recently seen him as Isaac the Jew in Ivanhoe (1997). Other period films he's had small roles in: The Young Victoria, Poirot: The Kidnapped Prime Minister, and as Inspector Slack in five of the older Miss Marple films.

Handsome Ioan Gruffudd as Mr. Pip

My Thoughts: Great Expectations isn't my favorite Charles Dickens story. The plot and mystery isn't as evident or as moving as in his other novels. I also don't find the characters as sympathetic as in other novels. But it is still an interesting story because it is Dickens. Even though Pip spends most of the story chasing foolish dreams and making unwise choices he is good at heart and learns through his story. In this way he reminds me a bit of a masculine counterpart of Jane Austen's Emma Woodhouse. And even though Estella can be cruel you can't help but be concerned for her because Pip is. There are some sweet characters (like Joe and Biddy) and some comical characters (like Herbert Pocket and Mr. Wemmick with his "aged parent") that give the story more interest and charm.  

Pip (Ioan Gruffudd) & Estella (Justine Waddell) 

My Recommendation: Dickens themes are always interesting but sometimes adaptations can be quite dark at times so this isn't suitable for young children. There are a few thematic scenes: young Pip is treated roughly by his sister, there are two criminal chase scenes, a few sad scenes in a prison and one scene with fire and death. There is no offensive language or innuendo. This is a beautiful period drama and I recommend it to all of you who love Charles Dickens films (like Little Dorrit or Our Mutual Friend) and interesting characters. 

Music Video:

The lovely video below shows screencaps from the film accompanied by a piece of piano music. Not made by me.

Have you ever seen this Great Expectations adaptation? 

What did you think of it? 

Have you ever read the book? 
Do you have a favorite character from this Dickens tale?

Very Truly Your's,