MASTERPIECE THEATRE: THE DUCHESS OF DUKE STREET {SERIES 2, EPISODE 10}: SHADOWS (TV)
Summary
One in this ongoing series of dramas presented under the title "Masterpiece Theatre," hosted by Alistair Cooke. Episode ten in the second series of this drama based on a true story, about Louisa Trotter, a scullery maid in Edwardian England, who rises to become the proprietor of the Bentinck, an exclusive London hotel, and confidante of the rich and famous. In this episode, Louisa opens up the Bentinck to wounded officers and soldiers on leave. Mary befriends a young officer who embodies the doom the soldiers feel at this point in the war, as he predicts his own death will occur when he returns to the front. Returning to England is Louisa's longtime love, Charlie Haslemere, who promised to marry her as soon as the war was over. But his recuperation from his head wound is not progressing as expected, and his spells of dizziness, blurry vision, and confusion increase. Alarmed, Major Smith-Barton has Charlie examined by a titled surgeon, who pronounces that he may soon go blind. While he acts brave, Charlie knows his condition is deteriorating and he grows despondent worrying about its effect on his relationship with Louisa. From a nearby hospital for the blind, Captain Mason enlists Charlie's help in running his organization, but even this opportunity cannot help his condition. The episode ends with disaster as Louisa and her lover discuss their future.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 1999.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: February 17, 1980 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:24
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:07957
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; World War I - Drama
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Joan Wilson … Producer
- John Hawkesworth … Producer, Created by
- Mary Ridge … Associate Producer
- Bill Bain … Director
- Jeremy Paul … Writer
- Alexander Faris … Theme Music by
- Alistair Cooke … Host
- Gemma Jones … Cast, Louisa
- Christopher Cazenove … Cast, Charles Haslemere
- Richard Pearson … Cast, Sir Ernest Horsfield
- Geoffrey Bayldon … Cast, Collinghurst
- Richard Vernon … Cast, Major Smith-Barton
- John Welsh … Cast, Merriman
- Patrick Newell … Cast, Tommy Shepherd
- Sue Nicholls … Cast, Daphne Shepherd
- John Cater … Cast, Starr
- Victoria Plucknett … Cast, Mary
- Simon Chandler … Cast, Brian Spedding
- William Hoyland … Cast, Captain Roger Mason
- Eilian Wyn … Cast, Reynolds
- Raymond Platt … Cast, Pryce
- Daphne Oxenford … Cast, Miss Dean
- Pauline Quirke … Cast, Pearl
- David Neville … Cast, the Lieutenant Major
- Victoria Locock … Cast, the Pianist