MASTERPIECE THEATRE: THE GINGER TREE {EPISODE 1} (TV)
Summary
One in this ongoing series of dramas presented under the umbrella of "Masterpiece Theatre." This program presents part one of a four-part adaptation of Oswald Wynd's novel about a Scottish woman who marries a British military attache in 1903 and tries to carve out a life for herself over several decades in an oppressive Asian society. First, Alistair Cooke introduces the presentation. As the story begins, Mary Mackenzie arrives at the Russian naval base at Vladivostok to be with her fiance, Richard Collingsworth, a man she has only met three times. She then learns that he has been restationed from Russia to Manchuria, causing her to follow. Upon arriving in Manchuria, Mary immediately experiences culture shock before locating Richard, who tells her that Manchuria is "no place for a woman." Richard continues to prove cold and distant. That night, at a formal dinner, Mary meets the intriguing Japanese Count Kentaro Kurihama. Later, Mary marries Richard at a church in China. Afterward, Mary returns to her new house, surprised to learn she won't even share a room with her husband. However, the first night they do engage in some passionless intercourse. The next morning, Richard informs Mary that it isn't safe for her to venture out in China. Mary quickly grows bored and unhappy with all facets of her life, especially the unfulfilling relationship with Richard. With war about to break out between Russia and Japan, Richard is sent to Port Arthur, exciting him. Mary, however, is upset at being left alone for several months. Once on her own, Mary finds herself talking with Kentaro at a dinner, impressed by his intelligence and understanding of cultural relations between their countries. Later, Kentaro sends Mary a gift, the novel "Kokoro" by Lafcadio Hearn, to further help her understand Japanese/English relations. Then, Mary learns that the Japanese have surrounded Port Arthur, putting it under siege, and trapping Richard in the city, perhaps for many months. Mary moves in with her new friends, a French soldier and his wife, Armond and Isabelle de Chamonpierre. One day, while taking a walk by herself, Mary stumbles upon a French army regiment using Chinese men as slaves, one of them being Kentaro. The next day, Mary runs into Kentaro at a Buddhist temple, where she learns why he was in disguise -- he was acting as a spy. Meeting with Kentaro later for some tea, Mary begins falling in love with him. She starts visiting his secret residence at the temple more frequently, eventually sleeping with Kentaro on the night before he is to rejoin the Japanese war lines. Soon, Mary is pregnant with Kentaro's child, just as Richard makes his return.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: October 14, 1990 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:54:39
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:30019
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: She Made It Collection (Rebecca Eaton)
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rebecca Eaton … Executive Producer
- Marilyn Hall … Executive Producer
- Naonori Kawamura … Executive Producer
- Alan Shallcross … Executive Producer
- Juliet Gitterman … Co-Executive Producer
- Tim Ironside Wood … Producer
- Nick Hawkins … Associate Producer
- Anthony Garner … Director
- Christopher Hampton … Writer
- Oswald Wynd … Based upon the novel by
- Dominic Muldowney … Music by
- Samantha Bond … Cast, Mary Mackenzie
- Carol Starks … Cast, Margaret Blair
- Adrian Rawlins … Cast, Richard Collingsworth
- Cecile Paoli … Cast, Isabelle de Chamonpierre
- Nicholas Farrell … Cast, Father Anthony
- Oliver Parker … Cast, Michael Evans
- Daisuke Ryu … Cast, Count Kentaro Kurihama
- Jean Badin … Cast, Armand de Chamonpierre
- Nicholas le Provost … Cast, Sir Claude MacDonald
- Kwong-Chee Leong … Cast, Yao Tsu