MASTERPIECE THEATRE: NOTORIOUS WOMAN: THE STORY OF GEORGE SAND, EPISODE 4: TRIAL (TV)
Summary
One in this ongoing series of dramas presented under the title of "Masterpiece Theatre," hosted by Alistair Cooke. The fourth of seven episodes dramatizing the life of author George Sand. In this episode, Sand attempts to dissolve her marriage to the loutish Casimir Dudevant and meets the composer Frederic Chopin. Sand's marriage to Dudevant reaches its nadir as the drunken man fires a shotgun at his estranged wife. The couple agrees to divorce, with Casimir retaining a comfortable portion of Sand's inheritance. Sand meets with lawyer Michel de Bourges to prepare the necessary paperwork, and she is charmed by the solicitor's wry audacity and commitment to social justice. Back in Paris, Franz Liszt confides in Sand about his romantic troubles, and de Bourges comes to Paris and begins an affair with Sand. Meanwhile, Sand's brother convinces Dudevant to contest the divorce settlement, using incriminating letters from Marie Dorval to damage Sand's case. The judge is so disgusted by the behavior of Sand and Dudevant that he refuses to make any ruling, decreeing that the couple work out their own arrangement. Sand is humiliated by a visit from de Bourges's wife, who presents proof of the man's merely capricious interest in the affair. Sand is further wounded by her meeting with Chopin; repelled by the author's masculine appearance and behavior, the composer stands her up and embarrasses her in front of her friends.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 1997.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WGBH Boston, MA
- DATE: December 7, 1975 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:58
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:48307
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Authors - Drama
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Pieter Rogers … Producer
- Waris Hussein … Director
- Harry J. Junkin … Writer
- Anthony Isaac … Music by
- Ilan Rogoff … Instrumentalist, Pianist
- Alistair Cooke … Host
- Rosemary Harris … Cast, George Sand
- George Chakiris … Cast, Frederic Chopin
- Joyce Redman … Cast, Sophie Dupin
- Robert Lang … Cast, Michel de Bourges
- Lewis Fiander … Cast, Casimir Dudevant
- Robert Harris … Cast, Justice Foureau
- Norma West … Cast, Marie, Comtesse D'Agoult
- Jeremy Irons … Cast, Franz Liszt
- Jonathan Newth … Cast, Hippolyte Chatiron
- Iris Russell … Cast, Madame de Bourges
- Stephen Churchett … Cast, Robert
- Marina McConnell … Cast, Ursule Josse
- Tim Desmond … Cast, Maurice
- Angela Strachan … Cast, Solange