MASTERPIECE THEATRE: PORTRAIT OF A MARRIAGE {EPISODE 1} (TV)
Summary
One in this ongoing series of dramas presented under the umbrella of "Masterpiece Theatre." This program presents part one of the three-part "Portrait of a Marriage," an adaptation of Nigel Nicolson's 1973 portrait of his mother, writer Vita Sackville-West, focusing on her marriage to writer, politician, and closeted homosexual Harold Nicolson and her longtime affair with childhood friend and novelist Violet Keppel Trefusis. First, Alistair Cooke introduces the presentation. As the story begins in 1940 England, Harold and Vita work in their garden at Sissinghurst Castle before Vita receives a phone call from Violet. Startled, Vita recalls the beginning of her relationship with Violet, back when they were just young girls. Vita also recalls the early days of her relationship with Harold as well as her aristocratic upbringing. Then, the story flashes to 1918, a most significant year in Vita's life. Vita and Harold struggle to raise their young son, Nigel, and his brother, Ben. Meanwhile, Harold seems disinterested in sexual relations with his wife. Vita recognizes Harold's lack of interest and, pressing him on the issue, gets him to reveal his homosexuality. He calls it simply a "diversion," noting that Vita is the only woman in his life and that he is devoted fully to her. Harold reveals that he is due to undergo a two-week treatment to see if he has contracted a disease, and that he must abstain from sexual relations for two months. Later, Violet comes to stay with Vita and Harold. Violet reveals that, were Vita a man, she would have married her just to co-own Vita's huge estate. She tells Vita that she plans on marrying Denys Trefusis, strictly as a "business arrangement." Though put off at first,Vita eventually reveals her lack of sexual interest in Harold before succumbing to Violet's sexual overtures. As Violet's stay grows longer, Harold becomes frustrated. One day, as Vita and Violet engage in a secret liaison on a far- off part of the estate, Harold discovers their deserted rowboat and strongly suspects what is going on. The women take to traveling around the country, secretly masquerading as a couple, with Vita dressed as a soldier. Later, the two women recall their adventures and discuss why Vita married Harold and how Violet would give up her relationship with Denys to live a life with Vita. One night at dinner with Harold's parents, a frustrated Vita causes family troubles when she reveals that she thinks it time for Harold to become an artistic writer, rather than simply a writer of memorandums in his position as a diplomat. Harold's parents are outraged, and Vita and Harold quarrel afterward, leading to an unsuccessful lovemaking attempt. Later, Vita finally meets Denys over lunch, where she questions him on his marriage intentions to Violet, barely concealing her jealousy. Then, the war comes to an end, allowing Vita and Violet to safely take a train trip to Paris. While the women are away, Harold has a chance encounter with old friend Reggie Cooper, to whom he admits his hatred for Violet, talks about his love for Vita, and admits to his past homosexual transgressions. Meanwhile, in Paris, Vita and Violet frolic. Even when Denys arrives in Paris, Vita figures out a way for her and Violet to remain alone as a couple. Meanwhile, Harold frets over having not heard from Vita, seeking out her flamboyant mother as a sounding board. After she tells Harold to be more forceful, he sends Vita a letter that is highly critical of Violet. Reading the letters but not responding, Vita tells Violet how she worries about Harold and her children and thinks she should return home. Violet talks Vita into staying in Paris, causing more hurt feelings back in England. More determined than ever, Harold travels to Paris to win his wife back. However, once there, he makes a startling discovery.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: July 19, 1992 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:27:58
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:76867
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: She Made It Collection (Rebecca Eaton)
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Colin Rogers … Executive Producer
- Rebecca Eaton … Executive Producer
- Colin Tucker … Producer
- Anna Kalnars … Associate Producer
- Stephen Whittaker … Director
- Patricia Hodge … Developed by
- Penelope Mortimer … Written by
- Nigel Nicolson … Based on the Book by
- Barrington Pheloung … Music by
- Alistair Cooke … Host
- Janet McTeer … Cast, Vita Sackville-West
- David Haig … Cast, Harold Nicolson
- Cathryn Harrison … Cast, Violet Keppel
- Peter Birch … Cast, Denys Trefusis
- Diana Fairfax … Cast, Lady Sackville
- Mark Tandy … Cast, Reggie Cooper
- Sam Beazley … Cast, Lord Carnock
- Kathleen Byron … Cast, Lady Carnock
- Hazel Douglas … Cast, Landlady
- Angus Pope … Cast, Young Man
- Hugh Kermode … Cast, Foreign Office Clerk
- Cathryn Bradshaw … Cast, Chambermaid
- Nicholas Johnson … Cast, Desk Clerk
- Jean-Pierre Blanchard … Cast, Maitre D'
- Frank Duncan … Cast, Head Waiter
- Bill Thomas … Cast, Porter
- Judy Elrington … Cast, Nanny
- Christopher Walker … Cast, Ben Nicolson
- Alexander Pearce … Cast, Nigel Nicolson