MASTERPIECE THEATRE: DICKENS OF LONDON, PART 6 OF 10: POSSESSION (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramas, presented under the title "Masterpiece Theatre," hosted by Alistair Cooke. "Possession" is part six in a ten-part biographical series depicting the life of English novelist Charles Dickens. Charles has risen from his humble origins to become a successful author, but during a lucrative U.S. reading tour in 1867, memories from his past resurface. Negative consequences from his tour develop as the U.S. Internal Revenue Service demands that he declare his earnings; a flashback to his young married life follows. Although Charles is happy in his household, which includes his wife Catherine, sister-in-law Mary, brother Fred, and the baby, Charles is not the devoted husband that he could be. A very intense relationship develops between Mary and himself, making his wife jealous and unhappy. Meanwhile, he continues writing "The Pickwick Papers," edits a new humorous magazine, and announces that he is the author of a popular book that he had previously released anonymously. Charles's career comes to an abrupt halt when Mary dies unexpectedly; he halts all his literary projects and goes into deep mourning. The episode ends in 1867 with Charles making the parallel between the IRS and death: "like death they'll always be back to collect." Alistair Cooke concludes the program with additional biographical information.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WNET New York, NY
- DATE: October 2, 1977 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:48
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T86:1250
- GENRE: Docudrama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Docudrama
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- David Cunliffe … Executive Producer
- Joan Sullivan … Producer
- Marc Miller … Producer, Director, Created by
- Wolf Mankowitz … Writer
- Monty Norman … Music by
- Ivor Raymonde … Conductor
- Alistair Cooke … Host
- Roy Dotrice … Cast, Charles Dickens
- Gene Foad … Cast, Charles as a young man
- Adrienne Burgess … Cast, Catherine Hogarth
- Lois Baxter … Cast, Mary Hogarth
- Graham Faulkner … Cast, Fred Dickens
- Robert Longden … Cast, Hablot Browne
- Jack May … Cast, Braham
- Anthony May … Cast, Hullah
- Gillian Rhind … Cast, Miss Allison
- Diana Coupland … Cast, Mrs. Dickens
- John Baddeley … Cast, Bentley
- Tony Steedman … Cast, Harley
- John F. Landry … Cast, Dolby
- George Roubicek … Cast, Eberfield
- James Walsh … Cast, Wise