Clarissa (1991) - DaaVeeDee

Clarissa (1991) (DVD) (*)

~~$20.99~~ $14.97

Screened, competed or awarded at:
BAFTA Awards

Language Selections:
Danish ( Subtitles )
English ( Dolby Digital Stereo )
Finnish ( Subtitles )
Norwegian ( Subtitles )
Swedish ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Denmark ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
198 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1991 and produced in:
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )

Directed By:
Robert Bierman

Written By:
Janet Barron
David Nokes

Actors:
Saskia Wickham ..... Clarissa Harlowe (3 episodes, 1991)
Lynsey Baxter ..... Arabella Harlowe (3 episodes, 1991)
Hermione Norris ..... Anna Howe (3 episodes, 1991)
Cathryn Harrison ..... Mrs. Sinclair (3 episodes, 1991)
Sean Bean ..... Robert Lovelace (unknown episodes)
Jonny Phillips ..... James Harlowe Jr. (unknown episodes)
Jeffrey Wickham ..... Mr. James Harlowe Sr. (unknown episodes)
Michael Feast ..... Tomlinson (unknown episodes)
Shirley Henderson ..... Sally (unknown episodes)
Lucy Robinson ..... Deb (unknown episodes)
Darby Hawker ..... Dorcas (unknown episodes)
Matthew Sim ..... Mowbray (unknown episodes)
Sean Pertwee ..... Jack Belford (unknown episodes)
Lorna Heilbron ..... Mrs. Howe (unknown episodes)
Matthew Wait ..... Joe Leman (unknown episodes)
Karen Frawley ..... St. Albans Maid (unknown episodes)
Paul Higgins ..... Preacher (unknown episodes)
Cathryn Pope ..... Dido (unknown episodes)
Frances Vener ..... Mrs. Harlowe (unknown episodes)
Ralph Riach ..... Uncle Anthony Harlowe (unknown episodes)
Jon Sotherton ..... Hickman (unknown episodes)
Julia Dearden ..... Mrs. Moore (unknown episodes)
Amanda Waring ..... Widow Bevis (unknown episodes)
Francesca Longrigg ..... Cousin Charlotte (unknown episodes)
Delia Lindsay ..... The Real Lady Betty (unknown episodes)
Jennifer Wiltsie ..... Miss D'Oyley (unknown episodes)
Jack Deam ..... Will (unknown episodes)
Ben Cole ..... Gentleman at Ball (unknown episodes)
William Hoyland ..... Doctor (unknown episodes)
Geoffrey Drew ..... Bailiff (unknown episodes)
Patsy Palmer ..... Kitty (unknown episodes)
Julie May ..... Miss Lyons (unknown episodes)
Julian Firth ..... Mr. Soames (unknown episodes)
Diana Quick ..... Lady Betty (unknown episodes)

Synopsis:

This handsome BBC/Masterpiece Theater production toodles along elegantly, all period costumes and posh accents and people being beastly to one another in the most refined way... until it turns so shockingly vicious that you're riveted, unable to believe what you're seeing. The hints were there all along, of course, in this original dangerous liaison, based on the 1748 novel by Samuel Richardson: The virginal Clarissa Harlowe (who'd be obnoxiously virtuous if not for the steely performance of Saskia Wickham) suffers horrendously at the hands of her jealous siblings, overlooked in their grandfather's will (he left his fortune to Clarissa), so they scheme to marry her to the most hideous clown of an aristocrat they can find - picture a Regency version of Carrot Top, and imagine the gall. The evil glee with which Clarissa's family variously disowns and dishonors her foreshadows the horror to come, as she is forced by circumstance to throw herself upon the mercy of notorious rake Robert Lovelace (a harrowing Sean Bean: The Island), who is alternately plotting to pluck her virtue and finding himself genuinely besotted by her. This is the rare period production that is enjoyable as both serious drama and delicious camp... until that riveting moment toward the end, when you'll be tempted to start watching all over again in order to appreciate how dark the entire affair really is.

Clarissa Harlowe is a young 18th-century Englishwoman. Her family have aspirations to move into the aristocracy and want her to marry the repellent Mr Soames as part of their plan. Clarissa manages to escape from them with the help of the handsome Lovelace, whose intentions towards her prove to be less than entirely honourable.

A virtuous young woman is oppressed by her ambitious family and a rake who's becomes obsessed with her.

This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 11 November, 2014.

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