Adam Bede

Plot

Written by George Eliot (of Silas Marner fame), the 1859 novel Adam Bede trenchantly addresses the issues of ingrained social prejudices. Played in this British TV adaptation by Iain Glen, the titular Adam Bede is a humble carpenter, enamored of the beautiful but shallow Hetty Sorel (Patsy Kensit). Surrendering to the "political correctness" of her times, Hetty spurns Adam in favor of a wealthy marriage to a nobleman, Lord Arthur (James Wilby). Though he is deeply hurt by this, Adam never relinquishes his love for Hetty and spends the balance of the story trying to win her back in his own single-minded, diligent fashion. Counterbalancing the romantic melodrama is the calm, good-hearted presence of Adam's erstwhile sweetheart, Dinah Morris (Susannah Harker), perhaps the only character in the novel without an agenda. Adapted for television by Maggie Wadey, Adam Bede made its BBC debut in 1991, then aired as part of the PBS anthology Masterpiece Theatre on March 1, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Cast

• Patsy Kensit - Hetty Sorel
• James Wilby - Lord Arthur Donnithorne
• Iain Glen - Adam Bede
• Susannah Harker - Dinah Morris

Paul Brooke - Poyser; Edward Jewesbury; Freddie Jones - Old Squire; Jean Marsh - Lisbeth Bede; Julia McKenzie - Mrs. Poyser; Robert Stephens - Rev. Irwine; Hugo Peña; Brian Osborne; William Holmes; Tacita Haffenden; Chase Marks

Credit

Giles Foster - Director, Maggie Wadey - Teleplay By, George Eliot - Book Author

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