Summer's Lease is a British television drama series which aired in four parts on BBC2 in 1989.[1] It is based on John Mortimer's novel of the same title, adapted by the author. John Gielgud won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his performance and the soundtrack, composed by Nigel Hess was awarded the Television and Radio Industries Club award for best television theme.
| Summer's Lease | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Drama |
| Based on | Summer's Lease by John Mortimer |
| Directed by | Martyn Friend |
| Starring | John Gielgud Susan Fleetwood Rosemary Leach |
| Composer | Nigel Hess |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Colin Rogers |
| Running time | 55 minutes |
| Production company | BBC |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC Two |
| Release | 1 November – 22 November 1989 |
Cast
edit- Susan Fleetwood as Molly Pargeter (4 episodes)
- John Gielgud as Haverford Downs (4 episodes)
- Michael Pennington as Hugh Pargeter (4 episodes)
- Rosemary Leach as Nancy Leadbetter (4 episodes)
- Caroline Waldron as Henry Pargeter (4 episodes)
- Veronica Lazar as Baronessa Dulcibene (4 episodes)
- Suzanne Hay as Sam Pargeter (4 episodes)
- Samantha Glenn as Jack Pargeter (4 episodes)
- Siria Betti as Giovanna (4 episodes)
- Denis Lill as Ken Corduroy (3 episodes)
- Gabrielle Anwar as Chrissie Kettering (3 episodes)
- Mel Martin as Rosie Fortinbras (2 episodes)
- Frederick Treves as Nicholas Tapscott (2 episodes)
- Annette Crosbie as Connie Tapscott (2 episodes)
- Feodor Chaliapin Jr. as Prince Tosti-Castelnuovo (2 episodes)
- Graham McGrath as Chrissie's Friend (2 episodes)
- Pupo De Luca as The Messenger (2 episodes)
- Siri Neal as Chrissie's Friend (2 episodes)
- Leslie Phillips as William Fosdyke (1 episode)
- Jeremy Kemp as Buck Kettering (1 episode)
- Elizabeth Bennett as Mrs. Marcia Tobias (1 episode)
- Bernice Stegers as Louise Corduroy (1 episode)
- Carole Mowlam as Sandra Kettering (1 episode)
Reception
editIn a 1991 review, John J. O'Connor of The New York Times called the series "more successful as travelogue than drama." O'Connor summarised that despite some excellent performances, the characters "are not terribly interesting."[2]
References
edit- ^ Roberts p.184
- ^ O'Connor, John J. (10 May 1991). "TV Weekend; 'Summer's Lease': Gielgud in Chiantishire". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
Bibliography
edit- Jerry Roberts. Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors. Scarecrow Press, 2009.