The Love School (broadcast in the U.S. as The Brotherhood) is a BBC television drama series originally broadcast in 1975 about the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, written by John Hale, Ray Lawler, Robin Chapman and John Prebble. It was directed by Piers Haggard, John Glenister and Robert Knights. It was shown during January and February 1975.[1] It includes six episodes, each episode is 75 minutes in length.
| The Love School | |
|---|---|
 Holman Hunt caresses Annie Miller while painting The Light of the World | |
| Created by | John Hale Ray Lawler Robin Chapman John Prebble |
| Developed by | BBC Television |
| Starring | Ben Kingsley Peter Egan |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 6 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Producers | Piers Haggard John Glenister Robert Knights |
| Running time | 75 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC2 |
| Release | 22 January – 26 February 1975 |
The drama was a significant influence on the subsequent 2009 series Desperate Romantics.[2] It was also the basis of the historical novel of the same name by Hale.[3] Until a few years ago, it appeared never to have been released on DVD anywhere in the world despite fans calling for such a release on IMDb and elsewhere. However, on 8 April 2019, the DVD of all six episodes was released thanks to the efforts of the team at Simply Media TV. The DVD consists of 2 discs in PAL format for region 2, with a total run time of 450 minutes.
Cast
edit- Peter Egan as John Everett Millais
- Ben Kingsley as Dante Gabriel Rossetti
- Bernard Lloyd as William Holman Hunt
- Gareth Hunt as Thomas Woolner
- Patricia Quinn as Elizabeth Siddal
- David Collings as John Ruskin
- Anne Kidd as Effie Gray
- Sheila White as Annie Miller
- Kenneth Colley as Edward Burne-Jones
- David Burke as William Morris
- Kika Markham as Jane Morris
- Malcolm Tierney as Ford Madox Brown
Episodes
edit| # | Episode | Director | Screenwriter | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Brotherhood" | Robert Knights | John Hale | 22 January 1975 | |
|
In 1848, social unrest abounds. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a secret group of young artists, forms in order to take on the sclerotic Royal Academy. The original three members are joined by four friends. | |||||
| 2 | "An Impeccable Elopement" | Piers Haggard | John Hale | 29 January 1975 | |
|
Art critic John Ruskin and his wife Effie travel to Scotland with John Everett Millais, one of leaders of the PRB. Millais falls in love with Effie and learns that the Ruskins' marriage is a sham. | |||||
| 3 | "Seeking the Bubbles" | Piers Haggard | Ray Lawler | 5 February 1975 | |
|
Millais has married Effie after the annulment of her first marriage. William Holman Hunt and Millais both become successful artists. | |||||
| 4 | "Remember Me" | John Glenister | Robin Chapman | 12 February 1975 | |
|
Dante Gabriel Rossetti's life and relationships become complicated, especially after the tragic death of his wife Lizzie. | |||||
| 5 | "Beata Beatrix" | Piers Haggard | Robin Chapman | 19 February 1975 | |
|
Rossetti acquires a follower in William Morris but his life is troubled by drug addiction, and he becomes increasingly isolated. | |||||
| 6 | "The Artisan" | Piers Haggard | John Prebble | 26 February 1975 | |
|
Pre-Raphaelitism begins to disintegrate when William Morris adopts a new ideal in socialism. | |||||
Notes
edit- ^ BFI database
- ^ Chloe Johnson, "Presenting the Pre-Raphaelites: From Radio Reminiscences to Desperate Romantics", Visual Culture in Britain, 1941-8361, Volume 11, Issue 1, 1 March 2010, pp. 67–92.
- ^ John Hale, The Love School, Macmillan, 1975.