The Woodlanders *** (1997, Emily Woof, Rufus Sewell) – Classic Movie Review 1688

With Ashley Rowe’s cinematography so atmospheric, you can just smell the English countryside. Director Phil Agland’s 1997 film is a meticulously realised but dark, dour and depressing adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s classic novel.

It is distinguished by faultless playing from Emily Woof as Grace Melbury, the Victorian sawmill owner’s daughter who is in love with a common woodsman Giles Winterbourne (Rufus Sewell) but is tragically pushed by her father into marriage with a handsome young doctor, Dr FitzPiers (Cal Macaninch). Grace discovers he’s not her dream man and that she still loves her childhood sweetheart Giles. David Rudkin’s polished screenplay has the authentic Hardy flavour.

The film is worthy, conscientious and well meaning, though it is not a lot of fun. But, then, it is Hardy.

It had a budget of £4.3 million.  It was previously adapted by the BBC in 1970, starring Felicity Kendal and Ralph Bates.

One of Hardy’s Wessex series, the novel was serialised from May 1886 to April 1887 in Macmillan’s Magazine and published in three volumes in 1887. It’s considered perhaps Hardy’s best work. Hardy wrote: ‘On taking up The Woodlanders and reading it after many years, I like it as a story best of all.’

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1688

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