Period Drama Challenge Film Choices!

Wednesday, January 20, 2016


I'm participating in a Period Drama Challenge hosted by Laurie over at Old-Fashioned Charm. ❤

This is a really good thing for me since I haven't been watching a lot of period dramas lately and I really do want to get back into the habit. I miss period dramas! They consumed so much of my interest for so long and somewhere along the way, with life and work and school, I just ran out of time and energy for them and that sucks. So I'm going to take this opportunity and run with it and maybe try a couple of new dramas along the way, but especially rediscover my favorites and share them with all of you!

Visit Laurie's blog at the above link if you have any interest in joining the challenge, all her guidelines are listed there.

I've chosen to be a Period Film Devotee which means I will watch and review a total of 10 period dramas or films between now and July 2nd of this year. And here's my list, although it could change!

I'll be adding review links to this list as I complete the films/dramas.

2015
I've been intending to watch this film for months and only just got around to it. And because it fits into the period film challenge criteria, I figured I might just as well add it to my list!

1997
This is the Oliver Twist of my childhood! Elijah Wood and Richard Dreyfuss, what's not to love?! Of course, I've never read the book so have no idea how accurate it is, but I don't care and love it anyway. It's been years since I've seen it so I wonder if my love of it will have dimmed or not!

1983
So, Timothy Dalton is my Mr. Rochester. I also love Toby Stephens, but I suspect a lot of people will write for Toby's version so I'm deliberately going with Timothy's. He's such a delight!
1999
I have never watched a film version of David Copperfield other than a cartoon where all of the characters were animals of one sort or another dressed in period clothing. I still love that version, but I figured it was time to graduate and I've heard great things about this version.

1940
I do love other versions of Pride & Prejudice, many of them actually, but Greer and Larry were it for me for so long that I must share the love!
1976
I watched this version of The Picture of Dorian Gray because I'm a Jeremy Brett fan (not quite rabid, but close), and discovered that this verison is superbly rendered. And all without being too . . . sensual. I deeply appreciate their restraint!

2014
My Jamaica Inn experience is solely limited to the 1939 Hitchock version that I LOVE. I've never read the book or watched any other version, so I figured I should give this one a try.

2000
No one should ever go without seeing this version of Lorna Doone. The movie is my heart's delight starring Aidan Gillen and Richard Coyle as the villain and the hero. It is pure brilliance and romance from start to finish. I must and will share it with all of you!

2015
I'm a huge Holmes fan, but never got around to watching Arthur & George with my family like I'd planned. It's about Arthur Conan Doyle in case you hadn't guessed and I am curious to see how it stacks up with other Doyle-related programs I've watched.

2001
Murder Rooms is another series about Doyle, only this time you throw in Dr. Joseph Bell, the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes. It's brilliant, one of my absolute favorite series and my heart aches to think it only lasted 4 episodes. This will only cover the miniseries, not the pilot film.

2005
It's been years since I've watched The Greatest Game Ever Played, but I love it still. It's the story of a monumentally astounding game of golf at the US Open in 1913 against nobody Frances Ouimet and renowned golfer Harry Varden. It's a truly incredible film about an incredible story!

12 comments

  1. What a great list! I'm just kind of watching as the spirit moves me, so to speak, but I think having at least a general list ahead of time is a splendid idea.

    That Jane Eyre is my favorite too :-) I'm really looking forward to reading so many of these! And a Jeremy Brett version of Dorian Gray? That sounds sooooo intriguing.

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    1. If I don't plan ahead, I'll never get anything watched. I know myself too well.

      Well, Brett doesn't play Dorian. He plays Basil Hallward, which is almost worse in a way because I feel so bad for Basil and that feeling is only strengthened by Brett in the role. It'll be interesting to gather my thoughts on this version cohesively enough to share them.

      I notice I'm 2 PDC posts behind on your blog! I'll try to get those read this week. One has Bogart in it . . . hmmmmmm! ❤

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  2. I am joining in too! Look forward to reading your reviews.

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  3. Have fun!

    I... pretty much watch costume dramas most of the time, so I have already reviewed most of them! =P

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    1. Such is the sad case of most anglophiles. Eventually they run out of dramas to watch. I haven't quite reached that point yet, at least not with the writing about them part. I wonder what I'll think of David Copperfield. Hmmm.

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  4. Looking forward to reading your reviews!

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    1. I'm excited at the prospect of writing them! Although I do have a Civil War movie called Glory that just came in from the library for me so I might have to switch one of my choices out for that one.

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  5. Awesome list! I would love to see all these reviews. And especially Jamaica Inn (which I haven't seen), Jane Eyre and Lorna Doone!

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    1. Thanks! I think it'll be a fun time sharing favorites and maybe finding some new favorites!

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  6. Ooh! I'm especially looking forward to your review of Lorna Doone :D

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    1. It'll be fun getting my thoughts on Lorna Doone into something cohesive! It's a great movie and one of my favorite period films!

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Thank you for your kind comments, which I adore!