Cranford (TV series)

This article is about the TV series. For the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell, see Cranford (novel). Cranford is a British television series directed by Simon Curtis and Steve Hudson. The teleplay by Heidi Thomas was adapted from three novellas by Elizabeth Gaskell published between 1849 and 1858: Cranford, My Lady Ludlow, and Mr Harrison's Confessions. (The Last Generation in England was also used as a source.)

The series was transmitted in five parts in the UK by BBC One in November and December 2007. In the United States, it was broadcast in three episodes by PBS as part of its Masterpiece Theatre series in May 2008.

Cranford returned with a two-part Christmas special in 2009.

Plot
Set in the early 1840s in the fictional village of Cranford in the county of Cheshire in North West England, the story focuses primarily on the town's single and widowed [http:// middle class] female inhabitants who are comfortable with their traditional way of life and place great store in propriety and maintaining an appearance of gentility. Among them are the spinster Jenkyns sisters, Matilda (known as "Matty") and Deborah; their houseguest from Manchester, Mary Smith; Miss Pole, the town's leading gossip; the Tomkinson sisters, Augusta and Caroline; Mrs Forrester, who treats her beloved cow Bessie as she would a daughter; Mrs Rose, the housekeeper for Dr Harrison; Jessie Brown, who rejects Major Gordon's marriage proposal twice despite her feelings for him; Laurentia Galindo, a milliner who strongly believes men and women are on equal footing; the Honourable Mrs Jamieson, a snob who dresses her dog in ensembles to match her own; Sophy Hutton, the vicar's eldest daughter and surrogate mother to her three younger siblings, who is courted by Dr Harrison; and the aristocratic Lady Ludlow, who lives in splendour at Hanbury Court and perceives change as a peril to the natural order of things.

The principal male characters are new arrival Dr Frank Harrison, who is smitten with Sophy but unwittingly becomes the romantic target of both Mrs Rose and Caroline Tomkinson, who frequently feigns illness to hold his attention; Dr Morgan, an old-fashioned practitioner who finds himself challenged by the modern ideas of his young partner; Captain Brown, a military man whose common sense earns him a place of authority among the women; Edmund Carter, Lady Ludlow's land agent, a reformer who strongly advocates free education for the working class; Harry Gregson, the ambitious ten-year-old son of an impoverished poacher, who as Mr. Carter's protégé learns to read and write; farmer Thomas Holbrook, Matty Jenkyn's one-time suitor, who was considered unsuitable by her family but is anxious to renew his relationship with her; Reverend Hutton, a widower with four children whose religious conviction is sometimes at odds with his instincts as a father; and Sir Charles Maulver, the local magistrate and director of the railway company.

Cast
Listed in alphabetical order:

Episode summaries
 Episode One: June 1842 

The handsome and eligible young doctor Frank Harrisonarrives to assist Dr Morgan with his practice. His first patient is carpenter Jem Hearne, who has fallen from a tree and suffered a compound fracture. Against Dr. Morgan's order to follow the usual custom of amputating the injured limb, Dr Harrison performs a relatively new and risky surgery to save the arm. His successful effort wins the admiration of the townspeople.

Also new to Cranford are Captain Brown and his two daughters, the elder of whom is ill and dies shortly after their arrival. With her father away, the surviving sibling Jessie breaks with tradition and walks behind the coffin accompanied by her neighbor Deborah Jenkyns, who with her sister Matty, is playing host to Mary Smith, the daughter of a friend.

Edmund Carter, estate manager for Lady Ludlow, takes an interest in young Harry Gregson, the bright son of a poor local family, and offers him both work and an education.

When a valuable piece of historic lace belonging to Mrs Forrester is swallowed by a cat, she and Octavia Pole discover a novel new use for a Wellington boot.

 Episode Two: August 1842 

Harry and his brother, trying to get milk for their mother's newborn baby, accidentally leave the gate to the field open, letting out Mrs. Forrester's treasured cow. The cow soon falls into a pit of lime, and is able to be rescued, but loses all its fur.

Major Gordon proposes to Jessie Brown a second time before leaving for India, but she refuses him with the excuse she cannot leave her father alone. However, when it is revealed at Lady Ludlow's annual garden party that the railway will be passing close to Cranford, and that Captain Brown will be away on railway business for long periods of time, his daughter regrets her decision.

Also dismayed at the news of the railway's arrival is Deborah Jenkyns, who accuses Captain Brown of deceiving them. She complains of a terrible headache and, moments later, collapses in her bedroom and dies later that night.

Dr Harrison's romance with Sophy Hutton blossoms, only to be stopped in its tracks when he cannot save her brother from the croup. Sophy blames herself for the death of her brother.

 Episode Three: November 1842 

Dr. Harrison's friend Dr. Marshland comes to visit for Christmas and returns just prior to Valentine's Day, when he causes mischief by sending a card suggesting marriage to Caroline Tomkinson, who believes it came from Dr Harrison. Dr Marshland also seems to take a liking to Mary Smith.

Guilty of poaching on Lady Ludlow's estate but mistakenly accused of assault and robbery instead, Harry Gregson's father Job finds himself in gaol until Lady Ludlow is persuaded by both Mr. Carter's pleas and seeing for herself the abject poverty in which the Gregson family lives, uses her influence to have the charges dropped.

Thomas Holbrook is reunited with Matty Jenkyns. In their younger years, their marriage plans were disrupted by her family's disapproval and a scandal involving her brother Peter. When Mr. Holbrook contracts pneumonia on a journey back from Paris and dies shortly after arrival, Miss Matty considers herself widowed.

Episode Four: April 1843

Miss Matty learns the bank in which she has invested has failed, but she is determined to keep the news about her financial distress from her friends.

The railway construction approaches nearer to Lady Ludlow's land but, instead of selling acreage to the railway, she mortgages her property to support her ne'er-do-well son Septimus, who is living in Italy for his health.

During the course of the episode, Dr. Harrison approaches the vicar Reverend Hutton about entering into a courtship with Sophy Hutton, and as soon as he had the means to marry her he would. The vicar consents, as does Sophy. However, both Caroline Tomkinson and Mrs Rose mistakenly believe the doctor is interested in them.

During the May Day celebration, Caroline's sister reveals to Reverend Hutton that Caroline is marrying the young man, an announcement that shocks Mrs Rose, who thought she was his intended bride. They confront Dr. Harrison (who is nonplussed as to how he gave either woman such an impression), and he tells them the only understanding he had was with Sophy. They both are seemingly heartbroken, and after this display of what seems to be imprudence and cheating on Sophy, the vicar brings Dr. Harrison's courtship of his daughter to an abrupt halt.

 Episode Five: May 1843 

The ladies of Cranford learn about Miss Matty's financial distress and secretly contribute to her welfare, with the sudden influx of cash explained as being due to the discovery of an error in the bank's bookkeeping. Miss Matty opens a shop selling tea in her parlour. Her maid, Martha, marries Jem Hearne, and the newlyweds lodge with Miss Matty.

Mr. Carter discovers that Lady Ludlow mortgaged the Hanbury estate to meet her son's financial demands, even though she may not have the resources to keep up the repayments. Dr. Harrison has been left heartbroken and living in a home with no furniture and no one to be his housekeeper, as Mrs. Rose went to stay with Miss Pole. Despite Dr Harrison's protestations of innocence, Dr Morgan advises him to leave Cranford, since patients no longer will see him. Mary Smith realizes that it was not he but Dr. Marshland who sent the valentines, and she confronts Dr Marshland about his mischief, and they begin to sort out the misunderstandings that have led to Dr Harrison's predicament.

Dr. Marshland tells Dr. Harrison that Sophy, on returning from a journey, has contracted typhoid fever, and Dr Harrison realizes that Dr Morgan will treat the illness wrong, perhaps leading to Sophy's death.

An accident at the site of the railway injures both Captain Brown and Mr. Carter, the the former in his eye, the latter fatally injured in his leg. Dr Harrison and Dr Marshland endeavor to save him by amputating his leg at the knee, but Mr. Carter does not survive after the operation. It is told to Miss Galindo and Lady Ludlow, who are both present, that perhaps he had an unknown injury in his chest that caused his death. In his will, written by Miss Galindo at his bedside, he leaves his estate of £20,000 to Harry Gregson, £1,000 is to be used for his formal education at Shrewsbury School, and the remainder to be used to redeem the mortgage on Lady Ludlow's estate, but eventually to revert to Harry with interest. Harry accepts the proposition.

Almost immediately after the ordeal with Mr. Carter, Sophy Hutton's two younger sisters arrive at his house and beg for him to come to Sophy. When he arrives, both the vicar, Dr. Morgan, and Mrs. Rose are all at their wits end, and Mrs Rose says that if anyone can save Sophy, Dr. Harrison could. Dr Harrison and Dr Marshland save Sophy from the fever, and so reconciles the relationship between Dr. Harrison and Sophy.

Major Gordon returns from India to propose yet again to Jessie Brown, who accepts at last, and brings with him Matty's long-missing brother Peter. The series concludes with the wedding of Sophy and Dr Harrison.

Series Two

Episodes Six and Seven: August 1844

Two-part Christmas special, called Return to Cranford. The railway comes to Cranford.

Production
The series, set to begin filming in 2005, originally was scheduled for six episodes, but budget cutbacks resulted in it being trimmed to five, with filming postponed until early 2007.

Although Cranford is supposedly located in Cheshire, none of the exteriors was filmed there. Locations used included Surrey, Hambleden, Windsor, Radnage, Leighton Buzzard, Berkhamsted, Wycombe, Syon House in Brentford, London, and Isleworth in Middlesex, and Oxford. Interiors were filmed in Pinewood Studios. A large portion of filming was done at Lacock in Wiltshire (a location used for many films, including Pride and Prejudice and Emma for the BBC in 1995 and 1996, respectively, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Wolfman and also for the Harry Potter films in 2000, 2001 and 2008).

Steve Hudson, the original director, was replaced after six weeks because, according to Eileen Atkins, "He didn't really understand why it was funny."

Broadcast and reception
Nancy Banks-Smith of The Guardian said the series "will see you through beautifully until Christmas. Elizabeth Gaskell's perfect little classic, beautifully and minutely observed, has been beefed up with two more stories . . . However, as the extra stories are also by Mrs Gaskell, they transplant pretty naturally ... It has a simply stunning performance from Eileen Atkins . . . The power of her performance is all the more remarkable considering the company she keeps."

Andrew Billen of The Times stated, "The cast was so strong it was almost distracting. But, as in any great ensemble, when the individuals came together nothing jarred ... This adaptation added up to even more than the sum of its considerable parts."

James Walton of The Daily Telegraph observed, "Heidi Thomas’s script subtly brought out a more hidden element of Cranford life: that these people are simultaneously proud and ashamed of their provincial status. She also manages the Mrs Gaskell trick of making the town itself the main character ... [T]he result (and of course I mean this as a compliment) sharply recalls another TV portrait of life in a town near Manchester. Admittedly, Cranford features more Annie Walkers and fewer Elsie Tanners than early Coronation Street. Otherwise, the power of the matriarchs, the centrality of gossip and – when the chips are down – the touching sense of community, are all winningly similar. So too is the ability to subject the characters to clear-eyed scrutiny, while still retaining an obvious affection for them."

In the UK, the first episode was watched by 8.43 million viewers and ranked #6 for the week, outperforming ITV1's usually dominant ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_a_Celebrity..._Get_Me_Out_of_Here!_(UK) I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! ]''. By the final episode viewership had dropped to 7.26 million, although the programme remained in the top ten.

Accolades

 * British Academy Television Awards
 * Won Best Actress - Eileen Atkins
 * Won Best Production Design
 * Won Best Sound Fiction/Entertainment
 * Nominated Audience Award for Television
 * Nominated Best Actress - Judi Dench
 * Nominated Best Costume Design
 * Nominated Best Drama Serial
 * Nominated Best Editing (Fiction/Entertainment)
 * Nominated Best Make Up & Hair Design
 * Nominated Best Original Television Music
 * Nominated Best Writer - Heidi Thomas
 * Broadcasting Press Guild Awards
 * Won Best Drama Series
 * Won Best Actor - Philip Glenister
 * Won Best Actress - Eileen Atkins
 * Won Writer's Award - Heidi Thomas
 * Nominated Best Actor - Michael Gambon
 * Nominated Best Actress - Judi Dench
 * Golden Globe Awards
 * Nominated Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
 * Nominated Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television - Judi Dench
 * Nominated Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries, or Motion Picture Made for Television - Eileen Atkins
 * Primetime Emmy Awards
 * Won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie - Eileen Atkins
 * Won Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries or Movie
 * Nominated Outstanding Miniseries
 * Nominated Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie - Judi Dench
 * Nominated Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special - Heidi Thomas
 * Nominated Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie
 * Nominated Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special
 * Nominated Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special
 * Television Critics Association Award
 * Nominated Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries, and Specials

DVD Release
The complete series was released in a two-disc set by BBC Video on 11 February 2008. It includes a bonus feature, The Making of Cranford, with interviews with members of both the cast and production team.

Sequel
A two-part sequel, Return to Cranford was broadcast by BBC as a Christmas special in December 2009. Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Julia McKenzie, Deborah Findlay, and Barbara Flynn reprised their roles, with Jonathan Pryce, Celia Imrie, Lesley Sharp, Nicholas Le Prevost, Jodie Whittaker, Tom Hiddleston, Michelle Dockery, Matthew McNulty and Rory Kinnear joining the cast. The program aired on January 10 & 17, 2010 on PBS in the United States.

The new stories, which were written by Heidi Thomas and directed by Simon Curtis, took place in August 1844; a year after the wedding of Sophy Hutton and Dr Harrison. Filming of the railway sequences took place at the Foxfield Railway in Staffordshire.