The Moonstone (1972 TV series)
| The Moonstone | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Mystery |
| Based on | The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins |
| Written by | Hugh Leonard |
| Directed by | Paddy Russell |
| Starring | Vivien Heilbron Robin Ellis Basil Dignam Martin Jarvis Anna Cropper Maureen Morris Madhav Sharma Kathleen Byron[1] Peter Sallis[2] |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 5 |
| Production | |
| Producer | John McRae |
| Running time | 70 minutes |
| Production company | BBC |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC One |
| Release | 16 January – 13 February 1972 |
The Moonstone is a British mystery television series adapted from the 1868 novel The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins.[3][4] It aired on BBC 1 in five episodes between 16 January and 13 February 1972.[5] It subsequently aired in America on PBS-TV's Masterpiece Theatre between 10 December 1972 and 7 January 1973.
Cast
- Vivien Heilbron as Rachel Verinder
- Robin Ellis as Franklin Blake
- Kathleen Byron as Lady Verinder
- Basil Dignam as Gabriel Betteredge
- Martin Jarvis as Godfrey Ablewhite
- Anna Cropper as Rosanna Spearman
- John Welsh as Sergeant Cuff
- Peter Sallis as Mr. Bruff
- Christopher Hancock as Ezra Jennings
- Brian Murphy as Septimus Luker
- Maureen Morris as Penelope Betteredge
- Madhav Sharma as Indian
- Bell McCallum as Nancy
- Michael Gover as Superintendent Seegrave
- Philip Ray as Dr. Candy
- Roy Macready as Tomlinson
- Tony Maiden as Conjuror's Boy
- Ali Baba as Indian Conjuror
- Azad Ali as Indian Conjuror
- Cynthia Etherington as Miss Clack
- Brian Badcoe as Mr. Murthwaite
- Douglas Mann as Gooseberry
- Dona Martin as Lucy Yolland
- Sheila Keith as Mrs. Yolland
- Norman Claridge as Dr. Richardson
- Timothy Craven as Chemist
- Colin Baker as John Herncastle
- Reginald Jessup as Purser
- Norman Mitchell as Mr. Ablewhite
- Mary Barclay as Mrs. Ablewhite
- Billy Cornelius as Landlord
- Stephen Rea as Major Frayne
- Derek Chafer as Sergeant
- Julie May as Cuff's Housekeeper
- David Simeon as Mechanic
- Pat Gorman as Baker, Plain Clothes Man
- Albert Moses as Treasury Guard
- Marguerite Young as Mrs. Threadgall
- Sherrie Hewson as Charity Ablewhite
- Georgina Simpson as Grace Ablewhite
Reception
The series was well received by critics. In The New York Times, Howard Thompson called it "typically smooth, restrained, well-played, and in lovely, subdued colour".[6]
Awards
Vivien Heilbron who played Rachel Verinder was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for an "Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role".[7]
Home media
On the 29 August 2006 Acorn Media released all 5 episodes of the series on Region 1 DVD in the United States. Acorn Media also released all 5 episodes on Region 2 DVD in the United Kingdom.[8][9][10]
References
- ^ "The Moonstone (1972)". 16 January 1972. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021.
- ^ "The Moonstone (1972)". 30 January 1972. Archived from the original on 23 June 2024.
- ^ "The Moonstone: Part 1". 16 January 1972. p. 19. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021 – via BBC Genome.
- ^ "The Moonstone Part 5 (1972)". BFI. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021.
- ^ Baskin p.112
- ^ Pitts, Michael R. (2004). "Sergeant Cuff". Famous Movie Detectives III. Scarecrow Press. p. 209.
- ^ "Vivien Heilbron". televisionacademy.com. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "The Moonstone on DVD". swapadvd.com.
- ^ "Moonstone [DVD]". amazon.co.uk.
- ^ "The Moonstone [DVD]". amazon.co.uk.
Bibliography
- Baskin, Ellen. Serials on British Television, 1950-1994. Scolar Press, 1996.