Masterpiece Theatre: The Wilkie Collins Set - The Woman in White/The Moonstone (1997)

Along a dark country road in Cumberland England a ghoulish woman in white steps from the shadows to confront a foot traveler Walter Hartright (Andrew Lincoln) bound for Limmeridge House three miles off. She asks senseless questions: "You don't suspect me of wrong do you Sir? Why do you suspect me of wrong?" Hartright assures her he suspects her of no wrong but she gibbers on. When a carriage happens by the woman dissolves into the darkness and Hartright accepts the offer of a ride the rest of the way to Limmeridge House a mansion where eccentric esquire Frederick Fairlie (Ian Richardson) has arranged for Hartright to tutor his nieces -- half-sisters Marian and Laura Fairlie -- in the art of drawing. Soon Hartright falls in love with Laura a wealthy heiress. Strangely she is the near mirror image of the woman in white. Laura in turn falls in love with him. Marian who wants only the best for Laura approves of the romance. Unfortunately Hartright loses his job when falsely accused of bad conduct. Before he leaves Limmeridge House he warns Laura that she and her sister are in grave danger. Deeply disappointed in him Laura ignores his caveat and fulfills a pledge to marry Sir Percival Gylde (James Wilby). He seems amiable and even invites Marian to live with him and Laura after the wedding. But when Laura returns from the honeymoon she is melancholy and morose hardly speaking a word to Marian. Glyde and a sinister visitor named Count Fosco (Simon Callow) are the reasons. Apparently they are plotting to seize her inheritance using the tidiest of stratagems: murder. Meanwhile dark secrets unravel involving Glyde's family background and the mysterious woman in white and Hartright returns in an attempt to save the sisters and exorcise the evil possessing Limmeridge House. ~ Mike Cummings All Movie GuideSystem Requirements:Run Time: 224 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR UPC: 783421412996 Manufacturer No: WG41299 Product Description

The Wilke Collins Set

The Woman in White was excellent. The mystery was fascinating and kept us wondering up until the end about what was happening. The Moonstone was not bad, but it seemed more long and drawn out. April 30, 2008

Wilkie Collins fan

Both of these films are intriguing British pieces. The Woman In White is perhaps slightly over-dramatized in this version, but the heart of the story is well captivated by the actors.

The Moonstone has long been a favorite mystery of mine, and this portrayal is rather brilliant.

It was a good purchase for those anglophiles that enjoy nothing better than a good British period movie. May 25, 2007

The Woman in White

The producer has taken artistic licence a little too far. Miss Halcombe was called Miss Fairlie. Why? The earlier BBC version was much better and accurate. February 1, 2007

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