Stars: Alan Rickman, Geraldine McEwan, Donald Pleasence, Susan Hampshire, Nigel Hawthorne

Director: David Giles

Summary: An adaptation of two Anthony Trollope novels. The respected Reverend of Barchester becomes a victim of association when the Church is accused of corruption.

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The first two episodes of this BBC miniseries only hint at the delights to come. A lawsuit aimed at church reform in the town of Barchester forces a decent middle-aged clergyman (Donald Pleasence) into a moral crisis and a conflict with his son-in-law, a pompous archdeacon (Nigel Hawthorne, The Madness of King George). The gracefully written and acted narrative shows glimpses of dry wit--but in episode 3, the arrival of a new bishop (Clive Swift, Keeping Up Appearances), his imperious wife (Geraldine McEwan, The Magdalene Sisters), and his devious chaplain (Alan Rickman, Truly Madly Deeply, the Harry Pottermovies) launches The Barchester Chroniclesinto a satirical power struggle all the more mesmerizing because of the smallness of the territory. The scheming of the citizens and clergy of this British town is both Byzantine and wonderfully comic as the tempestuous personalities claw and dig at each other.

Rickman, in one of his first film or television roles, turns in a tour de force of oily ambition. McEwan's ferocious machinations are downright terrifying, while the sputtering Hawthorne seems constantly in danger of bursting a vein. At the center of it all is Pleasence. Making goodness compelling has always been difficult, since wickedness is always more dramatic; but Pleasence brings a deep and stirring passion to his role that proves as engaging as all the back-biting that surrounds him. And these are just the more familiar faces; a host of lesser-known actors give equally superb performances. The final episode (of seven) will have you on pins and needles. The Barchester Chronicles, adapted from two novels by Anthony Trollope, is one of those marvels of British television, a skillful production that proves intelligent fare can be hugely entertaining. --Bret Fetzer

Aspect Ratio:	4:3
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Middle Englands Marvel A 1989 Portrait Of Peterboroughs Cathedral Commemorating 750 Years
Year:	1982
Release Date:	May 30, 2005
Runtime:	353 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	C C D 30143
Keywords:	Classic, Book, Two, General, Chronicles, Barchester, Tv, Drama, Period, Discs, Based
Genre:	Drama