Our Mutual Friend (1976 TV serial)

Our Mutual Friend is a 1976 British television serial adapted from Charles Dickens' 1865 novel Our Mutual Friend.[1][2] The series was made by the BBC and ran during 1976 for a total of seven episodes.[3] It was directed by Peter Hammond.[4]

Our Mutual Friend
Opening title
GenreHistorical drama
Based onOur Mutual Friend
by Charles Dickens
Written byJulia Jones
Donald Churchill
Directed byPeter Hammond
StarringJane Seymour
Leo McKern
Jack Wild
ComposerCarl Davis
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes7
Production
ProducerMartin Lisemore
Running time50 min.
Production companyBBC
Release
Original networkBBC Two
Original release1 March (1976-03-01) –
12 April 1976 (1976-04-12)

The adaptation was by Julia Jones and Donald Churchill, who had written the ITV sitcom Moody and Pegg (1974–75).[5] Their version excludes some minor characters in order to convey the action within the limitations of a seven-episode structure, but was praised by British reviewers for faithfully reproducing the mood and atmosphere of the original novel.[2]

Cast and characters
Actor/Actress Role
John McEnery John Rokesmith
Jane Seymour Miss Bella Wilfer
Nicholas Jones Eugene Wrayburn
John Collin 'Rogue' Riderhood
Leo McKern Nicodemus Boffin
Lesley Dunlop Lizzie Hexam
Andrew Ray Mortimer Lightwood
Kathleen Harrison Mrs. Henrietta Boffin
Ray Mort Reginald Wilfer
Polly James Jenny Wren
Warren Clarke Bradley Headstone
David Troughton Sloppy
Patricia Lawrence Mrs. Wilfer
Edmond Bennett Mr. Dolls
Richard Stilgoe Mr. Boots
John Savident Mr Podsnap
Jack Wild Charley Hexam
Alfie Bass Silas Wegg
Ronald Lacey Mr Venus

Theme music

The theme music was composed by Carl Davis.[6]

Critical reception

The stage-style filming of the serial was criticised, but a number of performances were singled out for praise, including those of Polly James as Jenny Wren and Jack Wild as Charley Hexam.[7]

References
  1. Radio Times, 26 February 1976
  2. "BFI Screenonline: Our Mutual Friend (1976)". www.screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  3. "Our Mutual Friend". 29 March 1976. p. 27 – via BBC Genome.
  4. "Our Mutual Friend Part 1 (1976)". BFI. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020.
  5. Coveney, Michael (29 October 2015). "Julia Jones obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  6. ""Our Mutual Friend" Reviews & Ratings - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  7. Sean Grass (15 May 2017). Charles Dickens's Our Mutual Friend: A Publishing History. Taylor & Francis. pp. 152–. ISBN 978-1-317-16822-5.


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