The Jewel in the Crown
From Free net encyclopedia
The Jewel in the Crown (1984) is a British television mini series produced by Granada Television for ITV and based on the Raj Quartet novels by Paul Scott. The film was located in the fictional city of Mayapore, India.
The series made stars of Art Malik and Charles Dance. Other leading actors included Om Puri, Peggy Ashcroft (who won the BAFTA Best TV Actress award for her performance), Tim Pigott-Smith, Geraldine James, Judy Parfitt, Rachel Kempson, Susan Wooldridge, Saeed Jaffrey, and Karan Kapoor (son of Shashi Kapoor and Jennifer Kendal). The complexities of the plot ensured that no one character was at the centre of the action throughout, and, thanks to a flashback in the final part, only Ronald Merrick (Piggott-Smith) appeared in every episode.
It was shot on 16mm film, much of it on location in India. The programme was often screened from grainy prints, but was fully remastered for its 2005 DVD release and ITV3 screening, resulting in much better picture quality.
The series is often mentioned in the same breath as Brideshead Revisited, and since both programmes were made by the same company reruns of both series usually turn up on the same channel. In a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, voted for by industry professionals, The Jewel in the Crown was placed 22nd.
Select Cast
- Peggy Ashcroft - Barbie Batchelor
- Charles Dance - Guy Perron
- Saeed Jaffrey - The Nawab of Mirat
- Geraldine James - Sarah Layton
- Karan Kapoor - Colin Lindsey
- Rachel Kempson - Lady Manners
- Art Malik - Hari Kumar
- Judy Parfitt - Mildred Layton
- Tim Pigott-Smith - Capt. Ronald Merrick
- Om Puri - Mr. De Souza
- Susan Wooldridge - Daphne Manners