The Barchester Chronicles

An all-star cast brings Anthony Trollope's novels brilliantly to life in this hit series, originally seen on Masterpiece Theatre. Welcome to the cozy Victorian community of Barchester, where all seems well until a newspaper campaign stirs up trouble in the local vicar's family. Things get worse when the weak-willed bishop intervenes, aided by his domineering wife and the insufferable Reverend Obadiah Slope. A long-awaited release, starring Alan Rickman (Harry Potter films, Sense and Sensibility), Nigel Hawthorne (Yes, Prime Minister), Susan Hampshire (The Pallisers, The Forsyte Saga, Monarch of the Glen) and Donald Pleasence (The Great Escape).

The community of Barchester is shaken from its cozy complacency when a newspaper?s crusade against the Church of England?s practice of self-enrichment misfires. Overnight, Rev. Harding (Donald Pleasence ? The Great Escape) becomes a pawn in a battle between his younger daughter?s beau, John Bold, and his older daughter?s husband, Archdeacon Grantly (Nigel Hawthorne ? The Madness of King George). Little do they realize that the worst is yet to come, until a regime change delivers Barchester into the hands of a most unholy trinity: the weak-willed Bishop Proudie; the domineering Mrs. Proudie; and the insufferable Rev Obadiah Slope (Alan Rickman ? Harry Potter).

Rev. Septimus Harding	---	Donald Pleasence
John Bold	---	David Gwillim
Finney	---	John Ringham
Bunce	---	Joseph O’Conor
Handy	---	Clifford Parrish
Moody	---	Wally Thomas
Gazy	---	Kenneth Keeling
Eleanor Bold	---	Janet Maw
Archdeacon Grantly	---	Nigel Hawthorne
Mary Bold	---	Barbara Flynn
Susan Grantly	---	Angela Pleasence
Skulpit	---	Denis Carey
Tom Towers	---	George Costigan
Samuel Grantly	---	William Redgrave
Ticket Collector	---	George Malpas
Haphazard’s Clerk	---	Raymond Platt
Hotel Waiter	---	Paddy Ward
Sir Abraham Haphazard	---	Michael Aldridge
Bell	---	Keith Marshall
Baby Bold	---	Christopher Maynard
Bishop Proudie	---	Clive Swift
Rev. Obadiah Slope	---	Alan Rickman
Dr. Vesey Stanhope	---	Richard Bebb
Mrs. Stanhope	---	Phyllidia Law
Signora Madeline Neroni	---	Susan Hampshire
Mrs. Proudie	---	Geraldine McEwan

Written by Anthony Trollope
Adapted by Alan Plater
Directed by David Giles
Produced by Jonathan Powell
Original Music by Derek Bourgeois
Cinematography by Geoff Feld
Film Editing by Stan Plow

BAFTA® Awards
1983 - Best Design - Chris Pemsel

Ever since his deliciously wicked portrayal of smooth lady-killer Obadiah Slope, Alan Rickman has worked hard to avoid being typecast as a villain.