This ambitious take on the classic Cervantes tale finds The Adventures of Don Quixote treated as a major television event. It was a big deal at the time, filmed as a high-end co-production between the BBC and Universal. While it aired as part of the Play of the Month strand, it really feels more like a feature film. Rex Harrison and Frank Finlay are spot on as the eccentric lead and his loyal squire, Sancho Panzo. They carry the story of the delusional knight-errant with just the right mix of heart and humour.
The supporting cast is packed with familiar faces that fans of British TV will love. Rosemary Leach and Bernard Hepton turn in really strong performances that ground the more fantastical elements of the plot. You can also spot cult favourites like Roger Delgado and Francoise Pascal, known for her role in Mind Your Language. It is a visually impressive production that stands out for its scale, pulling together some of the best acting talent of the era for a lavish period piece.
Production Details
UK – USA / BBC One – Universal / 1×90 minute episode / Broadcast 7 January 1973
Writer: Hugh Whitmore
Costumes: Elizabeth Waller
Producer: Gerald Savory
Director: Alvin Rakoff
Main Cast
Rex Harrison as Don Quixote
Frank Finlay as Sancho Panzo
Rosemary Leach as Dulcinea
Bernard Hepton as The Priest
Roger Delgado as The Monk
Ronald Lacey as The Barbe
Robert Eddison as The Duke
Murray Melvin as Travelling Barbe
Gwen Nelson as Housekeepe
Paulwhitsun-Jones as First Landlord
Brian Coburn as First Muletee
Athol Coats as Second Muletee
John Hollis as First Prisone
Walter Sparrow as 2nd Prisone
Brian Spink as Death
Francoise Pascal as Harlot
Jon C.P. Mattocks as Goatherd
