In the 1930s, a determined headmistress arrives in a coastal Yorkshire district and becomes embroiled in the local social struggles and political rivalries of the community. A superior example of the regional British period saga, this adaptation of Winifred Holtby’s novel is far more successful than the earlier film version in capturing the specific texture of Yorkshire life between the wars. Dorothy Tutin is excellent as Sarah Burton, a woman whose progressive ideals clash with the conservative machinery of the local council.
The series excels at depicting the friction between the landed gentry and the working class without falling into easy caricature. It possesses a certain grit and melancholy typical of the best seventies drama, aided by Stan Barstow’s intelligent scripting. A rewarding look at a vanished era of English provincial life.
Production Details
UK / ITV - Yorkshire Television / 13x60 Minute Episodes / 1974
Writers: Stan Barstow
Novel: Winifred Holtby
Producer: James Ormerod
Main Cast
Dorothy Tutin as Sarah Burton
Nigel Davenport as Robert Carne
Hermoine Baddeley as Mrs Beddows
Judi Bowker as Midge Carne
John Cater as Alderman Anthony Smith
Clive Swift as Councillor Alfred E. Huggins
Lesley Dunlop as Lydia Holly