VANITY FAIR
UK, 2018, 300 minutes, Colour.
Olivia Cooke, Tom Bateman, Johnny Flynn, Claudia Jessie, Robert Pugh, Simon Russell Beale, Ellie Kendrick, Charlie Rowe, Martin Clunes, Sian Clifford, David Flynn, Michael Pallin, Felicity Montagu, Peter Wight, Patrick Fitz Symons, Monica Dolan, Claire Skinner, Frances de la Tour, Anthony Head, Elizabeth Berrington, Sally Phillips.
Directed by James Strong.
This is a six-part BBC television version of William Thackeray’s novel. It was wide in scope in his presentation of England at the time of the Regency, the battle against Napoleon, the experience of Waterloo, the aftermath.
At the centre is one of literature’s characters, Becky Sharpe. Here she is played by Olivia Wilde. There had been a 1930s brief version with Miriam Hopkins, one of the first of the technicolour films, Becky Sharpe. There was a lavish cinema version in 2004 starring Reese Witherspoon.
This version is able to present at some length the various episodes of the novel, the origins of Becky Sharpe, her friendships, her ambitions, her betrayals, the consequences.
There is a very strong supporting cast of character British actors. And is the commentary by Michael Palin and as Thackeray himself, making comments on the morality of the story and vanity fair.
1. The impact of the film? BBC production? Screened as a miniseries, the amount of time available, the scope?
2. The status of the novel, of Thackeray as an author, his perspectives on character, on British history, the Napoleonic era, Waterloo, the era of George III?
3. Michael Palin appearing as Thackeray himself, addressing the audience, the fair and the background, his comments on characters, on Becky Sharpe, on people striving for something not worth having?
4. The period, costumes and decor, domestic sequences, pageantry? School, homes, London in the streets, mansions, the countryside and farms? Brussels? The battle of Waterloo? Spies and casinos? The musical score?
5. The film divided into chapters, descriptions, moral perspective?
6. Becky Sharpe, her place in literary characters? A 19th century character, a young and ambitious woman, her wiles, success, failure?
7. The opening with the school, Becky and Amelia, the headmistress, Becky and her insolence, the headmistress, the plan for her to be a governess? The bond between the two girls? Leaving, the going to stay with the Sedley family? The father and his business success? Joseph and his return from India, large, pompous? Becky with her eye on Joseph? Meals, discussions? Amelia and her relationship with George? The night at Vauxhall, the experience of Becky, the effect on each character? Dobbin?
8. Becky having to leave, to go to the Crawley mansion, her being unwilling? The arrival, Pitt and his collecting her himself? His character, manner, bluster? The house, the farm? Pitt and the staff? Becky and her tutoring? The girls and their response, her charm with them? The encounter with Rawdon, the attraction? His military career? The touch of the ne’er-do-well? Becky and her advice to PItt, financial matters, becoming the secretary, her dominance in the house, the covert relationship Rawdon, Pitt and his proposal, her being married, the reaction?
9. Pitt’s oldest son, the moral stances, his acidic wife, their children? To inherit? The enmity towards Becky and wanting to oust her? The later encounters, the brother having to help broaden, financial difficulties – and Becky getting some revenge?
10. The aunt, her manner, snobbery, a companion? The visit, attracted to Becky, promoting her, her favouring Rawdon, her dislike of his brother and her wife and his wife? Taking
on Becky, in the household, relying on her – but change in her attitude when discovering Becky’s marriage? Her death? The bequests – and Becky’s disappointment?
11. The Osborne’s, the father and his business sense, making money, the clash with Sedley? George and his army career? His relationship with Amelia, the father and his antipathy towards the Sedleys? Towards the engagement? The sister and her quiet presence in the household? The father, cutting off George? George’s reaction? George and his interest in Becky?
12. The character of Dobbin, the good man, army, friend with George, devoted to Amelia, protecting her at Vauxhall?
13. Napoleon, the escape from Elba, the British Army, the call-up, the barracks, the ships, going to the continent? George and his going, his father cutting off?
14. Everybody gathering in Brussels, society, the Army, the wives? The social and the ball? George and his note to Becky? Dobbin and his intervention? Rawdon and the relationship with Becky – and her pregnancy? People wanting to leave Brussels, the snobs, eager for horses, Becky and her shrewdness, the selling of the horses? Hoping for recognition in London society – and later her being snubbed?
15. The vivid sequences of the battle, warfare, George’s death?
16. The return to London? Amelia and her baby? Wanting to bring up the baby? Her father, the poverty, selling everything up, the vengeful Osborne? Dobbin and his buying the piano, Amelia thinking it was a present from George? And not recognising Dobbin’s devotion and love?
17. Becky, the birth of her son? Setting up the gambling house, the rent and not paying, the deaths? Rawdon and his gambling? Becky and her affair with the Lord, able to meet the king and some fulfilment of her ambitions? Her being snubbed by the other women? The Lord’s wife, inviting Becky to play the piano?
18. Rawdon, the tensions, Becky betraying him, the confrontation with the Lord, her jewellery? The boy being sent away, Becky having no motherly love? Rawdon devoted? The governorship, the four years, eventually getting malaria, his dying?
19. The son, being cared for by the aunt’s companion? Becky abandoning him?
20. Dobbin, going to India, disappointed? The friendship with the Irish couple from the Army, to India? Joseph and his work in India? The return to London?
21. Dobbin, meeting Amelia, her boy, her change of heart, Dobbin in his companionship, Mr Sedley? The going on a holiday, the spa?
22. Dobbin, the visit to Osborne? His death? Dobbin wanting him to share the bringing-up of the boy with Amelia rather than taking him away, supporting him?
23. The boy discovering Becky at the spa, Joseph and renewed infatuation? Becky and the clash with Amelia?
24. Eventual resolution, reconciliation, Dobbin and his being accepted by Amelia, the marriage, their child? The striving in vanity fair – and final achievement?
