Sunday Afternoon At The Movies

There is nothing much better than Masterpiece Theater- don't you think?
Masterpiece, as it is now called, began in 1971. It was a show we watched as family every Sunday night. I looked forward to hearing Alistair Cooke introduce with British elegance, each and every episode.And how bout that theme song??



I grew up mesmerized with THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY THE 8TH ,ELIZABETH R and I CLAUDIUS.
More recently I have been addicted to THE FORSYTHE SAGA and enthralled with the THE LOST PRINCE,the heartbreaking true story of Prince John, the child of King George V of England and Queen Mary.

Well, the new series, EMMA, based on the book by Jane Austin , has begun and stars Romola Garai (ATONEMENT) as Emma. I had the misfortune of missing the first of 3 episodes ...


But as luck would have it... one can watch it on PBS right HERE
which I plan on doing today so I will be all caught up for the second installment in the three part series.

Laura Linney is the new Alistair Cooke and she does a fantastic job introducing the adaptations.

I loved ever so much last year's LITTLE DORRIT-and one of the best parts of each show was hearing tidbits about the corelation between LITTLE DORRIT and Dickens' real life, as told by Ms. Linney.

I have got the Tivo set for recording a Season Pass for all of this year's
 "Masterpiece"  which has some fine show's coming up....

"The 39 Steps
Secret agent Richard Hannay battles German spies on the eve of World War I in a riveting and romantic new version of the classic thriller by John Buchan, made famous in Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 movie. Masterpiece favorite Rupert Penry-Jones (Persuasion) stars as Hannay.


Sharpe's Challenge
In 1817, soldier-adventurer Richard Sharpe comes out of retirement to quash a rebellion in British India and rescue his old friend. Sean Bean returns as the swashbuckling hero of this legendary series based on the novels of Bernard Cornwell. Top Chef's Padma Lakshmi guest stars.


Sharpe's Peril
The thrilling adventures of Colonel Richard Sharpe continue as he leads a ragtag party of civilians and soldiers across India, with the murderous army of an opium lord in hot pursuit. Daragh O'Malley stars as Sharpe's comrade-in-arms, Sergeant Major Patrick Harper.


The Diary of Anne Frank
The most accurate adaptation of Anne Frank's account of life hiding from the Nazis stars Ellie Kendrick as a maturing teenager who undergoes an extraordinary ordeal. Iain Glen, Tamsin Greig and Felicity Jones also star. The Diary of Anne Frank airs on Holocaust Remembrance Day 2010.


Small Island
The saga of two couples — one Jamaican, one English — whose lives intertwine in both friendship and tragic misunderstanding in post-World-War-II Britain. Naomie Harris and David Oyelowo star as the Jamaican immigrants, with Ruth Wilson and Benedict Cumberbatch as their English landlords." ( as per PBS site)