Ten Costume Dramas That Succeed…

• The Crossing — Jeff Daniels in the dramatization of Gen. George Washington’s Christmas Eve crossing of the Delaware. Breathes life into the history-class staple. The details are plenty and graphic and as a result, one begins to understand the gravity and desperation behind this monumental feat. Inspiring and deeply moving.
• Elizabeth I — Stroke of genius casting in Helen Mirren as Elizabeth I in her later years and Jeremy Irons as her forever and most trusted friend and lover the Earl of Leicester, Robert Dudley. The wisdom and stubborn folly of one of the world’s most powerful women ever is painfully and dramatically explored in this miniseries.
• The Way We Live Now — Overlapping and intricate stories of crumbling power, manifest destiny and financial desperation among the genteel and feckless. Fabulously broad social commentary by Anthony Trollope. It’s practically his specialty. Special applause for the wonderful and despicable Felix Carbury. The cad.
• Much Ado About Nothing – Kenneth Branagh sometimes succeeds and sometimes fails in his zeal to bring the classics to life. This is a howling success. He makes pure Shakespearean dialogue accessible and flat-out hilarious. Honorable Mention to Michael Keaton as…what the hell was he anyway? Nimrodus Absurdus Perfectus.
• North and South — Elizabeth Gaskell’s (arguably) best novel made into a miniseries that begs multiple viewings. Totally addictive.
• Anne of The Thousand Days — Richard Burton as Henry VIII and Genvieve Bujold as Anne Boleyn. One of the best celluloid stabs at telling this impossible-to-believe story.
• The Taming of the Shrew: Shakespeare Retold — This modern-day version gave me such momentous pause that I re-read the play and watched the Burton-Taylor version (which kind of blows — Liz overacts laughably) with fresh perspective. I am converted. This delightful re-telling has subtle, meaningful insight into the puzzle of marriage.
• Spartacus – All roads of period-drama lead here. Fantastically timeless story of slavery and the meaning of “fighting for freedom.” What a geek I am: I am tearing up thinking about Varinia showing the dying Spartacus his free-born son.
• Bleak House — So many of Dickens’ books are brought effectively to the screen. I chose this one because I recently re-watched it and it’s a great example of a production that does Dickens’ rich peripheral characters justice. X-Files‘ Gillian Anderson stars.
• Romeo and Juliet, Franco Zeffirelli version — Zeffirelli executes period drama so well (see the miniseries Jesus of Nazareth). He turns huge, passionate stories into huge passionate, delicious movies dripping with color, life and meaning. This 1968 version is a gold standard to me.

Next up: Ten Costume Dramas That Fail