The Cinder Path

I just saw this film for the first time on DVD. I have watched it again a couple of times. It is a beautiful production that was well casted. I would have to strongly disagree with a previous review that cited Maria Miles' acting as the downfall of the film. I was quite taken with her acting, in fact, I thought she was a standout in the production. Lloyd Owen was a brilliant choice for the the part of Charlie. I'm inclined to say that Catherine Zeta-Jones was my least favorite casting choice, but perhaps it is because I am watching the film for the first time many years later after it was produced and the fact that I am more familiar with her as a celebrity than the other actors made her somewhat of an anachronism in the film.

In the film version of Catherine Cookson's classic The Cinder Path, Lloyd Owen finds himself in a love triangle between the beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones and her sister Maria Miles. While that doesn't seem to be the biggest head-scratcher in the world, there's a lot more to the plot, putting Lloyd in quite a pickle before the film's even half-over. It's a period piece, set during WWI, and for fans of that time period, it's one of the best.

The casting is fantastic, with Antony Byrne as a menacing villain, Catherine Zeta-Jones as a love-to-hate English Scarlett O'Hara, and Lloyd Owen as a hero who's easy to root for but still frustrating enough to warrant some advice spoken aloud to your television. Maria Miles's pronunciation of "Charlie" is pretty hilarious, and it's a bit of a running joke in my house to imitate her.

All in all, there's a bit of everything in this story: love, war, death, repentance, revenge, blackmail, infidelity, and beautiful people wearing beautiful costumes. The Cinder Path is perfect to rent on a rainy afternoon after having tea with your girlfriends.

A correction to the above comment: The Cinder Path is not a BBC production it is a Tyne Tees TV production (ITV).

The downtrodden son of a farmer, married to one woman but in love with her sister, ships off to World War I in search of glory and redemption. On the front lines, he must battle not only the enemy but also the demons of self-doubt which have plagued him throughout his life. A miniseries presentation of Catherine Cookson's novel.

The hospital shots were filmed in Beamish Hall in County Durham. Town and shop locations are Beamish The North of England Open Air Museum, County Durham

WWI trenches shots were filmed on Tow Law Fell, County Durham.

I am a big fan of Catherine Cookson adaptations, but I believe 'The Cinder Path' is one of the most disappointing.

The tale begins in the years just before the Second World War and follows Charlie MacFell who witnesses the murder of his brutish farm-owner father and helps to cover it up. Unfortunately, an unscrupulous character named Ginger Slater sees what happens and uses this knowledge to blackmail him through the years that follow.

There are solid performances from Lloyd Owen as MacFell and Catherine Zeta-Jones as the beautiful but cold heiress he marries, but the production is let down by the terrible acting from Maria Miles as Zeta-Jones's sister.

On top of this, the plot is weakened by the character of MacFell who makes implausible decisions and is difficult to feel any sympathy towards as the story works its way to a very dull conclusion.

One to avoid, in my opinion.

The Cinder Path is a quite typical British TV-drama film/miniseries. It is one of those epic sorts of films that I really enjoy watching, like "Lorna Doone" or "Sharpe". Lloyd Owen, of the "Monarch of the Glen" fame, is quite impressive here as Charlie McFell, a man who was abused by his sadistic father and when his father is murdered, he protects the killer. He now has to take charge of the family farm, which is not an easy task for the introverted Charlie.He then hastily marries Victoria, daughter from a wealthy local family who is cold and deceptive. Zeta-Jones is outstanding in this part.

The story is very well crafted and builds up to a dramatic finale. Many are likely to find inspiration in the character of Charlie and his struggle to overcome his past and become a man of integrity. Hopeless romantics will also enjoy the romance between Charlie and Nellie, Victoria's much kinder sister.

All in all, this is as good as a BBC TV drama can get and also involves some impressively reenacted WW1 action. 9 1/2 out of 10.