Hard Times

Richard E Grant really made this adaptation. It's a shame I have to write 5 lines on this because there's not a lot to say. Umm. Yes. Some of the glances between the characters were inspired expecially, between Harthouse and Louisa. REG played the dashing cad to a tee. Oh yes. One more line.................!

Made for British schools in 1994, this BBC version of HARD TIMES eschews the usual fancy costumes and elaborate sets of most BBC 'classics' and gets down to the story, focussing on the characters and their sometimes tragic lives and decisions. Don't let its origins put you off: this version boasts a cast most big budget films would kill for: Alan Bates, Richard E. Grant, Harriet Walter, Bill Paterson, and the late, great Bob Peck, magnificent as Gradgrind. Anyone tired of the respectful, white-glove treatment classic novels are usually given on TV will find this a refreshing change of pace: angry and passionate and bleak, with flashes of humour and humanity.

When announced as made by 'BBC Schools', a low cost production is expected. And the sparse sets and Coketown streets are indeed very basic. But this is more than compensated for by the quality of the cast. Bob Peck and Alan Bates lead a team of superb actors, who drive the story along, and provide the character so essential to Dickens through a glance or a gesture, in what is a very stripped down and shortened version of Dickens' classic novel.

Inevitably a lot of Dickens' complexity is lost, and the effect of its abridgement leads to a rather jerky approach, with abrupt shifts of time and scene. But overall this is a great success, substituting character development for fast-moving action. It is a tribute to the BBC's commitment (ten years ago) to quality educational films.

A basic adaptation of 'Hard Times' is lifted above the ordinary by the impressive cast - Bob Peck as Gradgrind, Alan Bates as Bounderby, Dilys Laye as Mrs Sparsit, Richard E Grant as Harthouse, Bill Paterson as Stephen Blackpool, and Harriet Walter as Rachel.

Of course the story is somewhat compacted in a running time not much over an hour and a half, but the omissions are not that puzzling and the story is left easy to follow. The quality of the acting and the script mean that this adaptation isn't taking its young audience for granted.

Now available as part of a DVD set of Dickens' works, and well worth buying.

The book of Hard Times can be very good at times and much of its description is captured on screen. However, I personally find these types of film occasionally dull but if you are keen to see the film-adaptation of the novel then enjoy. The film, in my view, is OK.