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Hard Times

  • TV Mini Series
  • 1994
  • TV-14
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
322
YOUR RATING
Alan Bates, Patsy Byrne, Beatie Edney, and Bob Peck in Hard Times (1994)
Drama

In the first part of this adaptation by Peter Barnes, Tom and Louisa are first introduced to the audience.In the first part of this adaptation by Peter Barnes, Tom and Louisa are first introduced to the audience.In the first part of this adaptation by Peter Barnes, Tom and Louisa are first introduced to the audience.

  • Stars
    • Harriet Walter
    • Bill Paterson
    • Alan Bates
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    322
    YOUR RATING
    • Stars
      • Harriet Walter
      • Bill Paterson
      • Alan Bates
    • 14User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Episodes4

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    TopTop-rated1 season1994

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    Top cast25

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    Harriet Walter
    Harriet Walter
    • Rachel
    • 1994
    Bill Paterson
    Bill Paterson
    • Stephen Blackpool
    • 1994
    Alan Bates
    Alan Bates
    • Josiah Bounderby
    • 1994
    Beatie Edney
    Beatie Edney
    • Louisa Gradgrind
    • 1994
    Bob Peck
    Bob Peck
    • Thomas Gradgrind
    • 1994
    Emma Lewis
    • Sissy Jupe…
    • 1994
    Richard E. Grant
    Richard E. Grant
    • James Harthouse
    • 1994
    Christien Anholt
    Christien Anholt
    • Tom
    • 1994
    Dilys Laye
    Dilys Laye
    • Mrs. Sparsit
    • 1994
    Damian Hunt
    • Young Tom
    • 1994
    Alex Jennings
    Alex Jennings
    • Bitzer
    • 1994
    Patsy Byrne
    Patsy Byrne
    • Old Woman
    • 1994
    Diana Fairfax
    Diana Fairfax
    • Mrs. Gradgrind
    • 1994
    Peter Bayliss
    Peter Bayliss
    • Sleary
    • 1994
    Timothy Bateson
    Timothy Bateson
    • Childers
    • 1994
    Sam Stockman
    • Young Bitzer
    • 1994
    Fergus Brazier
    • Young Kidderminster
    • 1994
    Russell Baker
    Russell Baker
    • Self - Host on U.S. transmission
    • 1994
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    6.4322
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    Featured reviews

    7didi-5

    Excellent adaptation for schools

    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.
    5Andrew-199

    OK

    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.
    5tonstant viewer

    Star Power Isn't Enough

    Bob Peck, Alan Bates, Richard E. Grant and Bill Paterson are all actors I admire a great deal. However their best work is elsewhere, and this video is in no way competitive with the 1977 Granada version which is finally out on DVD, and very much worth seeking out.

    This 1994 version is truncated to the point of incoherence, sort of like reading Classics Illustrated comic books by flashes of lightning. None of the actors can survive the frenetic pace, with many scenes limited to just two lines of dialog. Characters can't be created in this kind of a rush, just sketched in, with Peck and Grant valiantly approximating real performances, Bates relying on tics and tricks, and Paterson actively bad. But I don't think it's really their fault.

    The less-well known but far superior Granada version was adapted by Arthur Hopcraft and directed by John Irvin. Patrick Allen and Timothy West are iconic in their stovepipe hats as Gradgrind and Bounderby, Edward Fox gives a career-defining performance as Harthouse, and Alan Dobie is dry and restrained as Blackpool. Even Rosalie Crutchley as Mrs. Sparsit wins on points over the later version's scene-stealing Dilys Laye.

    Skip this one and find the earlier Irvin-Granada version - you won't be disappointed.
    10ralphster

    Genius, pure genius!

    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.................!
    2durkinportraits

    Just weird and flat

    I was very disappointed when I purchased this DVD of "Hard Times" by Dickens. I cannot recommend it as a Dickens fan and as someone who is often blessed to see mostly Andrew Davies Adaptations of classic literature for the BBC. The music is creepy like a B movie horror flick, the acting is stiff, the lighting is horrible , and it is all too obvious that the scenes were mostly filmed in badly propped studio spaces. I was especially upset that I disliked the movie since it was filled with so many of my favorite actors such as Alan Bates and Richard E Grant. The actor who played Gradgrind gave the only acceptable performance in my eyes. The only consolation was that the short story TV classic "The Signalman" (adapted by Davies!) was added to fill the end of the Disk.

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Left-handed Christien Anholt (Tom) is seen writing with his right hand, as Tom is right-handed.
    • Connections
      Version of Hard Times (1915)

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    FAQ15

    • How many seasons does Hard Times have?Powered by Alexa

    Details

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    • Release date
      • April 29, 1994 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Timpuri grele
    • Production companies
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • WGBH
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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