Classics on TV: Jacobean Tragedy on the Small Screen

’Tis Pity She’s a Whore

Remarkable BBC version of John Ford’s tale of incestuous passion.

Play for Today. BBC 1980
Directed by Roland Joffé
With Cherie Lunghi, Tim Pigott-Smith, Kenneth Cranham
Running time 135 min

In the 1970s Roland Joffé directed some of television’s finest social-realist films, and he applied the approach to this truly remarkable version of John Ford’s drama. A tale of incestuous passion written around 1629 is translated to the early Victorian period and turned to critique the sexual and economic hypocrisies of the 19th century – and of the first years of Thatcherism. As for The Duchess of Malfi, the location is Chastleton House, but cinematographer Nat Crosby’s austerely beautiful images give to this radical adaptation a style that is unique among period stage plays on the small screen.

We are pleased to announce that this screening will be introduced by actor Kenneth Cranham.