Poldark 1975

I've been curious about the 1975 version of Poldark and went looking for it via my local library.  I have a great library - it is networked with dozens of libraries in my area and I can borrow a book or dvd or download a book or magazine or audio book from any of them.

I just finished watching series one of Poldark, 1975 version, starring Robin Ellis and Angharad Rees. I was hoping I would really like it, but to be honest, the changes the writers made were SO distracting, I had a hard time making myself watch all 12 episodes.  I know that any book that makes it to film has changes, some worse than others, but this had me talking loudly to the TV.  If you see a lot of theater and movies you will notice a distinct difference in them - plays rely on words to convey the story, while movies are far more visual.  This version is more like a play; the current version is a visual feast for the eyes along with the story.

I'm sure there are many people who would disagree with me, but I found Robin's Ross to be too cold in most of his scenes.  There were only a few scenes with Demelza that I felt I could see love in his eyes.  In addition to that, his barking orders and general crankiness made it hard for me to like him and be sympathetic to him.  (Oddly enough, I think that makes him perfect for Rev. Halse, which I think he has played excellently.)  His interactions with Elizabeth were not at all convincing that she was the love of his young life.  His scene when and after Julia dies is so void of emotion.  In the current version there is much more affection shown by Aidan's Ross towards not only Demelza, but Elizabeth, Verity, and even Francis before he betrays Ross.  You see everything he is feeling so keenly, you don't have to wonder what's going on inside him.  Robin failed to do that in my eyes.

Tiny Angharad (can someone tell me how to pronounce that?) played a feistier Demelza than Eleanor does in the current version.  Although sometimes she came across as shrewish to me, she was able to show her love for Ross with a pretty smile and a twinkle in her eye.  Eleanor's Demelza expresses her feelings more in her face and eyes.

Jill Townsend played Elizabeth.  In this version, she was far less friendly to Demelza which didn't affect me one way or the other.  There were a lot of scenes where she looked like she had a stick up her butt, but others where she was more animated.  The one scene from Warleggan which hasn't been done yet on the new version was so low-key, it was like they were reading the words off the script-worse scene in the 12 episodes!  I don't want to say more because I'm trying to make this a no spoiler post. :-)  On the plus side, she had blonde hair as she does in the books. 

The Warleggans consisted of Nicolas and George.  No Uncle Cary.  I don't have anything to say about that.  One thing I've been wondering, in this version, Verity nurses Geoffrey Charles through the morbid throat illness, not Demelza - did that happen in the book ?  I don't think so, but my memory sucks, especially when I'm reading something too fast.  Mea culpa....

A few other irksome things were Verity was far too pretty, Blamey looked too old, as did McNeil.  Ok, so THAT's really nit-picky, I know. lol   I tried putting myself mentally back in the mid-70's to see if I could connect better with this production, but to no avail.

So in my mind, what makes the current version superior to this one?  Besides the cast, which I believe is perfect, it is the stirring, emotional music, the breath-taking outdoor scenes of beautiful Cornwall and the screenplay by Debbie Horsfield, which has inevitable changes from the book, but keeps the spirit of it so much better.  I think Winston would heartily approve of it.

Perhaps you don't agree!  That's ok - we can respectfully, if not cheerfully, agree to disagree.