The Shadow in the North (2007) (TV)

Director:

John Alexander

Writers:

Adrian Hodges (screenplay)
Philip Pullman (novel)

Release Date:

15 September 2007 (Hungary)

Genre:

Adventure

Plot Keywords:

Philip Pullman | Based On Novel

Cast

Jared Harris	...	Axel Bellmann
Doña Croll	...	Nellie Budd
David Harewood	...	Nicholas Bedwell
Hayley Atwell	...	Rosa Garland
JJ Feild	...	Fred Garland
Matt Smith	...	Jim Taylor
Billie Piper	...	Sally Lockhart
John Standing	...	Webster Garland
Antonia Pemberton	...	Miss Walsh
Owen Roe	...	Bram Stoker
Julian Rhind-Tutt	...	Alistair MacKinnon
Richard Clews	...	Mr. Windlesham
Phil Cornwell	...	Harris
Peter Whittington	...	Society Gentleman
Jack Brady	...	Sackville

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

UK:12 (DVD)

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Movie Connections:

Follows The Ruby in the Smoke (2006) (TV)

Minor achievement for the BBC

The Sally Lockhart mysteries proved to be a mild disappointment. They are not up to the usual BBC period drama standards - or rather they haven't gotten the period drama treatment. The story relies heavily on a Victorian atmosphere, but you rarely get this in the film adaptations. First of all, Miss Piper, lovely and talented as she is, has the least Victorian beauty imaginable. She is so much AD 2000 that every scene with her in it loses every kind of credibility. One can argue that women were born with different features in olden days - but they pretty much tried to rearrange their facial muscles to imitate the accepted standards of any given era. Where today's actresses try to make their lips appear lush and succulent, every Victorian girl would have subconsciously made every effort to make her mouth appear as a tiny rosebud. The same goes for eyes, hair, posture, gestures. Miss Piper walks straight out of 2007 and makes everything around her 2007.

Watching the adaptations, one also gets the impression that the Victorian society was very welcoming to different races and accepted them into the society with open arms. Almost in every single shot featuring the London society, there are Asian, Caribbean and Black people, the latter even boosting rasta hairstyle on one occasion. The golden truth however is that representatives of these races only got into contact with The Society as footmen and servants, and never ever mixed with them.

My overall impression was that these adaptations were meant for a young viewer who cares little for the authenticity of a traditional well mounted BBC period piece production. If you want some moderate tension and a fairly watchable entertainment with some good moments, don't hesitate to view these films. I don't regret sitting through them at one go, I only wish I would have been totally overwhelmed.