The Mayor of Casterbridge

A sombre, slow-burning tragedy of remorse and inexorable downfall, rich in period detail and moral weight.

Created by

Dennis Potter

Genres

Drama

Starring

Alan Bates, Janet Maw, Jack Galloway

Tagline

The Dennis Potter adaptation of Thomas Hardy's classic tale

Overview

The Mayor of Casterbridge is a 1978 BBC seven-part serial based on the eponymous 1886 book by the British novelist Thomas Hardy. The six-hour drama was written by dramatist Dennis Potter and directed by David Giles, with Alan Bates as the title character. Michael Henchard, an out-of-work hay-trusser, gets drunk at a fair and, for five guineas, sells his wife and child to a sailor. When the horror of his act finally sets in, Henchard swears he will not touch alcohol for twenty-one years. Through hard work and acumen, he becomes rich, respected, and eventually the mayor of Casterbridge. But eighteen years after his fateful oath, his wife and daughter return to Casterbridge, and his fortunes steadily decline.

How it feels

Bleak, melancholic, tense and earnest. Slow-burning and needs your attention.

About

Guilt, fate, betrayal, redemption

Content

Mild violence, sexual content and language. No gore.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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