Marie Curie

Not since Microbes and Men (1974) has the BBC managed to produce such a highly watchable masterpiece, which has, unfortunately fallen by the wayside in the annuls of historic and scientific drama. The series charts this amazing woman's rise through the scientific ranks of French academia to unprecedented levels, not achieved since and who's work laid the foundations of the science of Quantum physics and cancer treatments. The actors, storyline and setting works together to make this series the absolute watchable masterpiece for anyone interested in the history of science and medicine and a must-see for those whose work it is to promote the role of women in science. You will not fail to enjoy this.

This, as I recall, was a pretty daring new look at the life and times of Marya (Marie) Sklodovska Curie, particularly at the sad and scandalous early years of her long widowhood. It appears the lonely, needy Marie had an affair, or almost had one, with a fellow scientist and admirer who ended up staying in his rocky marriage. In any case, their letters were leaked to the press by his wife and/or their scientific rivals, and Marie was nearly driven from the respected position she had achieved.

This was all glossed over by her admiring daughter Eve in the otherwise excellent biogaphy she wrote about her mother... In part due to natural loyalty, and the fact that Eve was still a young child by the time these events had played out. By the time Eve was in her teens, Marie was once again restored to a condition of esteem (and, apparently, celibacy) which she retained until the end.

I'd like to see this again, one DVD if it's out there, as I recall the good and convincing performance by Jean Lapotaire, who appeared in numerous English historical minseries back then, which were later shown on US educational TV. (Where we "high-brows" sought edgy entertainment before everyone had HBO and Showtime.)

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I *am* old enough to have seen the original mini-series (on American public television). It was a beautifully crafted series that was both reasonably accurate AND thoroughly captivating. Marie Curie was one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century, and it's somewhat scandalous that her life and work has been so seldom described. There should be a clamor from many groups of scientists and scholars, men and women alike, to bring this wonderful mini-series out on DVD. It is a story that the general public needs to see and digest. I hope that enough people can persuade the BBC to release it themselves, or failing that to give the rights to some other entity that would make it available once again.