All Passion Spent

This 3-part production is the most perfect thing I've ever seen on television - the writing, acting, direction, locations, costumes, etc are faultless. Episode two, where Lady Slane learns that Mr Fitzgeorge fell in love with her when they were young, but never revealed his love, is a triumph, and reduces me to tears every time I watch it. Why this series isn't available on commercial release is a mystery, because they just don't get any better than this.

Seventy years after the young Wendy Hiller starred as Eliza Doolittle in "Pygmalion," it is stunning to see her act the part of an old woman in "All Passion Spent," a three-episode version of a Vita Sackville-West novel. She was still beautiful, still a splendid actress. I won't attempt to summarize the story but the TV program is filled with English actors whose faces you will recognize even if you don't know their names. Particularly effective is Harry Andrews, as a wealthy elderly eccentric who fell in love with Dame Wendy's character decades earlier, though they met only fleetingly. Also noteworthy is Jane Snowden as the great-granddaughter who is inspired to follow her own path in life by her great-grandmother's example. Although she lived to be 91, Dame Wendy was only in her mid-70's when this series was made; her character is in her mid-80's.

Lady Slane faces an uncertain future, when her husband, a politician dies. Her children discuss taking her in, but Lady Slane decides to move to Hampstead, there she strikes up a friendship with a man she once knew in India.

A quality, captivating drama series, almost perfect in every detail. The story, not particularly grand or bold, but a study of human nature, contentment, happiness, greed and much more. Visually it's terrific, nobody did costume drama like The BBC, and best of all, the acting.

I loved the family, they really are a scheming, greedy and conniving lot.

Wendy Hiller gives a terrific performance, what a talented actress, her scenes with Harry Andrews, and her grasping family unit in particular are terrific.

Wonderful performances throughout, Harry Andrews and Denholm Elliot are great, but Hilary Mason is a joy, so often she played vinegary spinsters, nice to see her playing a much sweeter part, she's delightful.

Definitely worth getting the DVD, it's one of those you can watch over and over.

8/10.

All Passion Spent... A class act!

This 30-year-old masterpiece wears well even (especially?) today (2017) and as another reviewer writes "is the most perfect thing I've ever seen on television"! The haggling over the rent at the end of episode one is a sublime piece of theatre!

WARNING! The action moves at a steady canter but the horses are old... VERY old! However, the pedigree of this harras is drawn from the very highest stock that British acting can offer. Actually, the youthful and beautiful Jane Snowden does a turn as the granddaughter (She reminds me of Koo Stark) but everyone else is a well-worn valuable antique of English social class, manners and propriety!

Set in the London area, between the two world wars, recently widowed Lady Slane frustrates her family by moving to a home on Hampstead Heath to enjoy her remaining years, to reflect on her past and finally learn to 'be herself', after a long life as a devoted and socially correct wife.

Her kids disappoint her but Lady Slane patiently wades through their dreadful behaviour as she seeks to take control of her own life. In the third act, events take over and as in all good telly, the baddies get what's coming to them and the goodies end up rewarded.

There is lots of humour here but it is all to be found in studying the reactions of players as events unfold or dialogue is spoken to them. These subtle, unspoken performance gems elevate this production beyond mere 'drama'. And Genoux (tireless working actress - Eileen Way) is a treat as Lady Slane's French maid and companion, who has served Lady Slane her entire adult life.

This BBC offering is a genuinely 'class act' in every sense of the word!

Everything about this production is first-class. Interesting story, fine actors, realistic sets - all combine to make this a believable story. We have watched our own tape annually for 15 years and enjoy it more each time - the true test of any film. It is the finest thing we've ever seen on TV. Why has it never been released?