14 thoughts on “TBT: Mapp & Lucia (1985) – 1930s Comedy of Manners

  1. Finally someone mentions this version! Thank you! I remember watching it on PBS in the 1980s and just enjoying it so much. And yes I remember the clothes. Sometimes the 1920s and older women (and now I’m Mapp and Lucia’s age myself) doesn’t work very well, but Geraldine McEwan always looks fantastic and her hats are to die for – so many more styles than just the cloche. When I see a mention of Mapp and Lucia it is always to the more recent one (understandably), but this was the one that actually made me read some of the stories (they are enjoyable too!)

  2. I also remember this one, especially the clothes and ‘walker’ George. I tried to find it again but got the modern 2014 version, which I still need to watch.
    What I liked about the ‘original’ was how the plus size Mapp was just as stylish within her income and budget as Lucia. Also George was probably the perfect bff for Lucia.

  3. I love the 1985 version almost as much as I love the books, which I re-read at least once a year. They never pall. E.F. Benson actually lived in Tilling — I mean Rye, and Mallards, with its I-want-it-so-much garden room is Lamb House. You can get a lovely view of it via Google maps.

    1. India have you been to Rye? We went and it was so exciting! The house used for Mallards wasn’t Lamb House as it has no street appeal but the books make so much more sense as the property covers the whole elbow of the top of Mermaid St and where the Garden Room was looked directly down it, and at a right angle to the front door so perfect for the peering and spying! Sadly we were there off season so didn’t get to see the garden itself.

  4. I adored this show back in the day. It clearly holds up. I’ll look for it!!!!!

  5. I frigging love Geraldine McEwan – and this is one series that I’ve wanted to see for a while. Her Mrs. Proudie in “Barchester Chornicles” was so amazingly bitchy and fantastic. Costuming in British TV was just so darn GOOD in this period.

    I’ve been obsessing with another production from the same year as this: “Lady Windermere’s Fan.” With Helena Little and the devastatingly handsome Tim Woodward – beautifully on-point 1891-ish costuming there too.

    1. Oh, yes, the Barchester Chronicles. If memory serves, that was the first time I became aware of our beloved Alan Rickman. That voice – swoon. OK, I don’t want to cry at work.

  6. The 1985 version is available through BritBox streaming. So is the 2014 version, but other than it was able to film at Lamb House (E.F. Benson’s house and “Mallards” in the books), it is inferior in every way. McEwan, Scales and Hawthorne are superb!

  7. Ah, the motherload of fabulosity. I saw this when it first came out, got a VCR taped from the TV, bought the books and now I own all the books and all the DVDs and not a year goes by where I don’t read and watch at least once. It is my favourite adaptation for screen, but like so often it doesn’t come close to capturing the subtlety of the characterisations in the books. Still my favourite moment is when Diva Plaistow is knocking on Dr Dobbie’s door at the beginning in a purple ensemble with flowers appliqued onto it that is never mentioned -yet in the books preceding Lucia’s arrival in Tilling, Mapp and Diva go to war cutting the flowers out of old curtains and hand appliqueing them onto their clothes. Such a wonderful detail especially for those who have read the books, like a Patreon only post!

  8. The 1985 version was so well cast! I had never heard of the Lucia stories before, although I had read an E.F. Benson ghost story or two. By a fantastic coincidence, this series aired while I was taking my doctoral qualifying exams. It was the perfect way to decompress.

  9. The original is so much better. Love that Georgie is clearly gay and Quaint Irene clearly a lesbian without it being mentioned. Newer version had Miranda Richardson who was excellent and over the top and as good as Prunella but Anna Chancellor wasn’t ridiculous enough, the books are farcical.

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