January 10 - The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Today’s movie is a period drama with a scene that happens on January 10. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

THE TENANT OF WILDFELL HALL    

Helen Huntingdon flees her home with her son Arthur and moves into Wildfell Hall, pretending to be a widow. She on the whole rebuffs the attempts of the locals to get to know her, but attracts the attention of Gilbert Markham, who is courting Eliza Millward, the vicar’s daughter. Eliza spreads vicious romurs about Helen, who agrees to tell all to Gilbert, but he doesn’t appear at their designated rendezvous, as he had overheard a conversation between Helen and Frederick Lawrence and believed them to be intimate. After a physical confrontation between Gilbert and Frederick,, Helen gives Gilbert her diaries to read, which launches into a long flashback. Helen tells how she met and married Arthur Huntingdon, a notorious rake and drunkard. Their marriage becomes a living hell, especially after the birth of her son, Arthur. Helen becomes increasingly concerned over the vicious habits her husband is teaching their son and resolves to flee. On January 10, 1827 [Ep. 2 51:29 to 53:59] Huntington wants Helen’s keys to the household as a way to exert control over her and keep her from leaving. Eventually Helen is successful in leaving. Helen does return to her husband when he becomes ill. He eventually dies. Helen returns to Wildfell Hall, is reconciled to Gilbert and agrees to become engaged to him in a year. 

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë (Wildside Press, Doylestown, Pa.) at page 276 gives this date 

Producer – Suzan Harrison

Director – Mike Barker

Screenplay - David Nokes

Runtime – 2 hours 39 minutes

Released – November 17, 1996

Starring –

Toby Stephens as Gilbert Markham

Tara FitzGerald as Helen Graham

Rupert Graves as Arthur Huntingdon

Sarah Badel as Rachel

Jackson Leach as Master Arthur Huntington

Sean Gallagher as Walter Hargrave

Jonathan Cake as Ralph Hattersley

Joe Absolom as Fergus Markham

Kenneth Cranham as Reverend Millward

Pam Ferris as Mrs. Markham

Cathy Murphy as Miss Myers

Paloma Baeza as Rose Markham

James Purefoy as Frederick Lawrence

Dominic Rowan as Lord Lowborough  

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015