Gormenghast (TV serial)
Gormenghast is a four-episode television serial based on the first two novels of the Gothic fantasy Gormenghast series by Mervyn Peake. It was produced and broadcast by the BBC.
First broadcast in early 2000, the serial was designed for an early evening time-slot in much the same vein as the earlier adaptations of The Chronicles of Narnia. The BBC conception was based on the idea that Peake's early life in China had influenced the creation of Gormenghast; thus, the castle in the series resembles the Forbidden City in Beijing as well as the holy city of Lhasa in Tibet.
Plot
The series covers the events of the first two books, Titus Groan and Gormenghast. It does not cover any of the events from the third book, Titus Alone.| Episode | Summary |
| Episode 1 | Depicts the events of the first half of Titus Groan, beginning with the birth of Titus and features a number of events including Titus's christening, Steerpike's escape and the events up to the lighting of the fire in the Library. |
| Episode 2 | The episode begins by detailing the conclusion of the events surrounding the fire in the Library. This episode mainly focuses on the events in the second half of Titus Groan, including Sepulchrave's descent into madness and the subsequent death of the Earl and Swelter, Keda's departure and the birth of The Thing, and the banishment of Flay. It ends with the ceremony in which Titus is invested as Earl. |
| Episode 3 | The episode picks up the story eleven years after the events of the previous episode and mainly covers the events from the early part of Gormenghast. Titus, now aged 12, is a schoolboy. The episode includes events such as Irma Prunesquallor's party and her romance with Professor Bellgrove, the murder of Nannie Slagg by Steerpike, and the incarceration of Clarice and Cora. During the episode, Titus begins to rebel and makes his first journey away from the castle, where he meets Flay and sees The Thing. |
| Episode 4 | The final episode covers the remaining events of Gormenghast, in which Titus – now aged 17 –, along with Flay and the Doctor, discover Steerpike's misdeeds. Events in this episode include Steerpike's murder of Barquentine, the discovery of the twins' corpses, Fuchsia's depression, the flood, the search for Steerpike and Titus's wish to leave Gormenghast. |
Cast
| Role | Actor |
| Steerpike | Jonathan Rhys Meyers |
| Gertrude, Countess of Groan | Celia Imrie |
| Sepulchrave, Earl of Groan | Ian Richardson |
| Lady Fuchsia Groan | Neve McIntosh |
| Flay | Christopher Lee |
| Swelter | Richard Griffiths |
| Titus, Earl of Groan | Andrew N. Robertson |
| Titus, Earl of Groan | Cameron Powrie |
| Dr Alfred Prunesquallor | John Sessions |
| Irma Prunesquallor | Fiona Shaw |
| Nannie Slagg | June Brown |
| Keda | Olga Sosnovska |
| Lady Clarice Groan | Zoë Wanamaker |
| Lady Cora Groan | Lynsey Baxter |
| Professor Bellgrove | Stephen Fry |
| Barquentine | Warren Mitchell |
| Rottcodd | Windsor Davies |
| Mollocks | Eric Sykes |
| Headmaster De'Ath | Spike Milligan |
| The Fly | Gregor Fisher |
| Professor Perch | Mark Williams |
| Professor Flower | Martin Clunes |
| Professor Mule | Steve Pemberton |
| Professor Shred | Phil Cornwell |
| Professor Fluke | James Dreyfus |
| Poet | Sean Hughes |
Production
At the time of its broadcast, Gormenghast was among the most ambitious serials ever undertaken by the BBC. The series required a combined five years of production and pre-production and utilized over 120 sets.Differences from source material
Changes were made to both the plots and characters of both books.Plot
Certain changes are made to make the story fit the four-episode format:- Steerpike's murder of Barquentine is delayed until the fourth episode, to make room for the sections concerning Titus's escapes, thus making the character significantly older when this happens.
- The story of Keda's lovers' rivalry and Keda's subsequent wanderings in the wilderness are condensed and she leaves Gormenghast much later, just prior to Swelter and Sepulchrave's deaths.
- Steerpike's backstory was amended for the TV series. In Titus Groan he had only been in the kitchen for a few weeks before making his escape, while on TV in a monologue to his monkey in episode 4, Steerpike stated that he was sent to the kitchens when he was six, suffering various abuses at the hands of Swelter. In the DVD documentary The Making of Gormenghast Jonathan Rhys-Myers stated that the character of Steerpike had been subjected to sexual abuse in the kitchens, though this was not made explicit in any of the episodes.
- A section of the plot of Titus Groan in which Fuchsia and Steerpike meet in the woods and discuss equality, and Fuchsia subsequently breaking her leg, is moved forward into the events of Gormenghast, by which point Steerpike is actively trying to seduce Fuchsia.
- In the books, Fuchsia falls out of love instantly with Steerpike when he calls her a fool, but in the series her love endures after he is unmasked. In episode 4, an additional scene is added where Steerpike, now on the run, begs for Fuchsia's help and seems to be on the point of receiving it, but when he calls her "Fuchsia", rather than Lady as he has on all other occasions, the display of affection shocks Fuchsia who calls for the guards. Steerpike leaps from the window, reminding her that he could have given her everything.
- In the books, it is ambiguous whether Nannie Slagg's death is natural from old age or not. In the series, it is clear that Steerpike poisons Nannie Slagg, who has become an obstacle to Steerpike's relationship with Fuchsia.
Characters
- In the book, Steerpike is described as being less physically attractive, with close-set red eyes and greasy hair, which he does not have in the series.
- Several minor characters were cut out entirely for the screen, most notably Sourdust, Pentecost and some of the professors.
- The Headmaster's name has been changed from Deadyawn to De'Ath.
- The character named Rottcodd, who in the book was in charge of the Hall of the Bright Carvings, becomes in the miniseries captain of the guard; a similar character does appear in the books but goes unnamed.
- The names of some other Professors have been shortened. Professor Mulefire is renamed Professor Mule, Professor Cutflower is renamed Professor Flower.
- Barquentine has two legs and crutches on screen rather than one as in the book because Warren Mitchell couldn't manage with one leg strapped up.
Reception
Accolades
Wins- The New York Festivals, 2000
- * Silver WorldMedal in Television/Mini-Series
- * Bronze WorldMedal in Television/Best Costume Design
- British Academy of Film and Television Arts/ BAFTA, 2000
- * Best Make-up/Hair Design - Joan Hills, Christine Greenwood
- * Visual Effects and Graphic Design - Team
- Royal Television Society Craft + Design Awards 1999/2000
- * Production Design: Drama
- ** Christopher Hobbs - Gormenghast
- * Lighting, Photography + Camera: Photography Drama
- ** Gavin Finney - Gormenghast
- The Ivor Novello Awards, 2000
- * Best Original Music for a Television/Radio Broadcast
- ** Gormenghast, Composed by: Sir Richard Rodney Bennett
- * UK Publisher: Novello & Company
- British Academy of Film and Television Arts/ BAFTA, 2000
- * Best Costume Design - Odile Dicks-Mireaux
- * Best Editing Fiction/Entertainment - Paul Tothill
- * Original Television Music - Richard Rodney Bennett
- * Production Design - Christopher Hobbs
- Royal Television Society Craft + Design Awards 1999/2000
- * Costume Design: Drama
- ** Odile Dicks-Mireaux - Gormenghast
- IBC Le Nombre d'Or, Amsterdam, 2000
- * Gormenghast
- Banff Television Festival/Banff Rockie Award, 2001
- * Gormenghast