MovieChat Forums > The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton (2006) Discussion > Just saw this -- enjoyable

Just saw this -- enjoyable

posted 17 years ago by angelofvic
17 replies | jump to latest

I just saw this on American public television -- on Masterpiece Theatre. I found it quite enjoyable, with wonderful performances, appealing characters, and an interesting presentation which mixed good storytelling with good visual enjoyment. I got to know and love the characters, and was sad when it ended because I wanted to see more of them.

As an American, I had never heard of Mrs. Beeton or her book or cookbook -- so I was quite surprised, upon investigating afterwards, that there was actually a Mrs. Beeton and that her book is still known.

Thanks BBC and PBS!

Please for God's sake fix the spelling in your subject line.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] angelofvic 17 years ago

SPOILERS

My sense was the prostitute was before his marriage to her. They never indicated that he was with the prostitute after they were married (his late nights out were because of the debts) ... and the syphilis was definitely contracted before the marriage, or else she wouldn't have had all those miscarriages.

So I'm certain in my own mind he never cheated on her. He was just an unwise youth.

Please for God's sake fix the spelling in your subject line.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] angelofvic 17 years ago

The thing is, there isn't a man in the world -- certainly not in 1850 -- who would say to his wife, "That's a whore I slept with before we got married." It just wasn't done. I'm not sure many men would do it today. There was no reason for him to suspect that he had any illness before they were married, and even in the obvious stages of his illness, the imagined reason was always consumption, or exposure, overwork, stress, etc. He was a lively man of many good qualities ... telling his wife all things was not one of them, as we saw with the bankruptcy.

Please for God's sake fix the spelling in your subject line.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] angelofvic 17 years ago

This wasn't 21st-century America. This was Victorian England.

Anyway, I'm happy that you have your opinion, and happy to agree to disagree.

Please for God's sake fix the spelling in your subject line.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] starline 14 years ago

Looks like I'm a few years too late coming to this discussion...lol...but...

angelofvic... I agree. It was Very different times back then. We can't go by today's expectations.

(There's an eye opening series on the History of Sex... made by the history channel. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1048082/ Five episodes...The 20th Century, From Don Juan to Queen Victoria, Middle Ages, The Eastern World and Ancient Civilization. Very interesting...and kinda Surprising!)

And in all honesty... the way morals are so lax today... and in many ways...men have even less respect for women and wives...(look how they talk and treat women...there's even a Big web site now that hooks people up (men and women) to cheat on their spouses!)...I'm not sure a man would be any more honest today. President clinton cheated...and wasn't very honest...even under oath. Sadly people think nothing of lying these days.

So was syphilis even curable back then? I'm not sure. Did they use Mercury...or have a vaccination? Maybe...but not sure it worked. Because isn't it treated with penicillin ... and was penicillin Not discovered until the 1920s-30s?

I'm sure Sam adored Bella...and respected her. Look how well they worked together...as equals. And it doesn't seem like he had any sign of the disease when they married. So did he cheat? Maybe. Did he even know what he had? If he did...by the time he realized he was sick... maybe he just didn't know how to handle it. He was human...not perfect. Maybe he was just too frightened and ashamed to admit it to Bella...in part because he loved her so much and couldn't face the disappointment she would have in him... yet again. I'm sure he probably felt much guilt.

I really enjoyed this story too! Bella certainly covered EveryThing...with her book on home-making (family, kids and budget)...and cooking...her society gossip paper... and fashion magazine!

So ...was she the 'first' to use the format of the recipe we see today? The ingredients listed before the cooking directions? Good thinkin'... :)

[–] pythoner 13 years ago

Just watched this, such good actors. I really enjoyed it. Shows like this are the reason I contribute to PBS.

[–] angelofvic 13 years ago

Glad you enjoyed it, too, pythoner! It was indeed an unexpected pleasure, wasn't it? Seemed like it was going to be a piece of fluff but it was so well done and got very deep and interesting; plus it's true. I'm glad I saw it.
.

[–] pythoner 13 years ago

Me too. I always DVR anything Masterpiece. Theatre, Mystery or Classic 9 times out of 10 it's worth it. Plus I think JJ Field is a highly underrated actor. At least in the US.

Oh and BTW I am of the same opinion as you about the prostitute. They actually made a point of saying he was wild in his youth.

[–] angelofvic 13 years ago

I absolutely love JJ Field. I wish we could see more of him.
.

[–] pythoner 13 years ago

I've only seen him a few things my first was Northanger Abbey and I was hooked.

[–] pythoner 13 years ago

Rent O Jerusalem if you haven't seen it. Not the best film ever but it's worth watching his performance. One of the few I have found that he is in that actually show cases the actors. He needs a better agent.

[–] angelofvic 13 years ago

OK, I wrote it down. I liked JJF in Northanger Abbey, too. Wrote a thread on his board.
.

[–] pythoner 13 years ago

Let me know what you think. I see you are a classic movie fan too. It is really late and I have to go to bed but I would love to chat about flics with you again. Once again I wouldn't claim it's a great movie but it is one of the few I've been able to really see him in.

[–] NordicLady1 12 years ago

If you love JJ Feild and period films, try "To the Ends of the Earth".

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