successfully entertained me :)

House of Eliott

[BBC, 1991]

Starring:
Louise Lombard
Stella Gonet

average rating: ★★★★
~
performance: ★★★★
screenplay: ★★★★
plot/storyline: ★★★★
cinematography: ★★★
~
20's Fashion, lol

"House of Elliot" is a BBC TV drama made in the early 90's, about two sisters in the early 20's. Right before this, I had been on an "Alias" streak (because "Alias" is awesome, most of the time). The only movie store that owns all the seasons of Alias is a Vision Video in town, and when we made the trip over there and found that one of the discs we wanted was checked out, we had to find something else to occupy our designated, very important movie time.

So we were scouring the shelves (and finding the most entertaining box covers and old shows, but nothing we wanted to spend money on) when we came across a few BBC series. We like BBC, in general, they make such fun dramas, and when we saw "House of Eliott" we were interested, but we passed because it looked rather ancient. We know about ancient - aesthetics dictate that "ancient" when applied to "movies" often produce "awful." It's like 'i before e, except after c': it's true the majority of the time, but once in a while you find something that breaks the rule.

However, not but a few days after that a friend of ours (Sarraahhh) told us she had been watching "House of Eliott" and we about died. How weird is that? So we trollop over to the movie store again and pick up a few discs, though already forewarned that the series was "about practically nothing, but very hooking all the same."

And very true that is. The starring characters of "House of Eliott" are the two strong-minded Eliott sisters; Beatrice (Bea), who is a slightly conservative, nearly-middle-aged spinster; and Evangeline (Evie) who is a creative, beautiful, and innovative young woman. The two sisters, having been used to wealth, comfort, and seclusion, are suddenly left flailing in society when their father dies and leaves them no money and a slowly emerging scandal. While the two sisters (who are very close) struggle to find fair jobs in 1920 London, they stumble upon a few lovable characters and a few not-so-lovable ones. Jack Maddox, a popular photographer, takes Beatrice on as a secretary and becomes a very lovable part of the cast as the charming, sarcastic, supportive and (at first) somewhat questionably respectable best friend.

The acting is really quite splendid for a series that was broadcast by BBC in the early 90's. We've seen plenty of horrifying BBC productions from the early ages (haha), and in comparison, and actually in general, the acting is great. The two sisters are very, very natural together. *applauds*

The plot line is very simple, but at the same time it grabs your attention. The characters face ordinary troubles, yet you are just dying to know how they resolve them. Also, the feel of the 20's is always present, especially since the series evolves until the sisters own their own dressmaking business. The clothes are outrageous (I love them) and they are very consistent with their manner of speaking and the social ladder and the jazz music (which sends Mum into the realms of insanity).

We are only three discs into the first series, so I will post another review for the second season. Still, I would recommend this series to anyone who loves British people, adores simplistic stories, is infatuated with all things British + Simplistic + Slightly-Over-Dramatized....(I do!) Anyway, I can't wait to get on with the story. :)