The Rector's Wife

8.0
19941h 5m

Three-part dramatization of the novel by Joanna Trollope. A clergyman's wife shocks the church establishment and infuriates her husband by taking a job in a supermarket. She attracts the passionate interest of three very different men: a newly-appointed archdeacon; his younger brother, a philosopher and academic; and a wealthy businessman new to the village.

Production

Logo for Channel 4 Television

Seasons

4 Episodes • Premiered 1994

Still image for The Rector's Wife season 1 episode 1: Episode 1

1. Episode 1

When Peter misses out on promotion to Archdeacon, Anna takes a job at the supermarket to earn enough to send Flora to private school, which Peter sees as an act of rebellion against him and the church.

Still image for The Rector's Wife season 1 episode 2: Episode 2

2. Episode 2

Anna's wealthy new neighbour, Patrick, offers her son Luke a job. The village ladies show their disapproval of Anna's job, and Anna finds herself attracted to the Archdeacon's brother, Jonathan.

Still image for The Rector's Wife season 1 episode 3: Episode 3

3. Episode 3

Anna gets closer to Jonathan, while Luke thinks she's having an affair with Patrick. When Peter finds out that Flora has a free place at St Saviours he tells the supermarket that Anna will be leaving.

Still image for The Rector's Wife season 1 episode 4: Episode 4

4. Episode 4

Tragedy strikes after Patrick's housekeeper Ella tells Peter that Anna is having an affair with Patrick.

Cast

Photo of Lindsay Duncan

Lindsay Duncan

Anna Bouverie

Photo of Jonathan Coy

Jonathan Coy

Peter Bouverie

Photo of Miles Anderson

Miles Anderson

Patrick O'Sullivan

Photo of Simon Fenton

Simon Fenton

Luke Bouverie

Photo of Ronald Pickup

Ronald Pickup

Daniel Byrne

Photo of Gabrielle Lloyd

Gabrielle Lloyd

Isobel Thomson

Photo of Stephen Dillane

Stephen Dillane

Jonathan Byrne

Photo of Prunella Scales

Prunella Scales

Marjorie Richardson

Photo of Pam Ferris

Pam Ferris

Eleanor Ramsay

Photo of Orla Brady

Orla Brady

Sister Josephine

Photo of Mary Roscoe

Mary Roscoe

Fergus's Wife

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Reviews

N

Peter McGinn

8/10

I was surprised by this series, considering how long ago it was made, and also surprised I hadn't watched it when it ran on PBS. I haven't read the book, so I can't make comparisons. I am not one who insists movies sticks to the source material Anyway, as long as it is done well and doesn't sully the original.

There are mature issues raised by the plot, requiring careful and expansive thought, which is perhaps why some reviews on other websites trash it Just by using sound bites. One reviewer even said it was feminist propaganda, and anyone who has studied feminism would know that they recognize that misogyny and sexism hurts men as much as it does women, which means it hurts families. If the man had done what the wife did, would it have been macho man propaganda?

Still, rather than give a treatise on Society that I am not savvy enough to handle, I will just say that this mini-series made me think, and that is not a bad thing as long as my brain doesn't start hurting. I admit I was disappointed in the wife at some point, but not as often as I was in the poor husband infected by religion, but who was basically lost.

You've reached the end.