The Black Velvet Gown 1991

     This film is based on a novel written by Catherine Cookson and published in 1985.  The setting is 1830’s in northern England.  Riah Millican is a widow with three children.  She takes a job as a housekeeper to a reclusive former teacher, Percival Miller.  Mr. Miller is very appreciative of the work Riah and her children are doing at the large home.  He gives Riah a beautiful black velvet gown that belonged to his mother.  He also gives her the other clothing his mother has left behind when she passed away. He gives Riah the silk shirts he doesn’t wear so she can make shirts for her sons.  Riah is happy that they are stable and she has time to teach her children reading and writing.  Later Percival passes away and he leaves the house to Riah but on the condition that she never marry.  There won’t be any money coming in since Percival has died so the two boys and her daughter go into service at an estate.  The boys work in the stables and her daughter Biddy works as a laundress.
     I’ve read a lot of novels by Catherine Cookson and they are usually set in the time period of the 1800’s in England.  There is a lot of class distinction in this period.  People are very poor, in the middle of income levels or wealthy.  Many people worked their entire lives as servants.  Some worked in groups of many servants on large estates.  The movie and series Downton Abby is an illustration of this type of life.  Lord and Lady or scullery maid and blacksmith.  Times were good or they were very tough but it is an interesting period.  Many people had no education and didn't know how to read or write.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)    

103 min, Drama, TV film directed by Norman Stone and written by Gordon Hann with Bob Peck, Janet McTeer, Geraldine Somerville, Brendan P.. Healy, Jean Anderson, Christopher Benjamin, Wendy Williams, David Hunt, Aran Bell, Jonathan Firth, Madeleine Moffat, Val McLane, James Garbutt.

Note:  Goodreads gives the novel 4.01* out of 5* with 224 ratings and 50 reviews, Imdb 7 out of 10 with 441 views, Rotten Tomatoes 58% with 298 user ratings, Amazon 3.4* out of 5* with 99 ratings, Letterboxd 3.6* out of 5*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Wynyard Hall, Tees Valley; Durham County Durham.  Seaton Delaval Hall, Seaton Sluice; Howick Hall, Howick; Medlon Park Morpeth; Walllington Hall, Cambo, Morpeth, Northumberland, England, UK.  This film won an International Emmy for Best Drama.