Rent Our Mutual Friend (1978)

Classic Dickens - Our Mutual Friend review by JG

This is an older production (1976) from the BBC, when they did good classic dramas. Of course you have to make allowances for the time (no lapel mikes, no CGI) but if you forget that, and get immersed in the story it is well done. It has a desaturated look to it, which is surprising for the analogue days when colour was still new, but this enhanced the period feel. It has a very good cast, nice to see some of them again. Dickens is always a bit over the top, his characters are exaggerated to the point of caricature, but you have to accept this if you want to watch Dickens. David Troughton's portayal of Mr Sloppy is a case in point, the actor must have been worried all the time, "am I over doing this", but I think he got it just right. We very much enjoyed it. There is a later production if you prefer a later style.