This three-part television mini-series by Thames Television subsidiary Euston Films revolved around Gerald Middleton (Richard Johnson), a wealthy and cultured professor of medieval history who, at 60, feels both an academic and emotional failure.
His broken marriage to the monstrous Inge (Elizabeth Spriggs) has produced three children from whom he is estranged. Dollie (Dorothy Tutin), his best friend’s wife with whom he had a long and passionate love affair, has disappeared from his life in a cloud of recrimination and alcohol.
And Gilbert Stokesay (Daniel Craig), the best friend, long dead in the trenches of the Great War, continues to haunt and threaten his self-esteem as a historian – all because of the Melpham Idol, a pagan phallic figure found in the coffin of a disinterred Bishop.
It is the most important archaeological find of the century, a discovery that changes the course of scholarship and sets the academic world in turmoil. But is it a hoax? And if so who was responsible? And why?
From Angus Wilson’s remarkable post-war novel, Anglo Saxon Attitudes has a rich and interwoven cast of characters. It is a satire, a tragedy, a black comedy of manners and a deadly accurate examination of the loves, lusts and foibles of a middle-class family bent on self-destruction.
Tara Fitzgerald played a supporting role as the young Dollie, and there was also a brief appearance by a 16-year-old Kate Winslet. The film won the BAFTA award for best serial drama.
Gerald Middleton
Richard Johnson Young Gerald Middleton
Douglas Hodge Inge Middleton
Elizabeth Spriggs Dollie Stokesay
Dorothy Tutin Young Inge Middleton
Briony Glassco Young Dollie Stokesay
Tara Fitzgerald Robin Middleton
Nicholas Jones Young Robin
Jamie McClelland Kay Consett
Deborah Findlay Young Kay
Kate Maberly John Middleton
Simon Chandler Young John
Matthew Owens Donald Consett
Simon Mattacks Larrie Rourke
Paudge Behan Elvira Portway
Amanda Mealing Canon Portway
David Savile Professor Stokesay
Oliver Ford Davies Gilbert Stokesay
Daniel Craig Sir Edgar Iffley
John Boswall Professor Pforzheim
Carl Duering Dr Rose Lorimer
Lila Kaye Professor Clun
Robert Lang Frank Rammage
David Ryall Young Frank
Jonathan Lacey Young Barker
Ben Robertson Larwood
Arthur White Mrs Larwood
Hilda Braid Clarissa Crane
Julie Legrand Marie-Helene Middleton
Carmen Du Sautoy Young Lillian Portway
Jane How Stephanie Houdet
Rosalie Crutchley Yves Houdet
Jay Benedict Jasper Stringwell
Jonathan Elsom Timothy Middleton
Nicholas Haley Theo Roberts
Bob Mason Father Lavenham
Roger Kemp Alice Barker
Rachel Lloyd Alice Cresset
Pat Keen Harold Cresset
John Cater Mrs Salad
Edna Doré Vin Salad
Paul Firth Liesel
Sophie Uliano Gretchen
Laura Brattan
His broken marriage to the monstrous Inge (Elizabeth Spriggs) has produced three children from whom he is estranged. Dollie (Dorothy Tutin), his best friend’s wife with whom he had a long and passionate love affair, has disappeared from his life in a cloud of recrimination and alcohol.
