S01E01 Part One
Michael Henchard sells his wife to a sailor at a country fair, while drunk. As the years pass, he prospers and becomes mayor of the town. Then his wife and daughter come to live in...
The Mayor of Casterbridge
The Dennis Potter adaptation of Thomas Hardy's classic tale
S01E05: Part Five
Henchard's secret is out. Denounced as a wife-seller and with his business in trouble his discovery that Lucetta has married Farfrae completes his humiliation.
Overview
Michael Henchard, an out-of-work hay-trusser, gets drunk at a fair and for five guineas sells his wife and child to a sailor. When the horror of his act finally sets in, Henchard swears he will not touch alcohol for twenty-one years. Through hard work and acumen, he becomes rich, respected, and eventually the mayor of Casterbridge. But eighteen years after his fateful oath, his wife and daughter, Elizabeth-Jane, return to Casterbridge, and his fortunes steadily decline.
Episodes
S01E02 Part Two
Henchard is now Mayor of Casterbridge. When his wife returns, eighteen years after he sold her, he decides they must remarry.
S01E03 Part Three
The jealous Henchard has sacked Donald Farfrae and forbidden him to see Elizabeth-Jane. When his wife Susan dies it is just the start of his troubles.
S01E04 Part Four
Elizabeth-Jane is now working for Lucetta, who, having been the subject of Henchard's attentions, is now interested in Farfrae. The furious Henchard plans to ruin his rival...
S01E05 Part Five
Henchard's secret is out. Denounced as a wife-seller and with his business in trouble his discovery that Lucetta has married Farfrae completes his humiliation.
S01E06 Part Six
Farfrae becomes Mayor of Casterbridge. Lucetta, afraid that Henchard will expose her, asks him to return her love letters.
S01E07 Part Seven
Lucetta has died, the victim of an evil trick. Henchard's conciliation with Elizabeth is short-lived: when her father comes to claim her Henchard pretends she is dead.
Cast
Alan Bates
Michael Henchard
Janet Maw
Elizabeth-Jane
Jack Galloway
Donald Farfrae
Anna Massey
Lucetta Farfrae/Templeman
Ronald Lacey
Jopp
Avis Bunnage
Mrs. Goodenough
Richard Owens
Newson
Douglas Milvain
Coney
Peter Bourke
Abel Whittle
Jeffrey Holland
Carter
