Customer Reviews

Black Candle [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Based upon Catherine Cookson's best-selling novel of the same name, this is a handsome adaptation that beautifully showcases the book. At the center of the film is a strong, independent woman, modern for her time, England in the nineteenth century.

Bridget Mordaunt is a wealthy young woman with a mind of her own and a heart of gold. Intelligent, practical, and fair, she is a no nonsense business woman who has a soft spot for Joe Skinner, a working class, honorable, young man who has broken away from his lazy, trashy family. He works in the factory that Bridget inherited from her deceased father who taught her the business. Unfortunately, Joe Skinner is in love with another young woman, Lilly, a factory worker who has been wronged by Lionel Filmore, the profligate scion of an impoverished member of the gentry. Joe marries Lilly, vowing always to protect her good name and knowing that the child she carries is not his.

Bridget's cousin, Victoria, who lives with her and whom she supports, is in love with Lionel, who mistakenly believes Victoria to be the factory heiress. On the day that Victoria expects their engagement to be announced, Lionel discovers that Bridget, and not Victoria, is the heiress. As this threatens to destroy the future that Victoria is seeing with rose colored glasses, Bridget steps in and makes a business deal with Lionel, not knowing just how despicable a blackguard Lionel really is, thinking that by doing do she is ensuring Victoria's happiness.

When the disparate worlds of the Skinners and Filmores collide one day, it leaves Joe accused of a murder he did not commit. What happens, as a result, will change the lives of all involved, as that murder acts as a catalyst for a series of events and revelations that will leave none concerned unscathed. No matter what happens, however, Bridget is at the core of this film.

This is a film worth seeing if one is interested in period pieces, the novels of Catherine Cookson, or a simply entertaining film with a first rate cast.

I really enjoy Catherine Cookson's novels...and I've seen almost all the movie adaptions done for some of them. You get romance, intrigue, life struggles, and class warfare that seems to work out perfectly in the end. If you enjoy this one you shouls also check out "The Dwelling PLace" and "The Glass Virgin"

Love all of her books and now happy to now find one on DVD, which I found at our local library. Never thought to look before but will definitely look for more DVDs to buy or rent and other books that I might have missed.

I rented this (thank the gods I didn't buy it) based on the reviews here. Wow . . . really bad movie. Trite. Unsatisfying. I'm searching for words to express how much I disliked this show. Look, I'm a HUGE period-piece fanatic. I wouldn't recommend even renting it.