Product Details

• Actors: Warren Clarke, Anna Massey, Emma Fielding, Ariyon Bakare, Ralph Brown
• Directors: Suri Krishnamma
• Writers: Philippa Gregory
• Producers: Kevin Menton, Michael Wearing, Nigel Warren-Green, Ruth Baumgarten, Ruth Caleb
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 2
• Studio: Wgbh Boston
• VHS Release Date: May 1, 2001
• Run Time: 240 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005JHC6
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #46,647 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In 18th-century England, the slave trade was a popular get-rich-quick scheme, and it is the heart of darkness that pulses through the Mobil Masterpiece Theatre production of A Respectable Trade. Philippa Gregory wrote the screenplay based on her novel, in which a well-bred but penniless young woman named Frances (Emma Fielding) marries a Bristol shipping merchant (Warren Clarke). Josiah Cole is boorish and unsophisticated, but Frances sees a simple honesty in him that convinces her to leave her uncle's manor for a leaky warehouse on the wharf and wifely duties she did not anticipate. Her husband's "respectable trade" turns out to be human cargo, and he expects Frances to train the slaves for service in upper-class households. But Frances must learn hard lessons as she develops an affection for Mehuru (Ariyon Bakare), an educated, compassionate man who is one of the slaves in her care. Thankfully, the plot is far more complex than the historical romance this quick summary might suggest. A Respectable Trade is as much the story of a greedy man reaching too high as it is the tale of a forbidden passion. The dramatic tension between all of the major characters makes for compelling viewing--it's quite easy to watch all four hours in one sitting. Gregory's screenplay and the performances elicit sympathy for each character's plight as the video approaches its memorable conclusion. --Larisa Lomacky Moore

Product Description

Set in 18th century England, A Respectable Trade is a poignant adaptation of Philippa Gregory's controversial novel of love, greed and ambition.

Frances Scott (Emma Fielding), a well-bred governess, is left penniless after the death of her father. Unmarried and no longer in the first bloom of youth, she accepts a marriage proposal from the awkward, uneducated Josiah Cole (Warren Clarke).

Josiah is a ship owner in the bustling port of Bristol, and to him, the slave trade is a highly respectable one. Unknown to Frances, he is planning to import slaves to England and expects her to train them to serve the rich. But Josiah could not anticipate the attraction his wife would find in Mehuru (Ariyon Bakare), one of the African "cargo," a man of learning, power and dignity--everything Josiah is not.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An underappreciated performance, November 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Respectable Trade [VHS] (VHS Tape)

After coming across this film quite accidentally on PBS, I found it thoroughly gripping, and agree completely with the other reviewers' high praise. I am adding my own words merely to encourage viewers not to overlook the extraordinary performance by Anna Massey as Sarah Cole. It is tempting to dismiss Sarah as a simple villain in this tale. However, I found Massey's stark performance deeply moving and expressive of Sarah's profound experience of displacement and loss. She is clearly the brains in her brother's business, for example, and depends on it for her own welfare, but is helpless to prevent its decline when Josiah begins to exclude her from his decisionmaking process. She is forced to abandon her lifelong home and lifestyle in pursuit of her brother's social pretensions. A proud and stoic worker, she is asked to curry favor with shallow and spoiled members aristocracy. I sympathized deeply with her scorn for unearned luxury.

Female in 18th century England, Sarah--like Frances, and like Mehuru--enjoys tragically little opportunity to guide her own fate.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, sour, brutal, raw, unforgettable viewing., December 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Respectable Trade [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A Respectable Trade was a fabulous book (go read it now!) and it was made into a fabulous film. All of the actors are superb - and Philippa Gregory herself wrote the screenplay, which gives the production the same magic the book had. The story begins in 1787, when ambitious trader Josiah Cole tries to cilmb the social ladder by asking the well blooded but dirt poor Frances Scott to marry him. Frances, thirty four and desperate, agrees to marry him. If only she'd known what she was getting herself into! It turns out that Josiah makes a good deal of his money trading slaves. Frances learns about the horrors of slavery, and learns about true love - from the kind and clever Mehuru - one of her husband's slaves. Yikes! Sounds like things could get complicated... and they do! It certainly makes for compelling watching.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Colorful and Dark Romantic Drama, June 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Respectable Trade [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I absolutely LOVED this movie!!!! The screenplay and direction were phenomenal. The costumes, sets, and actors were so authentic, at times I felt I was actually in 18th century England watching this story unfold. I am always interested in movies with slavery themes because I believe it is a crucial part of the history of people of African decent. This movie did not glamorize or down play the slavery element. It showed it in its true, brutal, sadistic form. If you are a sensitive viewer, I would say proceed with extreme caution.

Overall, I found this movie to be about forbidden love and about looking beyond race as in "color", and seeing race as in "human". There are plenty of unexpected surprises so be prepared to run the gamut of emotions.

Masterpiece Theater's production are always superb and this is no exception. I am sure anyone who watches this movie will love it as much as I did.