'Master Of Bankdam' is based upon a best selling book by Thomas Armstrong set in Yorkshire and concerning a family in the wool trade from the 1850's and onwards. The film mixes the commercial and the personal in the usual family saga way and though there are no surprises it tells the story well, covering a lot of years and a lot of incidents. Once you get used to the familiar cast speaking (some more successfully than others) in the local accent then it is a gripping story which makes the 1 hour 45 minutes running time go quickly.
The cast is excellent; Tom Walls and Nancy Price as the elder Crowthers, Stephen Murray and Dennis Price as the sons who don't see eye to eye, Linden Travers and Anne Crawford whom they marry and Jimmy Hanley and David Tomlinson as the grandsons, who also don't see eye to eye. Stephen Murray almost steals the film and his character develops most in the film. Murray was not a first rank star but gave some great performances in several films. Covering such a span of time it doesn't seem rushed though and there are some fine dramatic as well as touching scenes. It portrays the passing of time well with subtle make up and costume for the actors and through the props and settings.
There were several Bankdam novels but this was the only one filmed. The saga would make a good television series.
The cast is excellent; Tom Walls and Nancy Price as the elder Crowthers, Stephen Murray and Dennis Price as the sons who don't see eye to eye, Linden Travers and Anne Crawford whom they marry and Jimmy Hanley and David Tomlinson as the grandsons, who also don't see eye to eye. Stephen Murray almost steals the film and his character develops most in the film. Murray was not a first rank star but gave some great performances in several films. Covering such a span of time it doesn't seem rushed though and there are some fine dramatic as well as touching scenes. It portrays the passing of time well with subtle make up and costume for the actors and through the props and settings.
There were several Bankdam novels but this was the only one filmed. The saga would make a good television series.