User Reviews

This episode of 'Affairs of the Heart' is an adaptation of 'The High Bid', with one set, a cast of five, and a sparkling script from series writer Terence Feely.

The story, here retitled 'Grace' after the mouthy and dominant American stately home specialist played by Diana Rigg, concerns a young aristocrat, Capt. Clement Yule (Jeremy Brett), who is returning to his family seat after many years - the house is mortgaged to the hilt to industrialist Mr Prodmore (George Cole) who has plans for an alliance between Yule and his daughter Cora (Celia Bannerman). Rounding off the cast is John Welsh as the faithful old family retainer, as much part of the furniture as any old Master.

Much of the tale concerns the sparring and flirting between the characters of Yule and Grace, beautifully played here with understanding and humour by Brett and Rigg. They fit their roles perfectly and are hugely enjoyable to watch. So much so that you really hope that Prodmore's plans don't come to be.

Highly recommended.

Jeremy Brett, Diana Rigg and George Cole. They sound like an unbeatable combination. But this tale, "Grace," staged like a one-act play and on a single set, lacks one thing: interest.

It may be that it's based on a story by Henry James. James was a fine stylist and could be a beautiful writer but he was never Mr. Excitement.

The story concerns a house belonging to a noble family.

Brett, playing a scion of the family, has never actually seen it. Cole plays the man who holds the mortgage, which he will surrender to the Brett character if Brett marries his daughter and goes into Parliament representing the district: but he must change his politics. Gasp.

Rigg brings the sole spark of life to the proceedings as a rich American infatuated with all things English (apparently James took to heart the canard, "Write what you know.")

The only negative thing that can be said about the three principles (of five) is that Cole's beard looks phony. Rigg's American accent sounds acceptable for a high-class woman of her time, especially an Anglophile. Brett is Brett.

But it would have been nicer to see these three in something with more substance.

On a personal note: I've been a fan of Jeremy Brett since first catching his Sherlock Holmes in 1984. I met Cole a bit later, watching his old comedies like "The Green Man." And I've been a Rigg fan since I was a tadpole. She had the perfect blending of beauty and talent in equal measure. I love to hear her doing Shakespeare.

It's James who let the side down.

This tedious, flimsy story is remarkable only for being a breathtaking waste of talent.