The Moonstone

The Moonstone is a British mystery television series adapted from the 1868 novel The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. It aired on BBC 1 in five episodes between 16 January and 13 February 1972. It subsequently aired in America on PBS-TV's Masterpiece Theatre between 10 December 1972 and 7 January 1973. Cast Vivien Heilbron as Rachel Verinder Robin Ellis as Franklin Blake Kathleen Byron as Lady Verinder Basil Dignam as Gabriel Betteredge Martin Jarvis as Godfrey Ablewhite Anna Cropper as Rosanna Spearman John Welsh as Sergeant Cuff Peter Sallis as Mr. Bruff Christopher Hancock as Ezra Jennings Brian Murphy as Septimus Luker Maureen Morris as Penelope Betteredge Madhav Sharma as Indian Bell McCallum as Nancy Michael Gover as Superintendent Seegrave Philip Ray as Dr. Candy Roy Macready as Tomlinson Tony Maiden as Conjuror's Boy Ali Baba as Indian Conjuror Azad Ali as Indian Conjuror Cynthia Etherington as Miss Clack Brian Badcoe as Mr. Murthwaite Douglas Mann as Gooseberry Dona Martin as Lucy Yolland Sheila Keith as Mrs. Yolland Norman Claridge as Dr. Richardson Timothy Craven as Chemist Colin Baker as John Herncastle Reginald Jessup as Purser Norman Mitchell as Mr. Ablewhite Mary Barclay as Mrs. Ablewhite Billy Cornelius as Landlord Stephen Rea as Major Frayne Derek Chafer as Sergeant Julie May as Cuff's Housekeeper David Simeon as Mechanic Pat Gorman as Baker, Plain Clothes Man Albert Moses as Treasury Guard Marguerite Young as Mrs. Threadgall Sherrie Hewson as Charity Ablewhite Georgina Simpson as Grace Ablewhite Reception The series was well received by critics. In The New York Times, Howard Thompson called it "typically smooth, restrained, well-played, and in lovely, subdued colour". References