Tom Jones returns . . . And he’s not singing a note.
Actually, it’s the literary “Tom Jones,” from the classic novel by Henry Fielding. A&E and the BBC are currently in production on a six-hour mini-series version of the bawdy tale, set in 18th Century England. A previous 1963 film version from director Tony Richardson earned several Academy Awards, including best picture and best director, and starred Albert Finney as Fielding’s freewheeling rogue with a heart of gold.
This time around, Max Beesley takes the role of the handsome orphan Tom, with Samantha Morton (“Jane Eyre,” “Emma”) as his lovely and spirited true love, Sophia.
Also in the cast are Benjamin Whitrow (“Pride and Prejudice”) as the virtuous Squire Allworthy; Brian Blessed (“Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” “Much Ado About Nothing”) as the crass Squire Western; Frances De La Tour (“Genghis Cohn”) as the autocratic Aunt Western; and John Sessions as Fielding.
But before “Tom Jones” premieres in 1998, A&E will present a new version of Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre,” with Morton and Ciaran Hinds (“Ivanhoe”), this fall; and the Robert Louis Stevenson sea tale “Ebb Tide,” starring Robbie Coltrane (“Cracker”), in early ’98.
Also on A&E’s roster of original productions are:
“Love in the Ancient World” (Aug. 31): Kathleen Turner narrates a two-hour documentary that examines attitudes toward beauty, sex, taboos and romantic love through the ages.
“Gershwin on Ice” (Sept. 28): In celebration of the 100th birthdays of songwriting siblings George and Ira Gershwin, Dorothy Hamill and a cast of skaters take to the ice to the accompaniment of Gershwin classics.
“A Judy Collins Christmas at the Biltmore Estate” (Fall 1997): George Washington Vanderbilt’s fabulous French chateau in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, N.C., is the setting for this special.
Classic USA . . . Not to be outdone by A&E’s classic-literature lineup, USA Network’s partnership with Hallmark Entertainment is putting two great novels on the screen.
Currently in production in Melbourne, Australia, is the four-hour version of Herman Melville’s “”Moby Dick” starring Patrick Stewart (“Star Trek: First Contact”) as Capt. Ahab, and Henry Thomas as Ishmael; also appearing is Gregory Peck, who played Ahab in director John Huston’s 1956 film version of the story.
USA has also just announced plans to adapt Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn” into a four-hour mini-series, with production starting in 1998. Says Rod Perth, president of USA Networks: “Unlike previous theatrical interpretations and televised efforts of `Huckleberry Finn,’ which have all been geared toward children, USA Network is going to develop this property in a way that will be true to the spirit of the novel.
“The similarity of both `Moby Dick’ `Huckleberry Finn,’ two of the greatest novels ever written by American authors, is that they are both politically, culturally and spiritually in today’s world and will be a family viewing experience.”
