Hard Times (British TV series)

Hard Times was a 1977 TV series based on Charles Dickens' 1854 novel of the same name, directed by John Irvin.^[1][2]

Hard Times
DVD cover
Genre	Drama
Created by	Arthur Hopcraft
Starring	Patrick Allen Rosalie Crutchley Michelle Dibnah Alan Dobie Barbara Ewing Edward Fox Ursula Howells Harry Markham Jacqueline Tong Timothy West Richard Wren Sean Flanagan Peter Martin
Theme music composer	Malcolm Arnold
Country of origin	United States United Kingdom
No. of episodes	4
Production
Producer	Peter Eckersley & Ronald F. Maxwell & Jac Venza
Running time	60 Minutes
Original release
Network	Granada Television WNET Channel 13 New York
Release	25 October (1977-10-25) – 15 November 1977 (1977-11-15)

Cast

• Patrick Allen – Thomas Gradgrind
• Rosalie Crutchley – Mrs. Sparsit
• Michelle Dibnah – Sissy Jupe
• Alan Dobie – Stephen Blackpool
• Barbara Ewing – Rachael
• Edward Fox – Capt. James Harthouse
• Ursula Howells – Mrs. Gradgrind
• Harry Markham – Sleary
• Jacqueline Tong – Louisa Gradgrind
• Timothy West – Josiah Bounderby
• Richard Wren – Tom Gradgrind
• Sean Flanagan – Bitzer
• Peter Martin – Waiter

Critical reception

Screenonline wrote "The four-part adaptation by Arthur Hopcraft is streamlined but generally very faithful to the book and, as directed by John Irvin, the serial is presented with considerable panache."^[1]