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Sorrell and Son
Genre	Drama
Based on	Sorrell and Son by Warwick Deeping
Screenplay by	Jeremy Paul
Directed by	Derek Bennett
Composer	Patrick Gowers
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	6
Production
Executive producer	David Cunliffe
Producer	Derek Bennett
Running time	60 minutes
Production company	Yorkshire Television
Original release
Network	ITV
Release	6 June (1984-06-06) – 11 July 1984 (1984-07-11)

Sorrell and Son is a British television miniseries which aired on ITV in six, hour-long episodes from 6 to 11 July 1984. The story is taken from the 1925 novel of the same name by Warwick Deeping. The story was previously filmed as a silent film in 1927 and again in 1934.

The television miniseries was produced by Yorkshire Television and it starred Richard Pasco and John Shrapnel

Plot summary

In post-World War I England, impoverished Captain Stephen Sorrell, M.C. (Richard Pasco) must raise his son Kit (Paul Critchley) by himself, after his wife walks out on him. Captain Sorrell's years of devotion and sacrifice for his son come to fruition years in the future.

Cast

• Richard Pasco as Stephen Sorrell, M.C. (6 episodes)
• John Shrapnel as Thomas Roland (6 episodes)
• Gwen Watford as Dora Sorrell (4 episodes)
• Peter Chelsom as Kit Sorrell (4 episodes)
• Prunella Ransome as Fanny Garland (4 episodes)
• Sarah Neville as Molly Pentreath (3 episodes)
• Michael Troughton as Maurice (3 episodes)
• Elizabeth Sinclair Cherry (3 episodes)
• Eve Pearce as Mrs. Marks (2 episodes)
• Stephanie Tague as Kate (2 episodes)
• Stephanie Beacham as Florence Palfrey (1 episode)
• Malcolm Terris as John Palfrey (1 episode)
• Edward Peel as Buck (1 episode)
• Simon Shepherd as Duncan Scott (1 episode)
• Andrew Bicknell as Blane (1 episode)
• Norman Wooland as Dr. Wheelan (1 episode)
• Ron Pember as Maggs (1 episode)
• Mark Eden as Oscar Wolffe (1 episode)
• Christopher Bramwell as Phelps (1 episode)
• John Horsley as Porteous (1 episode)
• Peter Ivatts as Billiard player (1 episode)
• Noel Johnson as Colonel (1 episode)
• Barbara Kinghorn as American (1 episode)
• Miranda Richardson as Lola (1 episode)
• Dorothy Vernon as Lady Pentreath (1 episode)

Reception

Writing for The Los Angeles Times, Terry Atkinson called the series "a tolerable drama about some very likable people", but with a caveat: "These people are too likable--unrealistically caring, kind and resigned. Or, in rare cases when someone less than a saint shows up, he or she flaunts the transparently despicable characteristics of a Snidely Whiplash. Everyone's either a dear old soul or a scoundrel." He summarized it as "mildly engrossing fare."

References

1. Roberts p.37
2. "Sorrell and Son (1934) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
3. Hal Erickson (2014). "Sorrell and Son (1934)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
4. Atkinson, Terry (11 December 1987). "'Sorrell and Son' Tastes Like Soggy Biscuits". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 September 2017.

Bibliography

• Jerry Roberts. Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors. Scarecrow Press, 2009.

External links

• Sorrell and Son at IMDb

• 1984 British television series debuts
• 1984 British television series endings
• 1980s British drama television series
• 1980s British television miniseries
• British English-language television shows
• ITV television dramas
• Television series by ITV Studios
• Television series by Yorkshire Television
• Television shows based on British novels
• Television shows set in England