The History of Tom Jones: a Foundling
GenreHistorical
Based onTom Jones by Henry Fielding
Written bySimon Burke
Directed byMetin Hüseyin
StarringMax Beesley
Samantha Morton
John Sessions
ComposerJim Parker
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes5
Production
ProducerSuzan Harrison
Running time60 minutes
Production companyBBC
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release9 November (1997-11-09) –
7 December 1997 (1997-12-07)

The History of Tom Jones – A Foundling is a five-part TV series produced by the BBC in 1997. It features Max Beesley in the title role, alongside Brian Blessed and Samantha Morton.[1][2]

It is based on the 1749 picaresque novel of the same name by Henry Fielding.

Plot

The plot follows the life of the protagonist, Tom Jones, a charming rascal. Born to a serving wench, but having grown up in the care of Squire Allworthy, he becomes enamoured of his neighbour's daughter, Sophia Western. It follows Tom's adventures in London.

Cast

Episodes

No.TitleOriginal air date
1"Episode 1"November 9, 1997 (1997-11-09)
Abandoned at birth, Tom Jones is adopted by kindly Squire Allworthy. He grows up and falls in love with Sophia Western, daughter of neighbour Squire Western. Unfortunately, she is already betrothed to Blifil and Tom is forced to leave home to seek his fortune in the outside world.[3]
2"Episode 2"November 16, 1997 (1997-11-16)
Having left home, Tom Jones gets caught up in a Jacobite rebellion, while his love Sophia attempts to escape the threat of marriage to Mr Blifil. At the White Heart Inn a case of mistaken identity causes confusion.
3"Episode 3"November 23, 1997 (1997-11-23)
Sophia is hotly pursued by Tom on the road to London and both face perils along the way. They encounter a lecherous puppeteer, scheming Harriet Fitzpatrick and voracious Lady Bellaston before being reunited.
4"Episode 4"November 30, 1997 (1997-11-30)
Tom falls into fashionable company and Sophia is the object of the unwarranted affections of Lord Fellmar. She is saved by the arrival of her father but Bilfil is still pursuing her hand in marriage.
5"Episode 5"December 7, 1997 (1997-12-07)
With all the characters having entered into a finely balanced web of misunderstandings, schemings and rompings, Tom is now faced with a sinful lowness of fortune. This final episode resolves all in a torrent of uncovered truths and happy endings.

References

  1. ^ "The History of Tom Jones – A Foundling Part 1 (1997)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016.
  2. ^ King, Susan (5 April 1998). "Tom Jones Never Grows Old". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ "The History of Tom Jones: A Foundling - Episode List". IMDB. Retrieved 15 June 2023.

External links

Henry Fielding's The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (1749)
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