Lorna Doone (BBC/A&E)

In yet another film adaptation of R.D. Blackmore's swashbuckling romance, this excellent and lavish, BBC production of LORNA DOONE brings the classic tale of revenge and family warfare to life with a sterling cast. Filmed in Wales, the epic family saga begins in 1675, during a turbulent time in history when insurgence against the Catholic King James II, of England and Scotland, runs rampant. The fierce Doone clan has galloped into a farming village, murdering the village's protector, the father of young John Ridd (Jack Baverstock and, later, Richard Coyle). Determined to avenge his father's death, the teenager goes into the Doone Valley where he meets the independent but vulnerable Lorna Doone (Katie Pitts-Drake and, later, Amelia Warner)--ward of the clan leader, Ensor Doone (Peter Vaughan)--who was kidnapped as a child. Meeting again years later, the two fall in love. Ridd is steadfast in nobility of spirit, but Lorna has been unwillingly engaged to her cousin, Ensor's evil, sadistic heir, Carver (Aidan Gillen). Carver displays a kind of sad obsession for Lorna, but at the end of the day he is as murderous as they come. As their love grows, Ridd finds a new reason to pursue his campaign against the villains that have long dominated his world, and protecting Lorna becomes equal to revenge. Lorna, however, may not be quite what she seems.

Classic | Literature | Love Affairs | Rivalry | Romance