Bleak House

The whims of fate and the slow-turning machinations of the law affect the lives of several 19th-century English families in this gripping BBC drama based on the Charles Dickens novel. Gillian Anderson stars as Lady Dedlock, whose illegitimate daughter Esther (Anna Maxwell) is, unknown to her, alive and a ward of kindly John Jarndyce (Dennis Lawson), a party in a complex and long-standing lawsuit over a will. Katie Angelou, Alun Armstrong, and Charles Dance also star. 7 3/4 hrs. on three discs. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; interviews; photo gallery.