An 8-part series explores leading figures of the Edwardian era of the early 1900s, including the famous Mr. Rolls and Mr. Royce, Conan Doyle, Baden Powell, and Lloyd George, as well as the somewhat less recognized. Among the latter: E. Nesbitt, author and open-marriage advocate; Horatio Bottomly, financier and swindler; Marie Lloyd, music hall performer; and Daisy, mistress to Edward VII and convert to socialism.
Mr. Rolls and Mr. Royce is a spirited look at the two conflicting personalities that came together to create the single finest name in automobile engineering in the world.
Horatio Bottomley careens through the various outrageous scams and financial finagles of one of the most colorful swindlers (as well as writers and orators) of the 20th century, Horatio Bottomley.
E. Nesbit looks at the world-famous British children’s author through a decidedly more adult viewpoint; specifically, the film examines her “open” marriage to Hubert Bland (James Villiers), who lived with Nesbit (Judy Parfitt) and the mother of two of his children, Alice “Mouse” Houston (Jane Lapotaire).
Conan Doyle looks at the true-life detective case orchestrated by the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, when he was engaged to clear the name of George Edalji, an Indian/Scottish solicitor who was convicted of a series of brutal horse slashings right after the turn of the century.
Looking at the complex former lieutenant-general in the British Army and founder of the Boy Scouts, Baden-Powell is an evocative (but perhaps fuzzy) meditation on the hero of the Mafeking Siege (in the Second Boer War) who, after retiring from the Army and seeing hoards of young English boys in poor health and with no moral, patriotic compass, decided to create the Boy Scouts.
Taking a rather oblique view of the famous 1907 “Music Hall War,” The Reluctant Juggler focuses on a juggler who is identified only as “The Great Alfredo” who goes through a night of indecision as more famous (and true-life) music hall headliners such as Marie Lloyd (Georgia Brown), Gus Elen (George Sewell), Charles Coburn (Peter Pratt), Vesta Victoria (Jo Kendall), and George Formby, Sr. (Gerald Moon), try to persuade him to join the impending strike.
Detailing the many affairs and scandals of her tumultuous life, Daisy looks at Francis Evelyn “Daisy” Greville, the Countess of Warwick (Virginia McKenna), who among other notable liaisons during her marriage to Lord Brooke, became the mistress of King Edward VII (Thorley Walters) – while at the same time having a true love affair with Lord Charles Beresford (Myles Hoyle).
Lloyd George looks at the personal and political life of David Lloyd George (Anthony Hopkins), as the rising Liberal Member of Parliament becomes the President of the Board of Trade, and negotiates England out of a potentially disastrous railway strike. – Paul Mavis
Shown on PBS Masterpiece Theatre.