Favorite Television Productions Set in the 1840s

Below is a list of my favorite television productions set in the 1840s:



FAVORITE TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS SET IN THE 1840s



1. "The Chisholms" (1979) - This four-part miniseries about a family from western Virginia emigrating to California in the 1840s is a big favorite of mine. Based upon Evan Hunter's 1976 novel, it starred Robert Preston, Rosemary Harris and Ben Murphy.





2. "Half-Slave, Half-Free: Solomon Northup's Odyssey" (1984) - Avery Brooks starred in this television adaptation of free born Solomon Northup's 1853 autobiography about his twelve years as a slave in antebellum Louisiana. Gordon Parks directed.





3. "Cranford" (2007) - Sue Birtwistle and Susie Conklin produced this 2007 adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's three novellas published between 1849 and 1858 about the fictional town of Cranford - "Cranford", "My Lady Ludlow", and "Mr. Harrison's Confessions". Adapted by Heidi Thomas and directed by Simon Curtis and Steve Hudson, the limited series starred Judi Dench.





4. "The Liberators" (1987) - Robert Carradine and Larry B. Scott starred in this Disney television movie about the nephew of a Kentucky slaveowner and the latter's escaped slave and their activities as Underground Railroad conductors. Kenneth Johnson directed.





5. "Jane Eyre" (2006) - Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens starred in this 2006 television adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel about a romance between a governess and her employer. The miniseries was adapted by Sandy Welch and directed by Susanna White.





6. "To Walk Invisible" (2016) - Sally Wainwright created this two-part limited series about Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë's development as authors and poets; along with their relationships with their only brother Bramwell. Finn Atkins, Charlie Murphy, Chloe Pirrie and Adam Nagaitis starred.





7. "Return to Cranford" (2009) - Sue Birtwistle and Susie Conklin produced this adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's two novellas and a short story published between 1849 and 1863 about the continuing saga of the fictional town of Cranford - "Cranford", "The Moorland Cottage", and "The Cage at Cranford". Adapted by Heidi Thomas and directed by Simon Curtis, the limited series starred Judi Dench.





8. "The Oregon Trail" (1976; 1977) - Rod Taylor starred in this short-lived television series about the adventures of an Illinois family's westward journey to Oregon during the early 1840s. Created by Samuel A. Peeples and Michael Gleason, the series co-starred Andrew Stevens, Darlene Carr and Charles Napier.





9. "Jane Eyre" (1997) - Samantha Morton and Ciarán Hinds starred in this 1997 television adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel about a romance between a governess and her employer. Roger Young directed.





10. "The Moonstone" (2016) - Lisa Mulcahy directed this 2016 television adaptation of Wilkie Collins' 1868 novel about the mystery surrounding a stolen gem. The miniseries starred Joshua Silver, John Thomson, Leo Wringer and Terenia Edwards.