Gallowglass (miniseries)
| Gallowglass | |
|---|---|
 VHS cover | |
| Genre | Drama |
| Written by |
Ruth Rendell (writer) Jacqueline Holborough (screenplay) |
| Directed by | Tim Fywell |
| Starring |
Michael Sheen Paul Rhys |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 3 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | BBC |
| Running time | 157 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC1 |
| Original release | 10 January – 24 January 1993 |
Gallowglass is a British television mini-series adaptation of the Ruth Rendell novel of the same name. It is an emotional story of obsessive love, lust and fear.
Plot
Joe (Sheen) is saved by Sandor (Rhys), from committing suicide in front of an oncoming tube train. Sandor now demands his absolute loyalty and teaches Joe that he is now a 'gallowglass', a servant of a chief. So deep is Joe's gratitude that he helps with the kidnapping of a young wealthy married woman, Nina (Whiteley), that Sandor is obsessed with. His adoptive sister Tilly is also involved in the plot, which also involves the abduction of the daughter of Nina's bodyguard.
Nina and the child are both released when the ransom is paid, and soon after this Sandor jumps to his death into the path of a train as Joe watches. Nina is then lured to her death by Gianni, a former gay partner of Sandor, and her body is found buried in woodland a few days later. Sandor's mother, who had no other children, then accepts Joe as her second son, and he begins a relationship with Tilly.
Cast
- Michael Sheen – Joe
- Paul Rhys – Sandor
- Arkie Whiteley – Nina
- John McArdle – Paul
- Claire Hackett – Tilly
- Gary Waldhorn – Ralph Apsoland
- Harriet Owen – Jessica