The Mayor of Casterbridge (1978): Besetzung, Handlung & Streaming

Released in 1978, The Mayor of Casterbridge is a drama series.

What it’s about. The Mayor of Casterbridge is a 1978 BBC seven-part serial based on the eponymous 1886 book by the British novelist Thomas Hardy. The six-hour drama was written by dramatist Dennis Potter and directed by David Giles, with Alan Bates as the title character. Michael Henchard, an out-of-work hay-trusser, gets drunk at a fair and, for five guineas, sells his wife and child to a sailor. When the horror of his act finally sets in, Henchard swears he will not touch alcohol for twenty-one years. Through hard work and acumen, he becomes rich, respected, and eventually the mayor of Casterbridge. But eighteen years after his fateful oath, his wife and daughter return to Casterbridge, and his fortunes steadily decline.

Who’s in it. The Mayor of Casterbridge stars Alan Bates as Michael Henchard, Janet Maw as Elizabeth-Jane II, Jack Galloway as Donald Farfrae and Anna Massey as Lucetta Farfrae (née Templeman), among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, The Mayor of Casterbridge has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In USA you can stream it on WETA+. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Mayor of Casterbridge page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Mayor of Casterbridge tend to enjoy Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Attack on Titan.