The Moonstone (1972 TV series)

The Moonstone is a British mystery television series adapted from the 1868 novel The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. It aired on BBC 1 in five episodes between 16 January and 13 February 1972. It subsequently aired in America on PBS-TV's Masterpiece Theatre between 10 December 1972 and 7 January 1973.

Cast

 * Vivien Heilbron as Rachel Verinder
 * Robin Ellis as Franklin Blake
 * Kathleen Byron as Lady Verinder
 * Basil Dignam as Gabriel Betteredge
 * Martin Jarvis as Godfrey Ablewhite
 * Anna Cropper as Rosanna Spearman
 * John Welsh as Sergeant Cuff
 * Peter Sallis as Mr. Bruff
 * Christopher Hancock as Ezra Jennings
 * Brian Murphy as Septimus Luker
 * Maureen Morris as Penelope Betteredge
 * Madhav Sharma as Indian
 * Bell McCallum as Nancy
 * Michael Gover as Superintendent Seegrave
 * Philip Ray as Dr. Candy
 * Roy Macready as Tomlinson
 * Tony Maiden as Conjuror's Boy
 * Ali Baba as Indian Conjuror
 * Azad Ali as Indian Conjuror
 * Cynthia Etherington as Miss Clack
 * Brian Badcoe as Mr. Murthwaite
 * Douglas Mann as Gooseberry
 * Dona Martin as Lucy Yolland
 * Sheila Keith as Mrs. Yolland
 * Norman Claridge as Dr. Richardson
 * Timothy Craven as Chemist
 * Colin Baker as John Herncastle
 * Reginald Jessup as Purser
 * Norman Mitchell as Mr. Ablewhite
 * Mary Barclay as Mrs. Ablewhite
 * Billy Cornelius as Landlord
 * Stephen Rea as Major Frayne
 * Derek Chafer as Sergeant
 * Julie May as Cuff's Housekeeper
 * David Simeon as Mechanic
 * Pat Gorman as Baker, Plain Clothes Man
 * Albert Moses as Treasury Guard
 * Marguerite Young as Mrs. Threadgall
 * Sherrie Hewson as Charity Ablewhite
 * Georgina Simpson as Grace Ablewhite

Reception
The series was well received by critics. In The New York Times, Howard Thompson called it "typically smooth, restrained, well-played, and in lovely, subdued colour".