i can not say how closely the film follow the novel and never have read the book and but since this clock in at some six and a half hour it a good bet that most of the base be cover or and at least and we can say with some certainty that this isn not a reader digest condense version . the production value be high and well up to the standard of other bbc classic series like inspector morse and sherlock holmes . we can believe dickens london look and sound and and think a lot like this . there be some occasional minor lapse some sportsman fire a pistol with a percussion cap in 1840 or 1820 or whenever this take place . the act too be to be applaud . suzanne burden be the polite and honest heroine who quietly go about do good . she cute too and in a mature way and her beauty in her compassionate nature not in any flirtatiousness . denholm elliott be her guardian ( and more than that and a it turn out ) . burden and elliott be two of the very few character who be good in an unalloyed way . another be a former sergeant force to do evil by evil people . another be a poor and helpless young boy . i do not think anyone else could have write this . it get all the earmark of dickens poverty and tragic death and capitalism in the raw and the generous rich guy in his gated home and hidden parentage and shadowy motif and and the impotence or outright maliciousness of the justice system . well and not the justice system a a whole but the chancery and which be evidently a court that decide matter have to do with the distribution of property . ( so i gather from wikipedia . ) it become so notoriously rigid and dilatory that it be thoroughly revamp in england in 1973. twice and elliott character describe it a a curse . the most impressive scene involve a money scrounge creditor hound a retired soldier in the latter gymnasium during a fencing lesson . the sergeant be more masculine in the traditional sense than any other male character i remember from dickens . the apoplectic money lender and renter be scream threat from his seat and the sergeant turn towards him and do one delicate exercise with the saber after another and each advancement bring him close to his tormentor and while the scarlet face old creditor shrink back into his seat . a couple of thing be miss . often dickens will stick in at least one or two amusing line of dialog . ( humbug . or the law be a as . ) not here . bleak house be the right title . second and there be practically no weberian ideal type no mr. micawber or artful dodger or scrooge . third and the atmosphere and the whole ethos and be relentlessly dismal . one tribulation follow another and usually have to do with money or some shameful peccadillo out of the past . my god and it depress . it a if the author be vent his spleen on everything he hat in the world he know . poverty and okay . he know poverty . but one wonder what the chancery do to dickens to deserve this kind of treatment . maybe i should add that i have just watch the first episode of the 2005 series and it well in two way . there be more zip in the direction and so the pace be a little faster . and the business of jarndyce vs. jarndyce be explain satisfactorily right up front and instead of lurk about in the shadow a that mysterious curse and so the plot be easy to follow .