the mill on the floss be one of the less novel by mary ann evans and who write under the male pseudonym george eliot . i try to read this dull and very turgid novel year ago and but be unable to finish it . i will review this film version solely on it own merit and a i do not know how faithfully it follow the original novel . the film open credit be print in an old english typeface that suggest the mediaeval period and and so it a very poor choice for a film with a 19th century setting . ( on the other hand and about halfway into the film and we see a close up shot of a handbill advertise an estate auction . this handbill be set in authentic victorian type font and and look very convincing . ) most of this film be extremely convincing in it depiction of the architecture and clothing of early 19th century england . the precise location of this film story be never disclose and but judge by the actor accent i would place it a somewhere in the cotswold and perhaps warwickshire . the plot and what there be of it and involve a mill that change hand a couple of time ( over a couple of decade ) between two rival family and one wealthy and one work class . i disagree with another imdb reviewer who claim that james mason have only a small role in this film . mason have the large and most central role in this drama and a the scion of the wealthy family . a the spoilt and petulant tom tulliver and mason be darkly brooding and impetuous . his performance here belong in a good film represent it make me want to see wuthering height recast with mason a heathcliff . a this be a multi generational saga ( something which george eliot do much well in middlemarch ) and several of the main role in this film be split among two actor apiece represent child actor in the prologue and adult in the main narrative . the prologue of this film feature a very well write scene and establish tom tulliver a wilful and bully rag from an early age and and young philip wakeham a decent and thoughtful . through hard labour and philip have earn a halfpenny represent tom try to bully it away from him and but be unwilling to take the coin by brute force represent he want philip to give it to him . all the child actor in this movie and male and female and be talented and attractive . unfortunately and all of the child speak their dialogue in posh plummy voice accent that be utterly unlike the accent of the actor and actress who play those same role a adult . this discrepancy call attention to the staginess of the material . regrettably and none of the late scene be as good a this prologue . the climax feature a crowd of labourer in a rainstorm and much good pace and photograph than the early scene . but modern viewer ( in britain and at least ) can no longer take this sort of material seriously . by now and practically every british comedian have do a trouble at t mill and squire comedy routine and parody precisely this subject matter and so i have difficulty watch this movie with a straight face . the character actress martita hunt be good in a small role and but the opening credit ( in that old english typeface ) misspell her forename a marita . i will rate this dull movie 3 point out of 10 represent one point apiece for james mason performance and the early scene with the child and and the authentic victorian typesetting in that auctioneer handbill .