This is one of those strange movies where you can tell that someone who wanted to put in the effort could have done a much better job. Instead, the filmmakers went ahead with a really awful script and decided not to bother themselves with too many historic details. The dialogue is clearly meant to inform the ignorant about the era, but reveals very little about the inner lives of the characters. Further, despite much hand wringing about the proper roles of women at the time, we are treated to situations such as 1. open-mouthed kissing between an unmarried, upper-class couple 2. an obviously pregnant matron traveling in the city and 3. a lady repeatedly walking the streets of London at night unescorted. Finally, this film has far too little information about the actual domestic life of women that Mrs. Beeton sought to address, chamber-pots, hand-washed laundry, and all. A real disappointment to anyone interested in Mrs. Beeton's book.