Jamaica Inn: The Complete Series

A young Jane Seymour takes the lead role in this adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s classic tale.

Set in the early 1800s, this is the story of a young girl whose father is killed by criminal ship pillagers known as The Wreckers, her mother dying of grief soon afterwards. Her only surviving family are Aunt Patience and Uncle Joss, who just happen to run the Jamaica Inn in Cornwall, Mary find herself staying there as their maid. The Inn is of course the home of The Wreckers and the abusive drunkard Joss (Patrick McGoohan) is a loyal and mighty member of the gang too.

This 1983 series is a nicely made tale of murder, rebelliousness, family loyalty and love, as Mary learns about The Wreckers, falls for Jem (Trevor Eve), her uncle’s brother, and is centre stage for Joss’s eventual fall from grace. A well-made and not too-aged series, this is well written and portrayed beautifully by the main cast, the story is paced nicely and the suspense builds perfectly to the finale. Seymour’s takes on the harrowing role of Mary with ease and gives her great believability, judging her strengths and weaknesses perfectly.

Extras: None.

Released on 26th May 2008 by Network.

Written by Phil Allely.