In the spirit of Thomas Hardy and revisiting the countryside of D.H. Lawrence, The Black Velvet Gown is a classic tale of overcoming impoverished means. Set and filmed on location in Northumberland in northeastern England, the countryside and stark gray sky provide the dramatic backdrop for this story, which takes place in the 19th century. A widowed mother and her three children become servants in a reclusive man's household. The family brings the lonely academic joy and laughter and in exchange he bestows upon them his knowledge of books. It was unheard of for servants to be educated and literate, however, and after the master dies it's up to the mother and her daughter to overcome the narrow-minded prejudices held by society and create a liberated life on their own terms. Based on the bestselling novel by Catherine Cookson, The Black Velvet Gown is an entertaining watch.