Masterpiece Theatre: The Jewel in the Crown

The history of the British Empire in India has been the focus of countless histories, documentaries, and most recently, theatrical motion pictures and teleplays. In the view of the Peabody Board, none has matched the intensity, scope, and detail of Granada Television’s The Jewel in the Crown, whose presentation on public television was made possible by Mobil. A faithful and exceedingly rich adaptation of Paul Scott’s novels, The Raj Quartet, this production is perhaps the pinnacle of dramatic television to date. Bravura performances from the celebrated (Dame Peggy Ashcroft) to heretofore unknowns (Susan Wooldridge and Art Malik), exquisite location photography, and an uncanny narrative sense combine to create fifteen of television’s finest hours. For a television series of unmatched integrity and historic importance, a Peabody Award to Granada Television of England for The Jewel in the Crow.