The Mallens

The Mallens was a popular Granada Television adaptation of Catherine Cookson novels that ran for 13 episodes from 1979 to 1980. The series is based on The Mallen Streak, The Mallen Girls, and The Mallen Secret and The Mallen Curse.

The Mallens
GenreDrama
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of episodes13
Production
Producer(s)Granada Television
Release
Original networkITV
Original release10 June 1979 –
1980

Plot summary

Mallen Streak

The pivotal character is a ruthless 19th century Northumberland Squire, Thomas Mallen (played by John Hallam) of High Banks Hall, who has a genetic white streak (Poliosis) in his hair and fathers numerous illegitimate children, who all inherit the white streak and live disastrous lives. One of them is Donald Radlet (John Duttine), who stars in both The Mallen Streak and The Mallen Girls. Thomas Mallen, penniless, mortgages his farming estate to make ends meet; he attempts to get his only legitimate son, Richard Mallen (David Rintoul) married to Fanny Armstrong, an unattractive girl with a rich father. Richard struggles to get Fanny to marry him, since they dislike each other, but her dowry would save Richard and Thomas from losing their big house and property. However, the plan fails due to a servant unintentionally revealing that Richard was only marrying Fanny for her money and that he didn't like her, and Richard losing his temper. He shoots and kills a visiting bailiff in the process, causing Thomas Mallen to be declared bankrupt and to lose everything. This forces Thomas to move into a small cottage, with his late wife's nieces Barbara (Pippa Guard) and Constance (Julia Chambers) and their Governess Anna Brigmore (Caroline Blakiston), who starts an affair with the now bankrupt Squire. Some time after this, Donald and his illegitimate half brother Matthew Radlet (Ian Saynor) comes to the cottage to visit his father. He and his Radlet then take a romantic interest in Barbara and Constance. While Donald is courting Barbara, he is also secretly trying to take Constance away from Radlett, who is in love with her. Donald eventually achieves this aim, by the end of the Mallen Streak programmes.

Mallen Girls

In the Mallen Girls Matthew and Constance are secretly meeting and on one occasion sleep together. Constance says they should be married but Matthew refuses, fearing his brother and that he is dying. He tells her to say yes if Donald should make a marriage proposal but she refuses. Mrs Brigmore, realising what has happened persuades Constance to marry Donald in fear that Constance may now be pregnant. She marries Donald and later gives birth to a son named Michael. Meanwhile, Thomas Mallen, still with Brigmore starts turning to drink and sleeping with other women. Eventually one night he mistakes his niece Barbara for someone else, rapes her, realises what he has done, and commits suicide. Sometime after this it is revealed that Barbara is pregnant with her uncle's child. Months later Barbara dies while giving birth to a daughter, who is also named Barbara. Donald then comes to take the child, so that he can lay claim to her inheritance left to her by her half brother Richard. Richard had managed to get bail and become very rich overseas. Donald hopes that by doing this he will be able to buy Highbank Hall. Mrs Brigmore refuses to, realizing that Donald does not care for the child, as well as out of guilt for failing to stop Barbara being raped. Donald refuses to listen and says that the child is now his. When Donald goes to pick up Barbara, Matthew comes along. After some last attempt to change his half brother’s mind, Matthew wrestles with Donald, causing them both to fall to their deaths.

Mallen Secret

The next two parts differ considerably from the books in the ending.

Taking place several years later the Mallen Secret begins with Barbara (Juliet Stevenson) unaware of her true parentage. This is caused in part due to being deaf and partly because she is shielded by her guardian Brigmore. She encounters Michael Radlet (Gerry Sundquist) who is also unaware of his true parentage. His mother Constance (now played by June Ritchie) has made him believe he is Donald Radlet's son. He and Barbara soon meet and develop feelings for one another. Both Brigmore and Constance manage to put an end to this. Later on Michael becomes engaged to another woman and Barbara learns of her true parentage. Eventually in a jealous rage she attacks Michael's fiance, Sarah, causing her to lose her leg. This act drives Michael and Barbara apart ending the Mallen Secret.

Mallen Curse

The Mallens is finally concluded in the Mallen Curse, set just after Barbarra attack on Sarah. Michael threatens Sarah's brother Jim, that he will chuck them off the farm if they get Barbarra arrested. Barbara Mallen has now moved on from Michael and married someone else just as Michael has done, but as they meet again their passion is re-ignited, as they start secretly seeing each other. Eventually their actions lead to terrible consequences for everyone around them. This leads Brigmore to tell Barbara that she never wants to see her again. Barbara eventually drags Michael underwater to their deaths, thus ending the Mallens story.[1]

Differences in the novel
  • The ending to the series is considerably different. Barbara and Michael both go on to have their own children.
  • At the beginning of the novels Donald and Matthew are 13 and 11 years old and Constance is 7 years old and Barbara is 10 years of age.

References
  1. "The Mallen Streak" PART ONE, Chapter 1, PART TWO, Chapter 1 for Donald's and Matthew's ages and PART ONE, Chapter 2 for Barbara's and Constance's ages
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