When we last saw passionate lovers Owen and Anna at the conclusion of "Reckless," "Masterpiece Theatre's" surprisingly contemporary romance in three chapters, the couple had thrown caution to the wind and run off together, much to the chagrin of Anna's jealous, but terribly unfaithful, husband Richard.
"Reckless, the Sequel," which premieres on PBS Sunday night, picks up the thread of that passion, which fortunately burns as hot as ever. The two-hour movie--a year has passed--finds the couple blissfully together in a small but attractive flat. Owen (Robson Green) is eating breakfast as he silently and lovingly watches Anna (Francesca Annis) get ready for work. As she leaves, Anna smiles and, just before closing the door, says: "Yes."
For the Record
Los Angeles Times Tuesday April 20, 1999 Home Edition Calendar Part F Page 4 Entertainment Desk 1 inches; 24 words Type of Material: Correction
Actress--Francesca Annis was the co-star of the romantic comedy "Reckless, the Sequel" on PBS Sunday night. She was misidentified in a caption in Saturday's Calendar.
Owen's reaction is anything but subtle, though there is much about this movie that is. Within a week, the two will be--well, leave it to Owen to explain.
The initial six-part "Reckless" certainly was a change of pace for the PBS series. For 28 years, "Masterpiece Theatre" has presented countless acclaimed, award-winning British period dramas.
In fact, "Reckless" may be the first "Masterpiece Theatre" series to feature a male lead who wears blue jeans and a leather jacket. Britches, hose and powdered wigs are more the norm.
Penned by Paul Abbott ("Cracker," "Touching Evil"), the romantic comedy has been a breath of fresh air for the series. A huge hit in England, "Reckless" also caught on with "Masterpiece" fans when it aired early last year.
Viewers and critics found much to like. "Reckless" was passionate, sexy, funny and steamy--and set in the '90s. Abbott's sophisticated characters were wonderfully rendered by Annis as the beautiful, middle-aged and very married executive Anna and hunky Green as the young, sexy doctor who worked in a hospital run by Anna's ninny of a husband, Richard (Michael Kitchen), who, it so happens, had a pregnant mistress.
The sequel finds the insanely jealous Richard employing every dirty trick in the book to come between Owen and Anna.
Abbott believes that "Reckless" appealed to audiences because viewers were ripe for something romantic and funny.
"People seemed ready for something more life-affirming," says Abbott, who was once married to a woman 11 years his senior. "Though it had obsessional qualities about it and complicated emotional material, making that complex and funny at the same time was a real joy."
