Movie: "A Woman of Substance" (1984)

• Director: Don Sharp
• Release Date: 25 November 1984 (USA)
• Writers: Tom Blomquist (outline adaptation) Barbara Taylor Bradford (novel)  
• Run Time: Germany:490 min (5 episodes) | USA:300 min
• Country: UK
• Genre: Drama  

Trivia: As of 2010, 25 years after it was first screened, this is still the highest ever rated programme on Channel 4 in the UK – peaking at 13.84 million viewers on the third night – 4th January 1985.
 

“A Woman of Substance charts the life of Emma Harte, from kitchen maid at the beginning of the 20th Century, to respected business woman and Grandmother in the 1980′s. From humble beginnings Emma Harte starts her business with a small shop, but over the next twenty years she expands her stores and invests in the growing textile industry in Leeds. By the time of World War 2, Emma is the head of a major retail and manufacturing empire, but she has struggled all her life to find love. After an illegitimate daughter and two marriages, she finally meets the love of her life, Paul McGill, but their affair is cut short by a tragic accident, leaving Emma with his daughter. In the 1980′s Emma faces one of her biggest tests – her childrens attempt to remove her as head of her company, but Emma is far from the senile old woman they think she is – she is determined to stop them at all costs. Written by Stacey Mitchell”