Although its mood and theme do not lend themselves to pop culture formats, and its lack of a "positive message" seems at odds with many trends in popular media, two interesting adaptations have been released almost one century after the novel was written. Neither was extremely successful commercially, but one offers valid interpretations that can supplement, but not replace, a reading of Hardy's narrative.

A British Broadcasting production of 1971 was liberally "dramatized" by Harry Green and directed by Hugh David.

Although Green took considerable liberties with Hardy's novel in adapting it to television, including the omission of several minor characters like Phillotson's confidant Gillingham and Mr. Cartlett, as well as adding substantially to the importance of others, like the Marygreen parish priest, the adaptation is on the whole faithful to the spirit of Hardy's novel.

David's direction makes effective use of virtually simultaneous cuts among scenes involving the...