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Over the decades, this timeless tale has been adapted on many occasions, yet this particular version stands head and shoulders above the rest, thanks to its breathtaking setting and a much-loved British actress.

Based on the 1945 novel Brideshead Revisited, this film of the same name is the 2008 adaptation, directed by Julian Jarrold. It follows in the wake of the hugely successful 1981 ITV drama, which garnered considerable attention throughout its run on screen.

It was very much the Saltburn of the late 2000s, sharing a similar sentiment to that of the F. Scott Fitzgerald story, in that it welcomed viewers and an unlikely companion into a world of wealth, aristocracy and excess.

The story centres on Oxford student Charles Ryder, who is taken under the wing of aristocrat Sebastian Flyte and drawn irresistibly into his family’s world of power and privilege. Upon being invited to their magnificent ancestral stately home, he falls deeply in love with his friend’s sister, Julia.

Yet as their bond grows ever stronger and he becomes increasingly entangled with the family and its web of relationships, he finds himself at odds with their devout and unusually intense religion, being a committed atheist himself.

One viewer wrote on Rotten Tomatoes: “Brilliant like the book, very good job with the interiors.” Another wrote: “Lush, depressing, picturesque, Downton Abbey-ish, British drama.”

Sharing their thoughts, a fan of the film said: “This was a stand-out film in terms of production value. The story is all-too-familiar for those who are acquainted with the characters from the PBS series…but the lush production mounted and filmed is worth the trip to the cinema.”

The film boasts a stellar ensemble cast, with Emma Thompson taking on the eccentric role of the wealthy family’s matriarch. She is joined by Ben Whishaw as her son Sebastian, Hayley Atwell as her daughter Julia, and Matthew Goode portraying the outsider who gradually works his way into the family fold.

Another review reads: “Brilliant adaptation. Brilliant cast. Brilliant cinematography. A work of utter genius.”

Such opinions frequently focus not merely on the narrative itself, but on the magnificent backdrop against which it unfolds. In Brideshead Revisited, the estate occupies a pivotal role throughout the film, and much like the earlier television adaptation, Castle Howard in North Yorkshire serves as the real-life embodiment of Brideshead.

Simon Howard revealed that he and his family were delighted to open up their estate to the film crew, hoping it would generate even greater public interest. Following the release of the television series, they witnessed a significant surge in visitor numbers and anticipated that the film would provide a further boost to tourism in the years that followed.

Although the film was lauded for its cinematic excellence, it failed to attract significant media coverage and was far from a box office triumph, slipping largely beneath the radar.

Nevertheless, as audiences continue to unearth the hidden gem, many cannot fathom why it took them so long to stumble across the adaptation.

One devoted viewer said: “Beautiful and moving, though it doesn’t tell the story you expect at the start. Excellent performances from Emma Thompson, Matthew Goode, and Michael Gambon.”

Brideshead Revisited, the 2008 film, is available to stream now for free on BBC iPlayer.