FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: Brideshead Revisited - Complete Series [DVD] [1981]

Brideshead Revisited - Complete Series [DVD] [1981]
enlarge	Directors: Charles Sturridge, Michael Lindsay-Hogg Actors: Laurence Olivier, Claire Bloom, John Le Mesurier, John Gielgud, Jeremy Irons Studio: ITV DVD Category: DVD List Price: ~~£39.99~~ Buy New: £11.50 as of 24/11/2009 03:29 GMT details You Save: £28.49 (71%) New (16) Used (3) from £9.29 Seller: Ali Books Rating: 29 reviews Sales Rank: 541 Format: Box set, PAL Language: English (Subtitled) Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over Region: 2 Number Of Discs: 4 Running Time: 663 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4 Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 5037115294333 ASIN: B001CWLFHC Theatrical Release Date: 1981 Release Date: September 1, 2008 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next » ONe of the greatest pieces of TV - ever! October 4, 2008 Alan Gent 111 out of 119 found this review helpful Quite simply this is brilliant. Producing the book as a TV series gave the director the opportunity to indulge in Waugh's lush and vivid text and whole sections of the book are quoted verbatim. And of course, in hindsight, the casting was inspired, with Jeremy Irons as Rider and Anthony Andrews as the rather beautiful Sebastian Flyte. But don't forget such cameo's as Nikolas Grace as the effete Anthony Blanche - masterful! br /The film I understand, leaves a lot to be desired, so better to buy this AND read the book. You will regret buying neither. Television of the highest quality November 13, 2008 Mr G (Lisbon) 37 out of 41 found this review helpful This is a staggeringly good piece of TV drama which has justifiably become a classic. It's hard to imagine any producer today taking the time to explore a novel in the way this adaptation does, a full 11 episodes which allow the viewer to luxuriate in the story and thoroughly explore the characters. There has always been debate over whether there was a mythological "Golden Age of TV", but I think the early 1980s saw something quite remarkable at Granada Studios, at least in the field of period adaptations, and Brideshead might just be the pinnacle. br / br /Evelyn Waugh's novel is a heady evocation of time and place, as well as an exploration of spirituality, and the series captures all this with consummate skill, from the glorious period detail to the brilliant script by John Mortimer. The acting is simply faultless, to be expected when talent like Irons and Andrews stands alongside veteran greats like Olivier, Gielgud and Claire Bloom. br / br /In sum, I enjoyed this series immensely. Craft and class like this don't come together very often, more's the pity. The Beautiful and the Damned November 1, 2008 Graham Chapman (London) 39 out of 44 found this review helpful This was 'watercooler' TV in the 80s,(it wouldn't be today, of course). When I first saw Brideshead all the interest - and the talk - seemed to be about Sebastian (the character and the actor playing him). New Romantics nicked the fashion ideas, families went to visit Castle Howard at the weekends. Redtops found a few half-witted Oxford students clutching teddybears and took photos to amuse their readers. And there was a sudden increase in the number of (Blair-like) conversions to Catholicism. br / br /Watching it all again, I appreciated so much that hadn't at the time moved me - the romance between Charles and Julia, the sense of damnation hanging over the characters. br / br /I've put Brideshead away now, but I am sure I'll revisit it again in another 27 years time, God willing. br / br / br / br / br / br / Divine television - a superb adaptation January 1, 2009 Slinky (London) 13 out of 14 found this review helpful I recall when BR was televised in the early 80s the BBC's lead drama in competition was 'The Borgias' - who remembers that now? With thanks to Granada however, we do have this masterful adaptation and example of crafted television to enjoy. In summary, and in conclusion of the tale, it's a tragedy chronicling the decline of a family torn apart by its Catholic faith, as witnessed by the interloper that is Charles Ryder - suffused throughout though with humour, sometimes love and a lot of loss. br / br /Some 25+ years later, in the light of a new film adaptation, does the original still stand up to any test - undoubtedly yes. The film may appeal more to those who want to witness the romance between Charles and Sebastian and how Charles's rejection of Sebastian triggers the events that follow. The film also reveals the true horror that is Lady Marchmain, which perhaps Claire Bloom in the television series is simply to genteel to hurl at us. But it is, in comparison, a lumpen and patchy affair. Where Michael Gambon is utterly wasted in the role of Lord Marchmain in the film, Laurence Oliver (and all the cast) in the television series had the time to unravel and slowly reveal their characters, letting us see their complication, intrigue, distrust and sometimes a little of their love. br / br /While the headline cast are all superb, I'd pick out supporting cast members such as John Gielgud (utterly brilliant and sorely missed), Phoebe Nicholls as an enchanting Cordelia, Michael Hilton as Hayter and of course Nickolas Grace as being worthy of equal note. In fact, the depth of acting is evident across virtually all the roles. br / br /Whether such television could be made nowadays is moot (for example its duration, range of locations, attention to detail and size of cast). As Waugh said himself, the book was a record of times lost and perhaps also television is structured to differently nowadays to produce anything comparable. I for one though am glad it has been made and that it is still available. Surely it is time for a digital remastering? probably the best tv series ever October 20, 2008 A. D. SOUSA (Espagne) 29 out of 33 found this review helpful A tragic love story between two young university sudents, that take separate paths in their lives. (Although neither the writer nor the screen writer were willing to assume any gay content). Performances by Irons and Andrews are outstanding. Don't miss it. Directing is well guided and in the perfectly right tone, intimate and tender. I remember I saw it for the first time I was still a young boy, but now, twenty years later it is still modern and actual. Showing reviews 1-5 of 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next »

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