Brideshead Revisited - Complete Series [1981] - DVD (Laurence Olivier, Claire Bloom, John Le Mesurier, John Gielgud, Jeremy Irons - Dir: Charles Sturridge)

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Customer Reviews of Brideshead Revisited - Complete Series [1981]

Mr G
Lisbon
13th November 2008

Television of the highest quality
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.

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.

In sum, I enjoyed this series immensely. Craft and class like this don't come together very often, more's the pity.

Mr. C. Hovell
London
1st November 2008

The Beautiful and the Damned
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.

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.

I've put Brideshead away now, but I am sure I'll revisit it again in another 27 years time, God willing.

P L Fleischer
London, Hampstead
28th October 2008

God's grace in action
Brideshead Revisited caused Mr. Waugh to suffer amongst his contempories. Why? Waugh writes: "It's theme - the operation of divine grace on a group of diverse but closely connected characters - was perhaps persumptuoulsy large, but I make no apology for it." The modern world does not care about God, nor His grace, nor the fact that He loves all His creation: even a few funny toffs! This film does not avoid the issues of grace but stays true the novel's weird, wacky and wonderful ways. Thanks be to God!

A. D. SOUSA
Espagne
20th October 2008

probably the best tv series ever
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.

alan944

4th October 2008

ONe of the greatest pieces of TV - ever!
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!
The film I understand, leaves a lot to be desired, so better to buy this AND read the book. You will regret buying neither.