Brideshead Revisited [1981] - ()

Fill a bowl with alpine strawberries, break out the Château Lafite (1899, of course) and bask in Brideshead Revisited, the 1981 miniseries based on Evelyn Waugh's classic novel, adapted for the screen by John Mortimer (Rumpole of the Bailey). In his breakthrough role, Jeremy Irons stars as Charles Ryder, a disillusioned Army captain who is moved to reflect on his "languid days" in the "enchanted castle" that was Brideshead, home of the aristocratic Marchmain family, whose acquaintance Charles made in the company of an Oxford classmate, the charming wild-child Sebastian. Anthony Andrews costars as the doomed Sebastian, whose beauty is "arresting" and "whose eccentricities and behaviour seemed to know no bounds". The "entitled and enchanted" Sebastian takes Charles under his wing ("Charles, what a lot you have to learn"), but vows early on that he is "not going to let [Charles] get mixed up with [his] family." But mixed up Charles gets. He becomes a friend and confidante, not to mention a lover, to Sebastian's sister Julia (Diana Quick). Meanwhile, the self-destructive Sebastian's life spirals out of control.

Brideshead Revisited boasts a distinguished ensemble cast, including Laurence Olivier in his Emmy Award-winning role as the exiled Lord Marchmain, Claire Bloom as Lady Marchmain, and the magnificent John Gielgud as Charles's estranged father. Grand locations and a haunting musical score make this a memorable revisit of an irretrievable bygone era. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews of Brideshead Revisited [1981]

F. S. L'hoir
Irvine, CA
11th May 2007

Et in Arcadia Ego--Waugh, Chapter One.
I especially enjoyed the first two hauntingly beautiful episodes that are set among the "dreaming spires" of Oxford and the dreamy palazzi along the Canal Grande of Venice. Although initially I found the dynamic between Charles and Sebastian (the young Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews respectively) to be the most interesting, by the time I had arrived at the later episodes (and there are thirteen of them), I was wholly captivated by all the characters. I did not want the series to end.

The magic can be attributed to the fine production values--the stunning settings (some of the later scenes were shot in first class aboard the Cunard liner, Queen Elizabeth II) and rich vintage costumes, the evocative trumpets of the musical score, the splendid combination of John Mortimer's script and novelist Evelyn Waugh's actual words, the excellent direction--and the top-drawer actors, not only Irons and Andrews but also Sir John Gielgud, Sir Lawrence Olivier, and Claire Bloom, who are supported by a fine ensemble cast.

"Brideshead Revisited" allows even us viewers trapped in the twenty-first century, to dwell momentarily in a golden Arcadia that is gone forever.

P. W. Charnley
United Kingdom.
1st April 2005

A drama that literally transports the soul.
I have recently acquired the DVD edition of the series, and having just watched the first episode, "ET IN ARCADIA EGO", I cannot understand why some of the reviews express disappointment about it's quality. I bought the beautifully packaged six video box set, released by Vestron Video International, in the mid 1980's (which I still have) - and the quality of the DVD edition is, in my opinion, equally as good. Additionally it, too, is beautifully and ornately packaged. As for those who equate it to portable T.V's in coalmines - well, I think you should perhaps have not allowed Sebastian to have persuaded you to have drunk so much Cointreau. I'm off to see the ivy!

john_loopx

5th January 2005

Monumental work in a poor DVD release
This series was displayed twenty years ago in Portugal and it was one of my parent's favorite; being myself a child I couldn't understand why. Now with the DVD release I was able to watch it and finally got the(ir) point! It's a great pleasure to see (very) high quality productions from abroad, and this one has a plus, that of giving a particular insight on history matters, even though there's a discussion whether if this "England has ever existed" (in the Granada productions website); I find that for such a large production there should be an equally large presentation to the viewer, especially for young generations; I believe that this series will grow old quite well, it has done it so far, therefore it would be very important to secure the understanding of the viewers that did not accompany the debate it probably aroused by the time of release. It's a pitty we have such a poor DVD edition!

jbn63

22nd April 2004

Great TV
This is a beautiful television production. Nothing I have seen capturesso well the manners, dress, language and attitudes of upper andupper-middle class Britain in the twenties and thirties.
The acting is superb, the script even better. Based on the novel byEvelyn Waugh, John Mortimer’s dialogue wastes not a word and uses pausesand silences almost as much as words, to extraordinary effect.
As a portrayal of a family and its entourage this 11-part series bearscomparison with the very best, even perhaps the Godfathers I and II, andwith top notch photography to portray the stunning sets - on an artdeco-drenched QEII, at Oxford, Castle Howard and at a Venice Palazzo -this could be the ultimate TV production of all time.
But perfect as it is technically, Brideshead has, for me at least, acouple of problems. The first is, the sheer improbability of the mainplot. Essentially, the central figure and narrator, rather boringCharles, makes friends with dashing Lord Sebastien Flyte at Oxford (afterthe latter vomits through Charles’ window), and finds himself immediatelytaken into the bosum of Flyte’s highly aristocratic family; ultimatelySebastien’s ravishing sister Julia falls in love with him and he comesvery near to inheriting the family estate. The Flyte/Marchmain family isportrayed as charming, but also deeply and somewhat offensively dismissiveof anyone they consider beneath them: Julia becomes quite vicious abouther husband Rex, once she has tired of him. Lord Marchmain, a ratherfeckless former alcoholic and wife-hater, at one point muses on NevilleChamberlain who at that moment was doing his best to avoid world war “knewhim. Mediocre fellow”. I just can’t believe that this family would havegiven tuppence for Charles, a mere architectural painter, far lessvirtually adopted him.
The second problem is that Charles is not even very likeable. He driftsthrough the film looking bored or worried and acting self-righteously. Hecheats on his wife and generally bad mouths her, prefers to consort withhis lover than go see his two year-old child who he’s never actually seendue to a long trip abroad, and does little to actually help his dearfriend Sebastien (who has descended into alcoholism) except frequentlytell us morosely and self-indulgently how much he loved him and what asacred love it was.
The cause of these problems surely goes back to Waugh himself and theoriginal novel, which was part autobiography, part wish-fulfilment. Waughwas partly Charles, and like Charles, Waugh wasn’t always lovable. Theupper classes were Waugh’s favorite subject, his bread and butter, and hisvice. He was irresistibly drawn to them and wanted them to love him andconfide in him too. Sometimes they did, because he was a brilliantsociety novelist, not just a good architectural painter. But not quite asmuch as everybody, from servants to Lord and Lady Marchmain, appears tolove Charles.
However, I think this only makes the whole production more interesting. And such is the charm of the brilliant cast, which includes Jeremy Ironsin the lead along with Olivier and Gielgud in majestic supporting roles, Isuspect many people will see consider my low opinion of the charactersquite misplaced!

mungojumbo
Brighton, UK
8th July 2003

Great film, terrible DVD quality
This was one of the best screen adaptations and I agree with many comments other reviewers have made in regards the original film/TV series.

However, the quality of viewing on DVD is just simply appalling. They claim it is digitally re-mastered, yet the background is fuzzy, the colours are dull and there are still glitches and artefacts from the original tape showing. Watched one episode and thoroughly disheartened and disappointed.

You'd get better quality watching on a portable TV in a coal mine frankly.