Brideshead Revisited (25th Anniversary Collector's Edition) | 
 enlarge | Actors: Jeremy Irons, Anthony Andrews, Diana Quick, Jane Asher, Simon Jones
Studio: Acorn Media
Category: DVD
List Price: $59.99
Buy New: $38.37
You Save: $21.62 (36%)
New (24) Used (4) from $38.37
Avg. Customer Rating:  92 reviews
Sales Rank: 175
Format: Box Set, Color, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 4
Running Time: 659
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.4 x 1.2
MPN: 054961881499
UPC: 054961881499
EAN: 0054961881499
ASIN: B000GYI3DG
Theatrical Release Date: January 18, 1982
Release Date: October 10, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: New; 100% Brand New!- In Stock at our Warehouse in Omaha, NE and ships out same day if ordered by noon CST. We provide Email Tracking and Shipment Information. We recommend Expedited Shipping for much faster delivery! Buy from us and you will keep coming back!
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Product Description
Epic story of three decades of the life of a young man, Ryder (Irons), who meets the Marchmain family and becomes wrapped up in their lifestyle, but who eventually comes to accept his own fate.
Genre: Television
Rating: NR
Release Date: 10-OCT-2006
Media Type: DVD
Amazon.com
Fill a bowl with alpine strawberries, break out the Chateau Lafite (1899, of course), and bask in this benchmark 1981 British miniseries based on Evelyn Waugh's classic novel. Adapted for the screen by John Mortimer (Rumpole of the Bailey), this impeccable, nearly 11-hour production mesmerized American viewers during the course of its PBS run in 1982. 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 behavior 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, 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. For those who scheduled their weeks around the original Monday-night broadcasts or those visiting Brideshead for the first time, this boxed set release will be, as Charles rhapsodizes at one point while strolling the castle grounds, "very near to heaven." --Donald Liebenson
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| Customer Reviews: Read 87 more reviews...
 Best Production ever made August 16, 2008
Brideshead has just been released-I mean the new movie version which reviewer Rex Reed (who doesn't like anything) gave high marks. However, nothing can compare to the series made in the early 1980's. It's flawless. It has the distinction, in my opinion, of being the best production ever made of any story. I own the I Claudius-fabulous; enjoy at home as well the Forsyte Saga, the mesmerizing, superbly acted The Grand, yet, we all agree that Brideshead Revisted is the standard by which all series or adaptations are to be judged. Impeccable casting ( who can imagine Emma Thompson in the role of Lady Marchmane?..as is the case in the new version; maybe Ellen Mirren, but not Emma who is perfect as the housekeeper in Remains of the Day), the part belongs to Claire Bloom; and, the enduring performances of Jeromy Irons and Anthony Andrews. 10 Stars; a masterpiece to end all masterpieces. The boxed set is handsome as well, and, the video aspect of the DVD is unmatched.
 Heads Up August 13, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
As Waugh noted of the writing of Brideshead, "It was a bleak period of present privation and threatening disaster -- the period of soya beans and Basic English -- and in consequence the book is infused with a kind of gluttony, for food and wine, for the splendours of the recent past, and for rhetorical and ornamental language which now, with a full stomach, I find distasteful."
Can't disagree with that.
Too, one must be in complete agreement with Martin Amis, who wrote that the book "squarely identifies egalitarianism as its foe and proceeds to rubbish it accordingly." Done, I would add at the mindless exaltation of elitism, in any form, eg the utter purity and soulfulness of alcoholics with the proper blood in the vein.
This TV drama is a fine reflection of these sentiments. Perhaps this is why the acting is generally overwrought. Hot-house and hammy. The wretched, never-ending deathbed scene, Julia's penchant for the extremely lengthy, tearful rant that was soporific and boring. The sonorous and sleep-inducing voice over.
I have not read the book and have no inclination to do so. It seems all too muddy and poorly held together, its prejudices and inconsistencies all too evident. It may be that this series is a poor reflection of the book, that dramatization has once again done a disservice, but the tidal wave of knee-jerk snobbism that is this dramaturgy just isn't interesting enough to make the effort to find out for myself.
 Period Piece June 18, 2008
Jeremy Irons a bit laid back but this more than offset by a believable true to life tale of how things used to be. Those interested in Stately homes will love the locations. Notable for the inclusion of the superb Lawrence Olivier in his last screen appearance. For his best (in my opinion) work see "Love Amongst The Ruins"
Waugh Time May 27, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
A Spring Jeremy Irons, a Winter Sir Laurence, a devilish Sir John Geilgud, etc....great casting for a great book from an English author who should never need a "re-discovery".
Every era should have such an adept chronicler....(and he chronicled several)....Evelyn Waugh's treatment of neurotic, if not hysterical, Catholicism should not be missed in print or in this version.
I find it dreamy, hypnotic and disturbing. While not the masterpiece that "Handful Of Dust" is, this book is still gripping and this video effort is admirable....I can't imagine a better treatment being wrenched from studios today.
Brideshead Revisited May 21, 2008
Brideshead Revisited (25th Anniversary Collector's Edition)Great Value. Much better than the tapes. One of the greatest series ever shown on TV.
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