The Barchester Chronicles

Rating:
Summary: very enjoyable
Review: Enjoyment builds slowly and steadily...well worth savouring over several evenings. The cast is excellent and the costumes are great, and I've always thought Anthony Trollope's novels deserve to be dramatized. I'm only sorry the rest of the "Barchester novels" weren't done, but maybe some day.

Sound quality is a little murky at times, I suppose from the limitations from the original production budget...sometimes the background noises of carriages & horses sounded like they were coming from a tape recorder in the corner of the room instead of outside of the windows, and the dialog in some of the party scenes is hard to distinguish, but these are small nits to pick. Overall well worth it.

Rating:
Summary: Hurrah for the DVD!
Review: The previous reviewer did a wonderful job describing the series, and all I can say is ditto! I just want to add that the DVD itself is very high quality. The picture is so crisp, it looks like the movie was just made; not done in 1982! And the sound, costumes, cast is the best of quality. I never was able to see this on TV, and was thrilled when the DVD came out. I have already watched it once, and dying to watch it, again. Very faithful to Trollope's Barchester novels. What a treasure-BBC at its best!

Rating:
Summary: A PRAYER ANSWERED
Review: There must really be a god; the commercial release of the BBC production of Anthony Trollope's "The Barchester Chronicles" is answer to this heathen's prayers. I watched this presentation on A&E (having missed the PBS program) in the mid-1980s and managed to make a very poor tape of the program. Since that time I wished intently that The Barchester Chronicles would become commercially available before I die. Now it is on DVD! (and obviously I'm not dead either) This BBC presentation is one of the best things I have ever witnessed either on stage, big screen or small screen.
Although the ads to this DVD emphasize that Alan Rickman has a leading role, (he IS wonderful) he is NOT the only superb actor in this film; he is just one of many! Everyone in this presentation gives an outstanding performance. As stated before Alan Rickman is wonderful as the slimy Mr. Slope (really Slop; however, he added the "e"!)-watch how he moves like a snake which the character is!) His sparing partner is Geraldine McEwen. They start off as "chums" but by the end of the story they are bitter enemies. Their "duals" will have you on the floor with laughter. Geraldine is most frightening as the bishop's wife (actually she is the REAL bishop and has all of the power because her husband has no spine and is given to numbing migraine headaches brought on by his wife-the bishop's role is played delightfully by Clive Swift). One of my favorite actors, the late great Nigel Hawthorne plays the "about to explode at all times" Archdeacon who tries to keep things as they are while the Clergyman (Rickman) and the ferocious Bishop's wife (McEwen) are determined to change things to their own benefit. (Proof that Sir Nigel was a great actor is to be had by comparing his performance as the Archdeacon in Barchester with his fabulous performance as Georgie Pillson in "Mapp and Lucia"; you won't think it's the same person that is playing both roles--he was amazing!!)In the midst of all of these goings on is the calming presence and moral fortitude of the clergymen (Warden) as played by Donald Pleasence.
I've named just a few of the actors and the characters they play. There is much much more!! There is a host of great actors giving superb performances including Susan Hampshire.
Don't be deterred by what could be perceived as a little "slowness" in the first episode; it's just "laying the groundwork" for the "riot" that is to come. Believe me it will be one of the greatest things you have ever seen. The production, camera work direction and most of all the acting is truly awesome!
Now, I can truly die happy! The Barchester Chronicles has been finally released commercially and I'm thrilled as you will be if you buy his DVD!

ADDENDUM TO THE ABOVE REVIEW:

The DVD picture and sound quality of The Barchester Chronicles is superb!! Having seen the original presentation, I truly feel that the quality is far superior. It makes me really appreciate today's Technology!