The Bretts

Rating:
Summary: Glad to see this fun show available!
Review: I saw the original Masterpiece Theatre broadcast in the late '80s and liked the snarky characters so much that I sought out a copy of the book Sisson wrote (based on the screenplays). Since it was out of print, it took a while to find, and when I got one, the book wasn't quite the same as the show. Parts of the show were missing (Lydia's American income tax) and there were things in the book that weren't in the show. After trying to reconcile my show memories with the book I am finally able to rewatch the shows (plus some bonus footage) and figure out where the discrepancies lie. So far I've only watched Episodes 1 & 2 but they have still made me laugh as much as they originally did. I've spent some time looking up the various cast members on the IMDB and some (particularly Thomas, my favorite, played by George Winter) appear to have dropped off the screen altogether shortly thereafter, which is disappointing. I'd like to see some of their more recent works.

Do buy the DVD - it's promising to be hours and hours of amusememt!

Rating:
Summary: Glad to see this fun show available!
Review: I saw the original Masterpiece Theatre broadcast in the late '80s and liked the snarky characters so much that I sought out a copy of the book Sisson wrote (based on the screenplays). Since it was out of print, it took a while to find, and when I got one, the book wasn't quite the same as the show. Parts of the show were missing (Lydia's American income tax) and there were things in the book that weren't in the show. After trying to reconcile my show memories with the book I am finally able to rewatch the shows (plus some bonus footage) and figure out where the discrepancies lie. So far I've only watched Episodes 1 & 2 but they have still made me laugh as much as they originally did. I've spent some time looking up the various cast members on the IMDB and some (particularly Thomas, my favorite, played by George Winter) appear to have dropped off the screen altogether shortly thereafter, which is disappointing. I'd like to see some of their more recent works.

Do buy the DVD - it's promising to be hours and hours of amusememt!

Rating:
Summary: a soap opera with panache
Review: Like other reviewers, I was not impressed with the first or even the second episode. However, the wonderful acting of all the characters made me move from episode to episode eagerly. I watched it all in a week. You learned to care about all of them, which is interesting, since some of them are very selfish. But they managed to show enough of the insecure human being behind the mask that I was intrigued.

Also, like other reviewers, I was disappointed with the abrupt removal of characters. Whatever happened to Jean? Why did Patrick, a definite addition to the below-stairs staff (well I won't say what happened since you haven't watched it). I don't think people who put on these shows realize that we in the audience care about these (grantedly unreal) characters. And as for Martha's lovers!! Who can believe it? We need more lead-time when a character is going to disappear. I think that's the price you pay when different writers write different episodes.

But the actors marched bravely on, ignoring the impossibilities in the script and giving us laughs and tears along the way. I haven't enjoyed something like this in a long time, so I highly recommend you rent it. (Netflix has it). As for buy? I haven't made up my mind. If the characters haunt me, as I think they will, I will probably break down and buy it.

Rating:
Summary: Bit of a mish-mash
Review: What an odd series this is. After a weak first episode, "The Bretts" picks up steam. By the middle, I was thinking, this is truly enjoyable. But then the writing loses its wit and goes off the rails in terms of plot development.

Characters start to disappear or die in such a way that one begins to think the actors asked to be let out of their contracts. Other characters pop up out of nowhere (a young daughter appears suddenly, one assumes, to draw in a younger audience).

It's a mess, really. Due to the appeal of some of the actors, the series manages to hold together until it grinds to a close. Still, they are often set adrift by the writers -- who lose their grasp on the characters and the period, and push credibility to the limit. Oddly, the weakest episodes are by Rosemary Anne Sisson, the creator of the series.

"The Bretts" seems to have drawn the curtain closed for a couple of performers. It's the last thing Barbara Murray has done on film, according to IMDB. She's excellent as Lydia, although her role turns suddenly soft at the midpoint and loses its bite. George Winter, who's quite good as her son Thomas, did two productions after this and that's that. Anyone know what happened to him?