Rating: 
Summary: Excellent adaptation of Thackeray masterpiece
Review: Thackeray's "Vanity Fair" is such a sprawling, grand example of the Victorian novel that any mere two-hour movie adaptation will be forced to leave out crucial elements. As it is, this six-hour BBC film version emits certain items (Jos Sedley's ultimate fate, the James Crawley episode), but is remarkably faithful to its source. Indeed, a television mini-series is the best way to adapt such a work, allowing the story to unfold and the viewer to become involved with the various characters.This production is fantastic, with beautiful costumes, excellent performances, and a fine script. Chief among its attractions is Natasha Little in the key role of Becky Sharp. Miss Little is not only luminously beautiful, but manages to arouse our sympathies toward a virtually unsympathetic character. Special mention must also go to Jeremy Swift, whose portrayal of bumbling Jos Sedley is a delight. Miriam Margolyes (always wonderful) and Eleanor Bron appear in secondary roles. The rest of the cast is well-chosen and all play their parts with conviction. The greatest hurdle a filmed version of "Vanity Fair" faces is how to convey the many shifts of tone which Thackeray goes through in the novel. This problem has been solved by use of an unusual score, which draws from such diverse sources as military marching bands, Strauss waltzes (wrong for the period but who cares?), and a bit of Kurt Weill. Murray Gold's score never lets us forget that we are in the world of Thackeray's biting satire, and not Jane Austen's more delicate world of comedy-of-manners. All told, it will take a long time before this film treatment is bettered.
Rating:
Summary: Peerless version of the Thackeray Classic
Review: The novel "Vanity Fair" is subtitled by the author "A Novel Without a Hero". Becky Sharp is the first anti-heroine in English literature. Thakeray looks down his nose at all of his characters. After getting into the novel you discover that the author himself is the hero of the novel in that he thinks his intelligence and opinions are far better than anyone elses. With that understood you can sit back and enjoy his biting observations of the hypocracy of English society of the time: the arbitrary class divisions, the frantic scrambling to find a suitable (read Wealthy) husband, and the leeming-like rush for everyone in the upper classes to live well beyond there means at the very real risk of bankrupcy.
This is not Austen with a put-upon heroine that you can identify with. This is not Dickens with suffering and noble Poor and where goodness is always rewarded.
This A&E/BBC version is a very close adaptation of the book and does not sugar-coat anything. The cast may be unfamiliar with American audiences, but it includes some of the finest character actors that Britain has to offer. The story is not "easy" in that it is not formulaic, but the entire production from screenplay to casting and acting, to period details is a feast. Good does win out in the end, but the wicked are not necessarily punished.
Rating:
Summary: Exquisite adaptation of the Thackeray novel.
Review: This exquisitely made BBC production should delight fans of the Thackeray novel. I tend to shudder when I see one of my favourite books adapted for the big screen, but this adaptation really works. "Vanity Fair" is a HUGE novel--with an impressive cast of characters and action that takes place in both in England and on the Continent. A standard film format (90-120 minutes) would simply ruin the novel. This BBC version is over 5 hours long, and is divided up into episodes. "Vanity Fair" follows the fortunes of two young women in the early 19th Century. Amelia Sedley--the only daughter of a London merchant and Becky Sharpe--the daughter of a drunken drawing master meet and become friends at school. Amelia's future looks promising, while Becky faces being a governess if she cannot catch a husband. Becky, ever the opportunist, tags along with Amelia when school ends. At Amelia's home, Becky meets Amelia's chubby and silly brother, Jos. Jos is home on leave from India where he holds a government post. Becky throws herself shamelessly at Jos by appealing to his vanity, and her plans almost works. Becky's scheme is obvious to everyone but the victim. Amelia's intended, the vain Captain George Osborne dislikes the idea of having the lowly Becky foisted on him as a sister-in-law, and so he sabotages Becky's plans. Becky's initial failure sets the tone for the rest of the story, and the film follows the fortunes--and misfortunes of both Amelia and Becky as they try to survive in Regency England. Amelia is 'good' to the point of annoying sainthood, and Becky is materialistic, conniving, arch, ambitious, a bad friend, & a poor wife and mother. And yet it is Becky who remains the most interesting to me. "Vanity Fair" is really Becky's story. When taking a great novel to the screen, much of the language is lost, and that is inevitable, however, this screen adaptation capitalized on the visual. Sir Pitt Crawley (Becky's employer) is repulsive (watch the tripe eating scene), and all of the unpleasant characters are equally disgusting. I could swear that Miss Crawley's flesh had a slight greenish tinge to it, and Lord Steyne's appearance casts him as a villainous character. The measure of George Osborne's character is given by a glance in the mirror and the adjustment of a well-placed curl. Pugs forage across the body of Lady Crawley, and several camera shots emphasize the expanse of poor Jos Sedley's large bottom--these are the touches that make this adaptation exquisite. The quality of the DVD was impeccable, the acting superb (especially Natasha Little as Becky Sharp), and much of the action was accompanied by rather haunting music. Even the Waterloo scenes were very well done. Frankly, this DVD had a captive audience from beginning to end, and I highly recommend it for Thackeray fans---displacedhuman
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable -- but I miss Eve Matheson!!
Review: This is a very enjoyable production, but it just makes me yearn all the more for the 1987 BBC Vanity Fair, starring Eve Matheson as Becky Sharp. Why oh why won't SOMEONE SOMEWHERE release the 1987 BBC Vanity Fair on video or dvd? I own the Natasha Little Vanity Fair on dvd, and it is a wonderful adaptation, but nothing can touch the 1987 Eve Matheson version.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, well-adapted Victorian drama
Review: This is a well-made adaptation of Thackeray's Victorian drama - sumptious sets and costumes, good acting, high production values. This was produced and written by the people behind Pride & Prejudice - and while I enjoyed this - it certainly does not compare to P&P. Natasha Little is splendid as Becky Sharp though I was disappointed that the actress who played Amelia Sedley wasn't "pretty enough" and the film's plot does tend to "jump around" a bit. If you're looking for a more satisfying, enjoyable Victorian drama, check out "Middlemarch" (starring Rufus Sewell and Juliet Aubrey) or "Great Expectations" (starring Ioan Gruffud) instead.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding miniseries in every way
Review: This miniseries is outstanding in every way, from its faithful adaptation of Thackeray's novel, lovely settings, costumes, music, well-cast, well-portrayed multi-dimensional characters, and overall tone captures the spirit of the time (from the late 1790s, the emphasis on the Hundred Days just before Waterloo, to 1825). I particularly like how well the actors (Natasha Little, Tom Ward, Frances Grey, Philip Glenister, Nathaniel Parker, Miriam Margoyles, et al.) portray their characters. Natasha Little captures the spirit of Becky Sharp so well that viewers will both love her and hate her at the same time. The other characters are also very human, have strengths and weaknesses, but most lack morals, and have no qualms when it comes to cheating (whether at cards or with another man's wife), lying, using someone else to get ahead.
I also like how well the miniseries shows the fancy dress ball held the evening before the battle of Waterloo and the horrors of the battle the following day. It makes the idea of war and death seem so incredibly far-off, almost unreal, as if it could not possibly happen to any of those officers.
The miniseries does a nice job dealing with the class system in regency Britain, how it determines whom one marries, with whom one socializes, whether one has to work or not, and many of the uglier sides to it as well. For example, George Osborne's father wanted George to marry a sugar heiress from the Caribbean not because of her social standing but because the family needed her 10,000 per year. He commands his son to marry her, and, when George refuses, he promptly disowns him, cutting him off without a penny. (Not that George is such a great person-he is selfish, cold-hearted towards Amelia, and refuses to take responsibility for his actions.) Becky is looked down upon and not thought good enough because she is only a governess. Becky shows no qualms about cheating and stealing to get ahead, but still shows promise as a human being when she gives Amelia proof of George's planned infidelity, thus allowing Amelia to go on with her life. Miss Crawley is toadied to so long as she has money, and she expects to be obeyed because of it and her social standing. Amelia (Sedley) Osborne fares only a little better, but she too is naive, refusing to see her husband for the cad he really is, and continues to worship him even after his death despite the very real love offered to her by Dobbin. It is only after Becky, by giving her the letter from George asking Becky to run away with him the evening before Waterloo, does Amelia finally realize the truth about George and lets go of his memory. The class system even permeates the army at this time. George Osborne is a captain by purchase, i.e., his father bought his commission. This was the way men became officers at the time, rather than being promoted from the ranks or because of intelligence or bravery in battle. The aristocracy (usually younger sons who often had no expectation of inheriting the family estate) went into the army in this manner. Social class and the amount of money one's father was willing to pay determined the officer's rank--the higher the rank the more expensive the commission--rather than merit.
Very enjoyable and highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Fell short of expectations
Review: This was a much touted mini-series which I missed on TV and have now watched on DVD. I had high expectations. They were not realized, but by no means can one say that the show is a failure or even a waste of time. No urge to fast-forward here.... Yet..... there is a flatness about the whole production that keeps the emotions, the humor, at arms length. Becky Sharp remains the same, looks the same, inflects the same from beginning to end. The direction reveals no development, no nuance..... certainly charming rapaciousness is more varied than we are shown here. The script is not particularly memorable. BBC production values are top-notch except in the repeated use of extreme closeups to mask a penny-pinching budget..... the Belgium battle segments are particularly cheesy...... but overall, things are shot handsomely, and some visual commentary is downright witty e.g., pigs crossing the frame as we approach the Crawley manor. The music score, hilarious and anachronistic, is rather refreshing. This is nowhere as exhilarating a show as the BBC's Pride and Prejudice. Which leads me to the odd realization that perhaps the better writer for Vanity Fair would have been Balzac. Now.... why doesn't somebody do something with his stuff..... Lost Illusions, for example. There we have meatier stuff.
Rating:
Summary: Fell short of expectations
Review: This was a much touted mini-series which I missed on TV and have now watched on DVD. I had high expectations. They were not realized, but by no means can one say that the show is a failure or even a waste of time. No urge to fast-forward here.... Yet..... there is a flatness about the whole production that keeps the emotions, the humor, at arms length. Becky Sharp remains the same, looks the same, inflects the same from beginning to end. The direction reveals no development, no nuance..... certainly charming rapaciousness is more varied than we are shown here. The script is not particularly memorable. BBC production values are top-notch except in the repeated use of extreme closeups to mask a penny-pinching budget..... the Belgium battle segments are particularly cheesy...... but overall, things are shot handsomely, and some visual commentary is downright witty e.g., pigs crossing the frame as we approach the Crawley manor. The music score, hilarious and anachronistic, is rather refreshing. This is nowhere as exhilarating a show as the BBC's Pride and Prejudice. Which leads me to the odd realization that perhaps the better writer for Vanity Fair would have been Balzac. Now.... why doesn't somebody do something with his stuff..... Lost Illusions, for example. There we have meatier stuff.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This was good. In fact I had the jibber creepers watching it because I felt as if I was really having a glance at the people of the time. I found them frightening in a way and pondering our ancestors sort of thing.
I am grateful to myself for having purchased it. What fun to get so lost into something.
Rating: 
Summary: Hideous!
Review: Vanity Fair is one of my all-time favorite novels, but while the book's wry social satire is perfectly crafted and executed, the translation to film was difficult to watch. I did so to its conclusion, but only because I had paid good money for the set, and guilt alone made me stick it out. Never before has such garish ugliness been presented so relentlessly. Though the acting throughout is tolerable, I found the casting to be lackluster at best. Many of the characters are monstrously presented, and with the exception of Becky Sharp, who is delightfully played by a beautiful young actress named Natasha Little, in my opinion the whole thing would have done well to be recast. Making matters worse is the hideous musical score, which seems to consist mostly of accordian or some other screechingly jarring instrument, played in an unnecessarily over-the-top, satirical style that jolted me from the story each time I heard it, and, sadly, I heard it alot. This is not a well-depicted telling, and I caution everyone not to waste their hard earned dollars. I am completely stunned that people actually gave 5 stars to this awful rendering of a masterful work of literature. The fact that it is a faithful adaptation of the story is completely obscured by the deliberately circus-style uglification employed to emphasize the bawdy qualities of the tale and many of its characters. That's how bad the production and direction are. They ruined a fabulous opportunity to bring a great book to life. Do not make the same mistake I did in trusting the recommendations of earlier reviewers. Sometimes we just need to stick with the book, and this is definitely one of those occasions!
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