Rating: 
Summary: Comfort Viewing
Review: After emigrating to Canada in 1991, the Darling Buds of May was recorded near to my old home town of Ashford in Kent, England. My family always raved about it. I was finally able to watch this wonderful series on PBS with a friend a year or two later. I fell in love with this family, especially Pop, the most considerate,caring, funny and yes, even sexy,character there could be. I bought the complete series as soon as it was available here and I have now lost count of how many times I have watched it. My husband has to travel a lot for business, so I watch the series every time I am lonely or can't get to sleep for any reason.It is my "Comfort Viewing". I only wish they would make more episodes or maybe a movie one day.That would be "Perfik".
Rating:
Summary: 5 *'s with a qualifier
Review: I am actually recommending this SERIES, rather than this actual DVD release. I saw the entire series on PBS, and JUST LOVED IT. WHAT a great bit of writing the book is too. Very sweet, very lyrical- enchanting- happily, the films are very faithful to the novel.
My question (now that I want to buy this particular DVD collection) is, specifically: WHICH Darling Buds of May episodes are on these 5 DVD's? Titles are not listed in the product description, or even in the editorial review. There are individual DVD'S available from this series that I may want to purchase, BUT, Since I do not want to purchase duplicates, would some kind soul out there write a quick review with the titles that are included in THIS collection? I sure would appreciate it! :o)
Rating:
Summary: I Ordered this by Mistake
Review: I didn't really know what I was getting, but I really loved this series. I was never a big Catherine Zeta Jones fan, but this series has turned me into one. Pa Larkin is about the funniest character I've ever seen, and everyone in the cast is excellent.
Rating:
Summary: I Ordered this by Mistake
Review: I didn't really know what I was getting, but I really loved this series. I was never a big Catherine Zeta Jones fan, but this series has turned me into one. Pa Larkin is about the funniest character I've ever seen, and everyone in the cast is excellent.
Rating:
Summary: iT's pErFiK!!!
Review: I only ordered this because I am a big Catherine Zeta Jones fan. I didnt know if I would like it. So far I've only watched the first 2 episodes but it is "Perfik". Pa Larkin is the funniest. Ma has the funniest laugh I have ever heard, every time you hear it you start to crack up. I suggest that everyone should buy this DVD!!!
Rating:
Summary: Why aren't there more?!
Review: I was never so sorry to have a series come to an end! These characters wrap themselves around you and draw you into their wonderful world...a world filled with love of family, food, drink and all that life offers. Pop Larkin is one of the most charming and lovable characters ever written and Ma Larkin is a joy! The children, friends and neighbors are all so delightful and the story lines are funny and warm. I rented it first and then bought the series because I knew it was something I was going to want to go back to every now and then just for the sheer pleasure of it.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely PerFik!!!
Review: I, too, ordered this because I wanted to see other Catherine Zeta-Jones films. I have seen the entire series and am buying it for Christmas gifts for several of my family members. The Larkin Family is so endearing, I wanted to move in with them and make them my own. In fact, I almost felt part of the family as I went thru their adventures. The acting by all parties, especially Pa and Ma, are outstanding, funny and make an indelible impression upon one. It is also quite clear why Catherine Zeta-Jones is a star today. I wish there were more episodes - I miss them already! I will by this set for my husband for Christmas (really for me!) and watch it over and over again. I miss Home Farm already! A word of warning to those newcomers to the series - don't be surprised if you find yourself cooking up a storm, eating in the tub, having cocktails at odd hours of the day, and just loving every single moment of life. "The Darling Buds of May" is a celebration of life and love. It is PerFik! Vikki Wright
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely PerFik!!!
Review: I, too, ordered this because I wanted to see other Catherine Zeta-Jones films. I have seen the entire series and am buying it for Christmas gifts for several of my family members. The Larkin Family is so endearing, I wanted to move in with them and make them my own. In fact, I almost felt part of the family as I went thru their adventures. The acting by all parties, especially Pa and Ma, are outstanding, funny and make an indelible impression upon one. It is also quite clear why Catherine Zeta-Jones is a star today. I wish there were more episodes - I miss them already! I will by this set for my husband for Christmas (really for me!) and watch it over and over again. I miss Home Farm already! A word of warning to those newcomers to the series - don't be surprised if you find yourself cooking up a storm, eating in the tub, having cocktails at odd hours of the day, and just loving every single moment of life. "The Darling Buds of May" is a celebration of life and love. It is PerFik! Vikki Wright
Rating: 
Summary: Strange 1950ish British Farm Life on 5 DVD's
Review: Loving the movie "The Mask of Zorro" staring Catherine Zeta-Jones & the movie productions of Jane Austin novels (Pride & Prejudge, Sense & Sensibility, Emma...) this seem like the place to start British time period comedy sit-coms. We took a gamble; bought the whole 5 DVD set, & placed the first series in the DVD machine. On the HDTV screen came a short middle age British farmer with his rounded wife, followed by the young & beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones with 5 other smaller children buying a washing machine what looked like the mid 1950's. They jumped into a large beat up truck (reminded me of the Beverly Hillbillies) with the kids in the back of the pick up & the parents in the front cab. The wife reveled that some woman was pregnant & as we followed the conversation (sometimes the British gets in the way) we guessed the wife was referring to the oldest daughter. Later a young, weak, & skinny tax collector came to the farm for back taxes, while the older farmer tried constantly to change the subject. What did we buy? Did we waste our money? No, once the characters came into focus, "Darling Buds of May" became "Perfik" (this is how Pa Larkin, the farmer, constantly says Perfect through out the series). This is a 1991 to 1993 British TV series adaptation from H.E. Bates books about the Larkins, a large growing family going through the fast social changes after World War 2 in the Kent farming area of England. At least in the TV series Pa Larkin (David Jason) is a lighthearted, woman chancing, hard drinking, con artist that never really means to hurt anyone. Ma Larkin (Pam Ferris) is his well-rounded laughable mistress (comes close to being his wife after 6 children) that holds down the farm. The oldest daughter Mariette (Catherine Zeta Jones), from a corruption of Marie Antoinette, the town beauty & flirt, marries the young & timid tax collector turned amateur egg farmer to beer brewer owner Charley (Philip Franks), who joins Pa Larkin to live under the socialist radar. Learn how to make money while not paying the government, make breakfast with katsup for every meal, drink fancy hard drinks & get over hang overs, & kiss the girls & tell. Travel to France in an old Yellow Rolls Royce & get mistaken for a Lord, or take a "Magic Mystery Tour" to a beat up Chateau. Invite this strange family into your house each night for a while by watching these well produced DVD's.
Rating:
Summary: all us americans know how perfik these series are
Review: this is one family you never want to leave. even though no one mum and dad are perfect, ma and pa larkin are close to perfik parents.
If you have seen the whole series on pbs or have them on video, You wont be disapointed buying the dvd collection, and if you are looking for a good read, try to find one of his books. H.E.Bates certainly was ahead of his time when he wrote his books and his stories, about the larkin family. (there is more in vivid detail about the larkins).
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