Wives and Daughters

Rating:
Summary: Spectacular!
Review: Aside from Pride and Prejudice, this is my favorite movie of all time. I'm in love with it and can't get enough of it. Andrew Davies knows how to make a great movie!

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Victorian Plot
Review: Wives and Daughters is worthy of comparison to Austin's Pride and Prejudice. An excellent story, an excellent DVD-- A must have for any English Victorian fans.

Rating:
Summary: My all time Favorite
Review: I absolutely LOVE this movie. The first time I saw it I couldn't stop watching it and everyone else says the same thing about it. Just last week I watched the whole thing again for the 4th time with some friends and still enjoyed it!

Rating:
Summary: Charming adaptation
Review: Elizabeth Gaskell's "Wives and Daughters" comes vividly to life in this miniseries. The tale of Mr. Gibson, a comfortably off country doctor, his girl-next-door daughter Molly, and how their peaceful lives are intreruppted by Mr. G's decision to marry Hyacinth Kirkpatrick, a silly, weak minded dame school mistress. It is Mr. G's belief that Molly, after being motherless for 13 yrs or so, needs a "mothers care" (i.e. supervision) and so somehow, choses Mrs. Kirkpatrick, a former governess to the local Earl and family, who have never stopped calling her by her maiden name (Clare) because its inconvenient for them to learn to call her anything else. Its ironical that his fancy should fall on Mrs Kirkpatrick for a "mothers care" since her own daugther was more often than not neglected on the rare periods of time that they were together. But its the charming Cynthia, when she joins the family, who wreaks the most havoc on the tame life of the innocent Molly. A secret engagement, a secret marriage and family, busybody townspeople, not to mention snoopy lords and ladies who don't wait a moment to dispense their advice (wanted or not), and authentic social customs are brilliantly brought to life in this true-to-the-book adaptation of Mrs. Gaskell's last novel. Prefectly cast (especially Francesca Amis as Mrs. Kirkpatrick/Gibson)worth every penny.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but not quite great
Review: Although WIVES AND DAUGHTERS is adapted from the wonderful but unfinished novel of Elizabeth Gaskell, and is produced by the same geniuses that produced Pride and Prejudice, it is not as vibrant nor as engaging as the Jane Austen flick. WIVES AND DAUGHTERS IS GOOD, VERY GOOD. Still, at times, it feels a bit maudalin and flat. The acting, scenery, and costumes are truly superb. A fantastic movie to watch on a rainy day. I would buy this used, not new.

Rating:
Summary: Worth every penny
Review: I first became aware of the existence of this DVD on Amazon.com and thought for several months before buying it (it's a lot of $$ for something that you've never seen!). But I loved Pride and Prejudice so after trying unsuccessfully to find an outlet to rent the DVD and after reading the online reviews once more, I bought it. Wow! I love it! It's absolutely worth it! If you enjoy these period pieces you will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful rendition of Gaskell's most atypical book
Review: This is the best BBC adaptation of a classic British novel since the golden years of the Seventies and early Eighties. Gaskell's most atypical (and most Austenian) novel is given the full treatment, leaving in all the sweethearted romance and yet retaining some of the slightly disturbing Freudian underlay of the original novel. Justine Waddell is marvelous as Molly, the spirited heroine who adores her father and is disheartened when, for the sake of actually making his daughter happier, her doctor-father marries a well-meaning but pushing arriviste wife, played to splendid perfection by Francesca Annis. True to the character of Hyacinth in Gaskell's novel, Annis's Hyacinth steals the show: while you can't help but be as mortified by her meddling and selfishness as is Molly, you still can't bring yourself to despise her given Hyacinth's enormous capacity to suffer (Annis is especially moving in the proposal scene in the show's beginning hour). A terrific supporting cast led by Michael Gambon makes this adaptation of this previously (and unjustly) neglected novel sparkle.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Wonderful!
Review: I loved this story. The acting is great and storyline has you wondering what is going to happen next! If you want to get lost and swept away in a Victorian film, this is it!

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely perfect...
Review: I read Wives and Daughters last year and loved it, even though Elizabeth Gaskell actually died before she finished it. The movie does the novel justice... and then some! The cast literally could not be more perfect. When I first saw Molly I was skeptical, but it only took me about 2 minutes to realize that she was perfect for the part. If you liked Pride and Prejudice, you will love this movie. In fact, I think Wives and Daughters is almost better. You will not be disappointed! I know it far exceeded my expectations and I will watch it again... and again... and again...

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!!
Review: Oh, how I loved this film!! If you like a good romance, then this is definitely for you!! Anthony Howell is such a fox!! The rain scene was so deliciously romantic...I rewound it so many times...girls...this is a DEFINITE MUST SEE!!