Rating: 
Summary: Another excellent adaptation by A&E!!
Review: "I don't see why men who've got wives they don't want, shouldn't get rid of them...I'd sell mine this minute if anybody'd buy her."When Michael Henchard (Ciaran Hinds) offers to sell his wife and baby girl, Elizabeth Jane, to a passing sailor for 5 guineas at the Weydon fair one evening, the viewing audience gasps at the horrendous audacity of any man who would treat his wife and child in such a fashion! Susan Henchard (Juliet Aubrey) is so humiliated and embarrassed by her drunken husband's behavior (combined with his history of bad temper), that she agrees to the sale, becoming from then on the wife of the sailor Newson. She takes off her wedding band and sets it in front of Henchard with a sad, lost look in her eyes while Henchard greedily grabs the 5 guineas off the table and stuffs them in his pocket. When he awakens the next morning to find them gone and realizes what he has done, he swears an oath to God he will not touch alcohol for the space of 21 years, but when his "wife & daughter" come to find him 19 years later, will they find him changed...? A&E did an excellent job on this Thomas Hardy adaptation; it is accurate to the original story (although I did feel some moments and scenes were cut too short to allow the full effect to seep in), but I still feel it is well done on the whole. The acting is superb with Ciaran Hinds dominating in his role as the tyrannical Michael Henchard; also excellent is Jodhi May as the sweet Elizabeth Jane (Mirah in Daniel Deronda), Polly Walker as Lucetta (Jane Fairfax in Gwenyth's Emma), and James Purefoy as the Scotsman Donald Farfrae. Although her part is shorter, I also thought Juliet Aubrey as Susan Henchard did a fantastic job. An excellent film, well worth the time invested!
Rating: 
Summary: An Extraordinary 19th Century 'Soap Opera'
Review: Based on the fabulous 1886 Thomas Hardy novel, The MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE has been incredibly put to life with wonderful actors, costumes, and scenery. I can't even compare it to our modern day soap operas except for all the outrageous things that happen to the protagonist, Michael Henchard. Henchard is aptly portrayed by the brilliant Ciaran Hinds (who was wonderful in "Persuasion" and "Jane Eyre"). These things happen during an alcoholic situation or one of his manic-depressive states. Just when I start feeling sorry of Henchard, he does something that makes me so mad at him! The handsome James Purefoy plays Donald Farfrae, the Scottish farm manager turned merchant. Jodhi May, portraying the lovely, engaging Elizabeth Jane, is the one who stole my heart. She is very convincing as the forgiving and sweet daughter of Henchard. When her beautiful eyes fill with tears, mine do also!
This epic tale spans two decades; great scenes of the ruthless Dorset landscape perceptibly augment the great story. I was transported back in time during this wonderful, sentimental film. I will be watching this one again!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best adaptations I've ever seen!
Review: Carian Hines is magnificent as Michael Henchard, a man enduring a 21 year dry drunk after selling his wife and baby daughter during a binge. Juliet Aubrey and Jodhi May shine as said wife and daughter, and James Purefoy handles well the difficult role of Farfrae, Henchard's perceived enemy. The hour or so A&E chopped from the aired version is in tact on the DVD and makes it one of the best literary adaptations rather than one of the worst. If you only rely on the aired version, then you're missing too much!! Incredible cast, terrific writing true to Thomas Hardy and all his brooding darkness. As for the package itself... A&E skimped on the bells and whistles and included only a bio of Thomas Hardy and nothing else. Also, it seems it's a simple pan and scan and not up to par w/ today's standards of DVD picture quality. NONE THE LESS this is a good purchase, as the film itself more than makes up for the lack of extras on the disc. Beautifully filmed, impeccably well-acted, with terrific production values.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best adaptations I've ever seen!
Review: Carian Hines is magnificent as Michael Henchard, a man enduring a 21 year dry drunk after selling his wife and baby daughter during a binge. Juliet Aubrey and Jodhi May shine as said wife and daughter, and James Purefoy handles well the difficult role of Farfrae, Henchard's perceived enemy. The hour or so A&E chopped from the aired version is in tact on the DVD and makes it one of the best literary adaptations rather than one of the worst. If you only rely on the aired version, then you're missing too much!! Incredible cast, terrific writing true to Thomas Hardy and all his brooding darkness. As for the package itself... A&E skimped on the bells and whistles and included only a bio of Thomas Hardy and nothing else. Also, it seems it's a simple pan and scan and not up to par w/ today's standards of DVD picture quality. NONE THE LESS this is a good purchase, as the film itself more than makes up for the lack of extras on the disc. Beautifully filmed, impeccably well-acted, with terrific production values.
Rating:
Summary: The King of Casterbridge
Review: David Thacker has done a royal job adapting the Mayor of Casterbridge to screen. It is one of the most poignant and moving film adaptations of a novel that I have seen, a real tribute to Thomas Hardy and his novel. I would recommend this film to anyone looking for an intelligent, literate and beautiful rendering of a Hardy novel. A perfect way to spend a rainy weekend afternoon! I do wish that Mr. Henchard had been a little more drunk before selling his wife; it would have made his post-auction regrets all that more compelling.
Rating:
Summary: Thomas Hardy's Greek tragedy played out in Casterbridge
Review: I have an affinity for Greek tragedies and Thomas Hardy's "The Mayor of Casterbridge" is decidedly in that tradition. I know that Hardy was interested in writing a novel that would combine his love of history with his love of Dorsetshire, but I find it hard to believe that he did not know something about the elements of classical Greek tragedy given everything that happens in this novel. You have "hubris" (excessive pride), you have "harmartia" (tragic flaw), you have "anagnorisis" (recognition) and "peripeteia" (reveral), all of which you find in "Oedipus Rex" and all of which play critical roles in "The Mayor of Casterbridge."
A drunken Michael Henchard (Ciarán Hinds) auctions off his wife, Susan (Juliet Aubrey) and infant daughter, Elizabeth-Jane to a kindly sailor. The next day when he sobers up, Henchard realizes the enormity of what he has done and vows to not touch strong drink again for 21 years. When Susan and a grown up Elizabeth-Jane (Jodhi May) come looking for him nineteen years later, after the sailor Newson is lost at sea, they find that Henchard has risen as a merchant and politician, currently solving as the mayor of the town of Casterbridge. In due course he learns their identity and arranges not only to take care of them, but to again life as husband and wife with Susan. However, although he confides in Donald Farfrae (James Purefoy), about his past, Henchard wants his dark secret to stay secret, and he and Susan agree to keep the truth from Elizabeth-Jane.
Henchard's sense of pride and his fear of having his shame made public, drive him throughout this story, but it seems the Fates have it out for him as shame and secrets become more and more entwined. Every time it looks like Henchard has done something honorable, another twist is unveiled, as in his relationship with Lucetta Templeman (Polly Walker). Complicating things are not only Henchard's business dealings with Farfrae but the young man's interest in Elizabeth-Jane. Henchard, who is poignantly given the final word in the production, seems as trapped as any Greek tragic hero, where all of his actions inevitably bring disaster and despair. Hinds provides a strong performance that allows us to condemn Henchard for his folly but still feel sympathy for his plight, fully aware that he is going to pay for all of his sins in some horrible way that only the gods could inflict on a human being. We also feel for his daughter, especially given May's touching performance as Elizabeth-Jane.
This mini-series version of "The Mayor Casterbridge" is much shorter than the 1978 version with Alan Bates in the title role, but that seems to just result in a more focused tragedy. The first part ends on a particularly painful peripeteia that convinces you Henchard will never find happiness. But then one of the hallmarks of great tragedy is that you can see the horrible end coming, and the second part follows Henchard as he destroys everything he once held dear. That he pronounces his own fate and final just desserts only makes his demise all the more touching.
Rating: 
Summary: No Emotion--Don't waste your time and money
Review: I have watched both the A&E and the BBC production of this movie after reading the book. I must say that the A&E leaves much to be desired. Had I not read the book, I would not have understood all that was going on as far as feelings between the father and daughter--very bland. No emotion between the two main characters. In the BBC production, you were pulled into the very hearts of the father and daughter--acting was super!! If you want to see this film and get the true story, don't waste you money on the A&E. Get the BBC production. I'm glad I did!
Rating:
Summary: Well worth your time!
Review: I recently watched this with my sister. We taped it when it originally aired on A&E, and we just couldn't wait to see what would happen next. The VCR couldn't fast-forward fast enough through the commercials!
Our interest in watching this movie was motivated by seeing that Ciarán Hinds (Wentworth in Persuasion) and Juliet Aubrey (Dorothea in Middlemarch) were in this.
I have not read the book, so I do not know if it holds true to the original. But I loved this moving story.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic cast, chopped version
Review: I was so looking forward to this production, to only be sorely disappointed. The cast was fantastic, but not used to their full abilities, and seemed very stifled. They seemed to be just going through the motions and experiencing little emotion. Ciaran Hinds is more passionate, Jodhi May more talented, and Juliet Aubrey, who stunned us as Dorothea in Middlemarch, seemed poorly cast. She deserves better than this. The story was chopped on TV, with far too many commercials which broke in the middle of conversations, songs, and background music. Hopefully, the DVD, which is longer, will add more scenes and keep the story more fluid. This must have been very hard for those who are unfamiliar with the story. They did not even explain to the audience what a skimmity ride is, or why even have one. Polly Walker was too robust to portray a frail and flighty Lucetta. I would only give this 2 stars, but am holding onto hope that the DVD will extend scenes cut from the TV showing, and the fact that the cast is amazing, so the poor quality is only due to poor directing. If you want the definitive edition, get the 1978 version, which is 6 hours long and straight from the book. If you want a lush attempt at Mayor, with familiar faces, this is the one for you. I plan to own both!
Rating:
Summary: Great Adaptation
Review: I've seen this movie 3 times on A&E, and I loved it. The Mayor of Casterbidge is about a man named Michael Henchard, who sold his wife and baby daughter to a sailor at a county fair after he had had too much to drink. He regets this the next morning, and swears not to "drink anything stronger than tea" for the next 21 years. 19 years later his wife and her daughter come searching for him, and find him the mayor and respected citizen of a town called Casterbridge. The rest of the story is filled with complications, secrets and everything in between. This is the story of the rise and fall of Michael Henchard. All of the main charactures are wonderfully played by Ciaran Hinds, Jodhi May, James Purefoy, Juliet Aubry and Polly Walker, the supporting cast is great as well. The script stays close to the book, the story is beautiful and bitter sweet, and the sceenery is breathtaking. All in all this is a great movie, and I highly recomend it!
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