Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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62 of 65 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic story that deserves more attention, 8 Mar 2008
This adaptation of Anthony Trollope's Barchester novels seems to be best remembered now as the television serial that made the name of Alan Rickman. Certainly I suspect that many of the people who have picked up this DVD have done so because of the presence of its breakthrough star. Those who do will discover the charms of this serial stretch far beyond its breakthrough star who is just one member of an excellent cast.
You will not see his face anywhere on the packaging but Donald Pleasance plays the central role in the piece of Reverend Harding, a mild-mannered and fundamentally good man who gets caught up in a row about the administration of a Church-run hospital. He becomes a pawn in the machinations of those around him and begins to question his own moral position as well as that of those around him.
Pleasance's performance is a little theatrical but it is also heart-warming. The actor's gravitas comes over well and he manages not only to make his character thoroughly sympathetic but also to make us respect him for his strong moral character. Trollope's story is fairly scathing about the clergy, essentially portraying them as being primarily interested in their own ends - Reverend Harding is apart from them and is the voice of the 'good Christian man', a concept that is overdone a little at the end in a Tiny Tim moment of obnoxious sentimentality.
The remainder of the cast are excellent with Nigel Hawthorne being a particular delight as Archdeacon Grantly, a figure who is not unreminiscent of Sir Humphrey from Yes, Minister. Pompous with an uncanny ability to persue his own ends, Grantly provides much of the early conflict and a strong character contrast with Reverend Harding.
The plot meanders and becomes a little slow in its middle parts before speeding up towards its predictable ending. That said, it does so with humour, warmth and moments of genuine drama.
Like much of Trollope's work this occassionally feels a little over-long but despite that it hangs together well, courtesy of strong scripting and performances. Certainly the shooting style is dated with scenes feeling long and talky but like many shows of this period it carries that off well.
Sadly I suspect The Barchester Chronicles will be forever remembered primarily for whose career it launched rather than its strengths as a piece of television drama. However, for those who do investigate it and who have the patience to enjoy 1980s period drama they are in for a treat and will find a story that balances humour, conflict and moral questioning effectively and entertainingly.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful rendition of Trollopes Barchester Chronicles!, 18 Jan 2009
This televised series from 1982 (although it must have been recorded in 1981) has so many winning streaks-it is almost impossible to name but a few. The actors are all marvellous-and very recognisable, too.
Fantastic Alan Rickman is the smarmy, ambitious and scheming Obadiah Slope (a predecessor to latter days Severus Snape of Harry Potter fame-indeed a kindred spirit to the same!)
Clive Swift the hen-pecked bishop one wonders how he'd ever made a point at church meeting, Nigel Hawthorne, overlooked for the position as anything but archdeacon but increadably just and very coleric, and the fierce Geraldine McEwans as a VERY bossy bishops wife.
Of course the rest of the cast also make it a wonderful viewing.Not least, Donald Pleasence who in his portraial of Mr Harding shows that the meek, indeed, shall inherit the earth!
Susan Hampshire as Signora Neroni-one of three "compulsive liars" of children to the Stanhopes-is very good also.
Photographically it is in parts, televised theatre-but one dismisses this lightheartedly since it is so well executed overall!
How this nearly 150 year old story set in the clerical intrigues of an english cathedraltown and all it's different turns still feels so inspiring- is beyond explaining-but watch it and you'll be as hooked as I was!
This is a series with a subtext that is a heady brew of bigotry, prejudice and good old-fashioned naked ambition, surely the church must have changed by now! But alas, I am not too convinced!
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Barchester Chronicles, 11 Feb 2009
A wonderful production. I tried to read the book years ago,but just could not get on with it. This charming tale brought to life by Donald Pleasance,Alan Rickman,wonderful Geraldine McEwan and others,
has encouraged me to have another go at reading Anthony Trollope's book.
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