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DVD Description
This DVD includes both Poliakoff's A Real Summer (the one-off monologue prequel to Capturing Mary and Capturing Mary, the companion film to Joe's Palace.
Joe’s Palace, A Real Summer and Capturing Mary are three linked dramas by Poliakoff that centre on a large Georgian house in London. Sumptuous pieces, beautifully shot to feature-film standards for the BBC. A Real Summer, (commissioned by BBC Two’s Culture Show), is a 45-minute bridging piece, a monologue for the actress Ruth Wilson who, as Mary, stars again in Capturing Mary.
Capturing Mary stars Maggie Smith, David Walliams, Ruth Wilson and Danny Lee Wynter. Like Joe's Palace it is set in the same exquisite empty house, and takes the young caretaker, Joe, and new characters into a dark and terrifying exploration of the past and how it can quite literally capture and destroy a person's life. It focuses on a formerly very successful woman, Mary (Maggie Smith in a rare television appearance), a once-brilliant writer and critic, reflecting on her younger self (Ruth Wilson). As she looks back on her prime, remembering parties and functions with the cultural elite played out as echoes and shadows in the empty palazzo, Mary is haunted by the memory of a supremely charming but subtly evil man, Greville (David Walliams), who feigned friendship, but actually brought destruction.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Biographies, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Commentary, Interactive Menu, Making Of, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: This DVD includes both Poliakoff's A Real Summer (the one-off monologue prequel to Capturing Mary and Capturing Mary, the companion film to Joe's Palace. Joe's Palace, A Real Summer and Capturing Mary are three linked dramas by Poliakoff that centre on a large Georgian house in London. Sumptuous pieces, beautifully shot to feature-film standards for the BBC. A Real Summer, (commissioned by BBC Two's Culture Show), is a 45-minute bridging piece, a monologue for the actress Ruth Wilson who, as Mary, stars again in Capturing Mary. Capturing Mary stars Maggie Smith, David Walliams, Ruth Wilson and Danny Lee Wynter. Like Joe's Palace it is set in the same exquisite empty house, and takes the young caretaker, Joe, and new characters into a dark and terrifying exploration of the past and how it can quite literally capture and destroy a person's life. It focuses on a formerly very successful woman, Mary (Maggie Smith in a rare television appearance), a once-brilliant writer and critic, reflecting on her younger self (Ruth Wilson). As she looks back on her prime, remembering parties and functions with the cultural elite played out as echoes and shadows in the empty palazzo, Mary is haunted by the memory of a supremely charming but subtly evil man, Greville (David Walliams), who feigned friendship, but actually brought destruction. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, ...Capturing Mary
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
39 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Maggie Smith always has been one of my favourite actresses as she can really act. In Stephen Poliakoff's moving drama she slips into the role of Mary and her failed life which seems to have got off balance by one single encounter with Greville, ending in loneliness - again a Poliakoff theme - and alcohol abuse, but she retains a certain dignity. This one encounter captures Mary for life, enslaves her for life. It is pretty difficult to figure out what really happened to her or whether she just blamed Greville for her ultimately failed life. Maggie Smith's performance is just superb. One can understand why she accepted his role as it gives her a rare opportunity in the TV screen to show that she really is one of Britain and the world's finest actresses. The whole drama is deeply psychological, moving, as usual a bit confusing and in the end utterly fascinating. "Little Britain" star David Walliams portraits Greville in a great performance. I was quite surprised that he is not just a comedy star but a very good actor. All in all a great drama which I greatly enjoyed
34 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"Subtly evil"? "Feigning friendship"? Well, probably, but it's not that simple. This is complex, subtle drama with real psychological depth and dimension, as well as enigma and mystery (yes, both) that don't leave you feeling cheated by lack of answers.
A story so dependent on charisma and obsession should be difficult to write and film convincingly, but "Capturing Mary" succeeds in spades. A key element is, of course, the actors, and Ruth Wilson and David Walliams are both astonishing. The creepy power of Walliams is reminiscent of James Mason.
A story so dependent on charisma and obsession should be difficult to write and film convincingly, but "Capturing Mary" succeeds in spades. A key element is, of course, the actors, and Ruth Wilson and David Walliams are both astonishing. The creepy power of Walliams is reminiscent of James Mason.
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Maggie Smith is excellent, she hasn't disappointed me in From time to time, Downton Abbey etc.and since getting the dvds, I have watched these films many times. This story, however, in spite of Maggie Smith's presence and also the excellent David Walliams, is simply not convincing. Take Mary, for instance, she had tasted success because she was brainy and strong (at least that's what we are told in the beginning). Why is it,I ask myself, she let herself be influenced by that creep? Perhaps it was a sign of the times, women were supposed to act in a certain manner. But gutsy women existed before Mary came on the scene and stayed successful. So,to be influenced by a two a penny scoundrel for the rest of her life - it simply does not tally.
She should have been that wee bit more courageous and told him that he talked a load of ......... like that young chap did later on! And that would have been that.
After waiting for what seemed eternity for something to happen, the conclusion was trivial.
She should have been that wee bit more courageous and told him that he talked a load of ......... like that young chap did later on! And that would have been that.
After waiting for what seemed eternity for something to happen, the conclusion was trivial.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
sinister
A intriguing story, David Walliams is brilliant as the haunting mysterious character. Maggie Smith very good. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Bernice
Devonshire lass
Love Dame Maggie Smith and David Walliams, but this film did nothing for me.... it was slow. Not a film I would recommend to family or friends.
Published 2 months ago by Devonshire lass.
MS DVD
Can not rate the product itself as I bought this DVD for my Mum (Big Maggie Smith Fan), So she will have loved it. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Stephen J. Ward
review
I purchased this item as a present so I'm not in a position to review it as I'm obviously not the one who's going to watch it. Read more
Published on 30 Jan 2010 by Angea Earley
Disappointing
All the intellectual discourse in the world cannot disguise that these films were deeply disappointing. Read more
Published on 15 Sep 2008 by Graham James
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