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28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
If you are a Coward fan, and if you are interested in theatre and performance history, then I highly recommend this DVD box set. By today's standards, the four productions contained here are not produced in a particularly sophisticated way - they are recorded to tape and not film, for instance, and they betray the technical limitations of the time in which they were recorded: for instance, actors are often required to be quite static in order to remain in shot and in order that the boom can pick them up. However, within these limits the director has often been extremely ingenious (as in the opening of The Vortex)and the actors' performances are full of vim and verve - though they also betray concepts of acting Coward current to the time in which they have been recorded. Some of these performances are quite 'stagey' but I personally find this, in itself, fascinating and there is no question that the actors are extremely experienced and skilful. If, like me, you are 'of a certain age' you will be fascinated to see Hattie Jacques essaying Madame Arcati (a brave attempt, not entirely successful to my way of thinking, but fun never the less) and Nicholas Pennell (remember him in The Forsyte Saga?) as Nicky in The Vortex (much more successful), and a host of other well-known actors of the period blazing their way through Coward.
On another note, does anyone remember the Somerset Maugham series on BBC TV (late sixties), when many of Maugham's best known stories were dramatised? Couldn't this series also be released on DVD?
On another note, does anyone remember the Somerset Maugham series on BBC TV (late sixties), when many of Maugham's best known stories were dramatised? Couldn't this series also be released on DVD?
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
This curious two-disc offering from renowned raiders of the lost archives Network DVD comprises TV adaptations of four of Coward's best-known stage plays from various stages of The Master's career, produced by Granada and broadcast on ITV in August 1964. Of the four, 'Present Laughter', starring a pre-Jason King Peter Wyngarde, and 'Blithe Spirit', with an energetic Hattie Jacques in the Madame Arcarti role - are the best realised, probably because they are played for laughs. Coward's 1924 `breakthrough' drama 'The Vortex, and the rather inconsequential 1939 Coward/Lunt vehicle 'Design For Living' (this time featuring Coward's godson Daniel Massey, and with an ever-comely pre-Python Carol Cleveland in a minor role) make less compelling viewing.
The acting style is the rather mannered and accentuated 1920s-pastiche style that was popular for revivals on film and TV in the 1960s that one suspects never actually existed first time round, and there are several moments when the shrill, staccato, poshified delivery style grates on the nerves of 21st Century ears, but there are also scenes that are superbly played, particularly in 'Present Laughter'.
Possibly the real star of these programmes is Noel Coward himself, eyes twinkling and cigarette-smouldering, who delivers sparkling 4-5 minute pre-filmed introductions to each play, directly to camera, seemingly without the aid of autocue. It's hard to imagine a contemporary playwright talking about their work with the same fascinating aplomb.
I haven't checked against published texts, but as each runs to about 70-75 minutes, it's highly likely the scripts have been trimmed to fit, and Coward students may dispute the choice of cuts employed in 'A Choice of Coward': so I'd suggest that this issue is not the best introduction to television versions of Coward classics for those trying his work for the first time.
Sourced from original black-and-white 405-lines videotapes (these must be some of the oldest UK 405-line tapes still playable), the picture quality is surprisingly good, although comes complete with the original production hiccups: clunky video editing, iffy overdubbed music, vision-mix glitches, and the occasional boom shadow or even turret-lensed camera accidentally in shot. However, they remain valuable examples of TV drama from getting on for 50 years ago.
The acting style is the rather mannered and accentuated 1920s-pastiche style that was popular for revivals on film and TV in the 1960s that one suspects never actually existed first time round, and there are several moments when the shrill, staccato, poshified delivery style grates on the nerves of 21st Century ears, but there are also scenes that are superbly played, particularly in 'Present Laughter'.
Possibly the real star of these programmes is Noel Coward himself, eyes twinkling and cigarette-smouldering, who delivers sparkling 4-5 minute pre-filmed introductions to each play, directly to camera, seemingly without the aid of autocue. It's hard to imagine a contemporary playwright talking about their work with the same fascinating aplomb.
I haven't checked against published texts, but as each runs to about 70-75 minutes, it's highly likely the scripts have been trimmed to fit, and Coward students may dispute the choice of cuts employed in 'A Choice of Coward': so I'd suggest that this issue is not the best introduction to television versions of Coward classics for those trying his work for the first time.
Sourced from original black-and-white 405-lines videotapes (these must be some of the oldest UK 405-line tapes still playable), the picture quality is surprisingly good, although comes complete with the original production hiccups: clunky video editing, iffy overdubbed music, vision-mix glitches, and the occasional boom shadow or even turret-lensed camera accidentally in shot. However, they remain valuable examples of TV drama from getting on for 50 years ago.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
The 4 plays on this set are presented in television adaptations and are well worth viewing. The casts are excellent and they are a fascinating piece of theatre/television history. I have enjoyed each play very much but my favourite has to be Blithe Spirit with an excellent role for Griffith Jones and a lovely performance from Hattie Jacques. Well worth the asking price...
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