Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent period true-life drama, 22 Dec 2005
Interesting how history now treats the Edward and Mrs Simpson story. This adaptation, partly based on the book "Edward VIII" by Frances Donaldson, captures the moment Wallis Simpson met the future King and takes the story right through to the abdication in December 1936 - the final scenes marking the Duke of Windsor's route to exile after his radio broadcast. Brillient acting throughout, Edward Fox is superlative as the Prince of Wales/King and Cynthia Harris is wonderfully cast as the engaging Wallis. When filmed, the Duchess was still alive but it is not known how she responded to this drama. There is without doubt, a sense of unknowing regarding her emotions at the time of abdication. A highlight is the entire way the drama was directed - nostalgic and golden. The opening song is also befitting: "I've danced with a man whose danced with a girl whose danced with the Prince of Wales" - the mood is set.Given our own Prince of Wales's recent divorce and marriage, it is perhaps a good time to reflect on the sacrifice that King Edward made due to constitutional pressure.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not the best DVD - but a good series, 19 Jan 2007
Having watched "Edward & Mrs Simpson" on DVD, it looks initially like it was a straight copy off the ITV tapes. Notwithstanding, it was a very well acted series which showed just how much power the government really had behind the throne in the 1920s and 30s.
Cynthia Harris made a good Wallis but there was no real "chemistry" between her and Edward Fox; no sign of just why she was his great passion. Ending the series when they did, just after the marriage made things feel a bit flat. It would have been good to see how they lived out the rest of their lives as a jet setting dilettante and his wife. Perhaps it was the fact that the 1970s was more restrictive with what could be done in playing out Royal dramas.
Edward Fox made Edward VIII a very believable, sometimes likeable fellow who was quite evidently spoiled. Where he gets told it's either Wallis or the throne, you can imagine him throwing a right royal tantrum behind the scenes.
The DVD quality is alright but showing where the ad breaks were makes for poor quality and in Disc 2 there is a definite break where you see the countdown.
A special feature of the Windsors post wedding would have been interesting for viewers who were not alive around the time the Duke died or when Wallis herself died. A feature on the fantastic jewels she was given would also have been good as this is alluded to in the series when "Chips" Channon and Wallis are discussing a new man at Cartier's.
The sets are so true to the era and the costumes hark back to a very glamorous time prior to World War II. The actress playing the future Queen Mum is very convincing especially with her biting comments about "that woman".
The quality of DVD lets down an intriguing series that is somewhat hard to understand today in our more progressive era - particularly when we know that Camilla Parker-Bowles was allowed in the end to nab her prince. But if it hadn't happened, perhaps the Royal Family as we know it today, would not exist in the format that it does.
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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Quality drama but poor quality DVD, 7 Nov 2005
This production was made for T.V. back in 1979. It is the story of King Edward VIII and the love that was to cost him his throne. Edward Fox is excellent playing David, the spoiled and selfish Prince of Wales who would one day be King Edward VIII. David was the original playboy prince, more interested in his social activities than any social obligations. He had various married mistresses to the despair of his family. When Wallis Simpson, a married American woman (played by a convincingly brittle Cynthia Harris), came into his life, it set off a catastrophic chain of events. David fell head over heels in love and was determined to marry her no matter what. What is less clear, at least in this production, is whether Wallis felt the same or was, in fact, more enamoured of becoming Queen of England.
David was always popular with the public and was quite sure that, as king, he could do as he pleased and marry whom he wished. Of course the Establishment had other ideas and made it clear that a divorcee, and an American one at that, with no royal blood, was a totally unacceptable choice for Queen.
As history has shown, the Establishment won and King Edward was forced to make a choice between the throne and Mrs Simpson, the latter won and Edward went into exile where he married the woman he loved. Never again would he be welcome either to his family or in England, and as a final insult his wife was refused the title HRH.
This is a production that has stood the test of time thanks to the fine acting from the entire cast. It has everything a drama could want, romance, intrigue, tension and is all the better because it is a true story. The downside of this DVD is the fact no effort has been made to clean up the picture or sound and there are no extras, not even sub-titles for the hard of hearing, unacceptable for a format known for clarity of picture/sound and opportunities for extra material. Having said that, the quality of acting and the all too human story make this a DVD well worth viewing, just be prepared for the quality being less than you may be used to.
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