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From Amazon.co.uk
The BBC's lavish, glowingly designed adapation of Mervyn Peake's eccentrically brilliant novels Titus Groan and Gormenghast is a triumph of casting. Ian Richardson's Lear-like depiction of the mad earl of a remote, vast, ritual-obsessed building is matched by the brutal pragmatism of Celia Imrie as his wife, the synchronised madness of Zoe Wanamaker and Lynsey Baxter as his twin sisters and the duplicitous charm of Jonathan Rhys-Meyer as Steerpike, the kitchen-boy determined to take over no matter how many deaths it costs. John Sessions is surprisingly touching as Prunesquallor, the family doctor who realises almost too late what Steerpike intends.
It is always tricky to film a book dear to the hearts of its admirers: Wilson and his design team achieve a look rather more pre-Raphaelite than Peake's own illustrations, shabby velvets, garish sunlight and dank stone passages. The score by Richard Rodney Bennett is full of attractive surprises--fanfares and waltzes and apotheoses--and John Tavener's choral additions are plausibly parts of the immemorial ritual of Gormenghast.
On the DVD: The double DVD comes with scene selection, an informative half-hour documentary on the making of the serial and a slide gallery of costume designs, characters and their dooms. --Roz Kaveney
Product Description
The kingdom of Gormenghast rejoices when its ruler, Lord Sepulchrave (Ian Richardson), produces a son and heir: Titus, 77th Earl of Groan. However, scheming kitchen boy Steerpike (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) himself dreams of taking power, and sets about driving Sepulchrave insane. He also seduces Titus' sister, Lady Fuchsia, planning to seize the kingdom through her. It seems that Steerpike cannot fail in his plans - only the timid Titus himself, young and inexperienced, stands in his way...
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
60 of 62 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Ignore those who say that this doesn't do justice to the books - it's different, yes, but in a good way. What's the point in sitting down to watch something that's EXACTLY like the book, or complaining because it doesn't EXACTLY match what you thought it should look like? The BBC made an amazing job of what was almost impossible to film, and the cast is just perfect. Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays Steerpike with more than a touch of genius, and the chemistry between him and Fuchsia is spot-on... Everything about this is awe-inspiring; the sets, the scripts, the acting. Admittedly, Warren Mitchell's portrayal of Barquentine is more comical and capricious than the fearsome and powerful character in the book, but it works. Likewise, Irma Prunesquallor seems more ridiculous on the screen than she does on the page, but a bit of comic relief does wonders for this exquisitely dark production. The word 'masterpiece' is overused, or else I would not hesitate to describe Gormenghast as such. It is easy to forgive the odd bit of artistic licence, and when you consider that they have managed to compress three extremely complex books into four hours of fantastic viewing, it's difficult to find fault.
56 of 60 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
This BBC self-proclaimed Millenium Drama really is a triumph! Despite some critics chastising the production for not being 100% faithful to Peake's original novels, it's as faithful as any 4-hour TV adaptation could be! With beautiful, opulent costumes, seemingly endless sets and excellent "blue-screen' effects - the whole creation of the world of Gormenghast is like a dream, sprinkled with the stars of British acting. John Sessions is wonderful as the painfully verbose Prunesquallor, with Fiona Shaw truly sublime as his menopausally desperate sister Irma. Neve McIntosh is the most beautiful, infantile Fuchsia that one could imagine, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers is the very essence of emotionally troubled teenager as the ultimate social climber Steerpike. Topped off with the likes of film legend Christopher Lee as Flay, along with Celia Imrie, Stephen Fry et al. this really is a must see for fans of the genre. Read the novels in conjunction with the video to really get the best out of both!
79 of 86 people found the following review helpful
By snoopp
Format:DVD
First let me clarify where my viewpoint is coming from. The Gormenghast trilogy is probably my all time favourite literary work. I have "lived" with this wonderful story since I was but a strap of a lad, 18 years ago. I suppose you could say that it holds a special place in my heart, so I was always always going to be a difficult critic to convince. I was definitely looking forward to seeing the result though, when I read that the BBC were going to produce an adaption.
The first problem is the format. There is no way that the first two books could be filmed in 4 hours, whilst keeping the narrative and dramatic integrity of the books. When lesser, mainstream and unimportant "pap" series can command six 1 hour episodes, and considering the amount of time and money involved in bringing the production to the screen, it is frankly amazing that the Beeb would cut the legs from under the production before it was even made. The end result is comparable to driving through the centre of Florence at high speed! Many beautiful impressions appear fleetingly, with the next vista appearing before the previous can be digested. Subsequently many wonderful plot and character details are cut from the work to fit the time constraints. The greatest example of this is the removal of the Keda's life and loves.
The second, and to this reviewer, even more serious flaw, is in its handling of the most important character, and one of the few with whom the reader forms an emotional bond: namely Fuschia. In the first book she is a 15 year old girl, given to a life in her own imagination, through her alienation from her family and those around her ( Nannie Slagg apart). What do we get? An actress in her mid twenties purveying the ghastly scene of a child in an adult's body, causing the viewer to assume that she must be suffering from developmental problems! The end result is reminiscent of a pantomime. (Gwyneth Paltrow as Alice anyone?)
The final flaw is to completely alter the nature of Fuscia's relationship with Steerpike, so that her most important scene in the second book (when she stands looking out of her window across the flooded landscape), is altered from one of the most beautifully moving pieces of prose to a cheap (and convenient) piece of plotting.
So why do I give it 3 stars do you ask, given my harsh critique? The bulk of the casting was exceptional, Steerpike was a revelation, and much of the visual language was faithfully reproduced: Cora and Clara's tree being a perfect example.
Enjoy this adaption, but make sure you read the book also. The former is in no way a representation of the depth and beauty of the latter.
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3.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Overhyped
I kept thinking, "what's the point" the whole time I watched this series. It looks as if it was filmed in the early 80's and the story is very choppy.
Published 10 days ago by Jared
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best BBC dramas.
This is a classic. The effects are a little bit dated now, and every now and then it's a bit slow moving. Read more
Published 17 days ago by wheelybird
5.0 out of 5 stars
As Weird and Wonderful as I'd remembered
Great to see this again. The recording is excellent and it comes with absolutely loads of interesting extras. Read more
Published 1 month ago by S. Capes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful!
I cannot express how much I love this series. I knew nothing of Gormenghast before I watched this on the BBC and following the series, I read the whole book. Read more
Published 1 month ago by KCoughlan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it
Always liked it when it was on tv. It arrived quickly, and though I was concerned at first that it wouldn't play because of the scratches on the discs, it played perfectly.
Published 1 month ago by Cat
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mervyn peake
I loved the books and this TV adaptation was a joy to watch with excellent characters portrayed by brilliant actors. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sofi & Kitti
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant !
I'm French and I loved this work utterly. All actors are brilllant and magnificent in their acting. I have not read the novels by Mervyn Peake but I was convinced from the first... Read more
Published 2 months ago by DOMINGUES
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brings Mervyn Peake to Life
If you enjoyed the books you will enjoy the DVD. Good cast and settings. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy.
Published 2 months ago by Wellbank
5.0 out of 5 stars
Watch it!
I have the books and love them and just like it is with every translation from book to film there are discrepancies. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Angelika parker
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant BBC drama
One of the best BBC series I've ever seen, all gathered into one delicious package. Stunning direction, photography, acting, script, and the designers did an absolutely fabulous... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Suzanne Bosworth
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