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Product Description
A triumphant adaptation of a surprisingly little-known text, the BBC's sumptuous staging of Parade's End, the work of Ford Madox Ford, rightly earned no shortage of plaudits on its first transmission. Many of those were aimed in the direction of Sherlock star Benedict Cumbertbatch, who takes one of the leading roles, yet this first rate Edwardian-set period drama has plenty else about it, too.
The cornerstone of the BBC adaptation of Parade's End is the script from Tom Stoppard, which refuses to yield on the issues or intelligence of the source material. Married up to superb production values and a performance to equal Cumberbatch's from Rebecca Hall, this is first rate drama, spread across five engrossing episodes.
The story itself sees Cumberbatch as the aristocrat Christopher Tietjens, married to Hall's Sylvia. Their life as they know it, already threatened by the shadow of World War I, faces further disruption when a young suffragette by the name of Adelaide arrives. From there, a perhaps inevitable love triangle develops, one that's played out tremendously well. Parade's End certainly proves to be gripping drama.
The disc release also features a welcome bonus, that takes you behind the scenes of how Parade's End was put together. That in itself proves to be an interesting story, and proves to the proverbial icing on an already exquisite cake. --Jon Foster
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: 2-DVD Set, Anamorphic Widescreen, Behind the scenes, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: In the dying days of Edwardian England, English aristocrat Christopher Tietjens finds himself marrying Sylvia, a beautiful but cruel socialite who is pregnant with a child who may or may not be his. Christopher is determined to remain loyal to his wife, but his life is transformed the day he meets Valentine Wannop, a fearless young suffragette. Moving from the glittering yet shallow world of London high society to the trench-scarred battlefields of France, Parade's End is the story of one of the defining eras of the last century; a time when old certainties are being torn down and lives are changed forever. ...Parade's End - 2-DVD Set
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Thoughtful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a wonderful dramatisation of Ford Maddox Ford's novel Parade's End, following the life of Christopher Teijen's, an Edwardian gentleman, through the early years of the 20th Century until the end of the First World War. The production is lavish and performances by Benedict Cumberbatch, Rebecca Hall, and other noteable British actors are sublime. Not to be missed, loved it and have sent it to several friends abroad!
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By Cineaste
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Benedict Cumberbatch portrayed a fascinating and enigmatic character, rare in television drama. This was an absorbing, well-paced series, which I watched straight over again once the DVD came out in order to pick up nuances missed during the first television outing. Being a literary adaption however, the gaps were noticeable (I have not read the novels, but like most of these dramas compression of narrative sometimes leaves one wishing for a bit more - but perhaps that's the whole point). All the actors were, I thought, rendered their characters pretty much perfectly.
80 of 87 people found the following review helpful
By docb
Format:DVD
It was always going to be hard to capture the essence of the Edwardian era and the subtleties of manners of the time, as well as deciding what to keep in and what to omit in what was, already, a long, complex text. However, with a script by the very talented Tom Stoppard, a playwright with many intelligent and densely allusional scripts behind him already, some great photography (some of the shots look like paintings they are so beautifully composed) and some (although not all at all times) excellent acting, this series really shows what the BBC can accomplish when it makes the effort. The brief bits of humour also break up the intensity and provide some lighter moments. A Highly accomplished achievement. Do buy it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Wanted to love it
The storyline did not make sense, I did not care about the characters, there seemed to be great chunks missing from the story that you just had to try and fill in yourself. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Kate
5.0 out of 5 stars
Parades End
Watched this with my husband and it was one of the few dvd's we've watched together as he normally doesn't like my taste in tv programmes. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Christine Revens
5.0 out of 5 stars
Parade's End explained
Wonderful acting. Superb script. Interesting look into the mores at the time of the First World War. Fabulous costumes and sets.
Published 16 days ago by R. Field
5.0 out of 5 stars
ford Maddox ford
I was mesmerised with this book,and the series,my brother and I saw it twice.love the book and the screen adaptation.enjoy folks. Read more
Published 18 days ago by margaret rhona andrews fenton
5.0 out of 5 stars
OUTSTANDING PERIOD FILM
This is a beautiful story and brilliantly written for screen by Tom Stoppard. The performances by all the lead actors are outstanding as is the casting. Read more
Published 24 days ago by Anthea Stevenson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic TV!
Brilliant four part series with outstanding performances from Cumberbatch and Hall. This runs rings around Downton Abbey, which is just Eastenders in fancy dress. Read more
Published 25 days ago by ELLIOTT
5.0 out of 5 stars
stunning
i cannot abide period dramas, and generally avoid dramas like the plague but i gave this a chance based on the cast of 'sherlock' and was not disapointed. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Benjamin Burleigh
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fine love story
A country gentleman , très retenu and singing "John Peel" - Benedict Cumberbatch - with a spoiled and egoistic wife, meets Miss Wannop - Adelaide Clemens - 15 years... Read more
Published 26 days ago by Knud Erik Siboni
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it
How can you not love Benedict Cumberbatch in this drama. He is one of the best actors around in today's World. Looking forward to Star Trek now.
Published 26 days ago by S. H. Pedersen
2.0 out of 5 stars
Dreary story, unappealing characters.
Depending on your preferences, I would recommend either Downton Abbey" or "Boardwalk Empire" as far more interesting alternatives. Or even "The Paradise"!
Published 28 days ago by PaulWM
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