Poldark - Series 1 Vol. 1 [DVD] [1975]

The "Poldark" TV series truly brings the wonderful novels of Winston Graham alive. The evocation of Cornwall in the late eighteenth century is outstanding, a sense of place, time and social interraction woven into a fine plot, set against a stunning coastal background, and made real by magnificent casting. One could not imagine how the immortal characters from the books could have been better cast. Highly recommended to anyone who loves good yarns, Cornwall, or better yet, both.

I was really surprised to see that there was only one review for Poldark, so I thought that I had better write one to let everybody know that this is a fantastic series.

My family remember watching this the first time round in the 1970s. And they loved watching it again. I'm not old enough to remember this first time round but it has become a firm favourite with me too.

It's all about a man called Poldark who returns to 18th century Cornwall to discover the love of his life has married someone else and his house and tin mines are gone to ruin. People are against him, they try and betray him, and then he meets another woman who ... but look, I don't want to spoil this for you. Treat yourself - it's so good!

Excellent series, although I agree with the previous posting regarding the deviations from the books, which are excellent reads in themselves. Of course they were necessarily condensed down but even I who often enjoys television over books was surprised over some omissions. I understand Series 1 comprised the four books published over many years since the first, while the next three instalments Winston Graham wrote rather faster which made up Series 2; but the speed of his writing denigrated little (in my opinion) from the second series they produced onscreen, and whose conclusion is as dramatic and involved as any other situation bred from the characters. (And I know what I mean by that!)

The original characters, extremely well-drawn in the books, spring to life onscreen here and revolve around the noble, but reckless Captain Ross who lives life to the full, exhibiting an unhealthy liking for adding dangerous edges to his proceedings. Often, his progressive ideas means he falls foul of his flambouyant peers - especially the "enemy" of the Warleggan family who'll stop at nothing in grinding Ross, his friends and other neighbours into the ground at the earliest opportunity in their desire to take over Cornwall in the financial sphere. Incidentally, George Warleggan (Ross' sworn enemy) is described in he books as a sturdy man with a "bull neck", hidden by scarves and other apparel. As portrayed by the lighter Ralph Bates, his brilliant invokation of George Warleggan is a villain worthy of every boo and hiss I can muster.

The 'growing-up' of Demelza from street urchin par excellence to fully fledged lady is besutifully portrayed by the more-than-capable Angharad Rees, who ends up marrying her caring but complex master through a series of events enough to try any man. But we end up caring so much for all the central characters, even the weak Cousin Francis, excellently portrayed by Clive Francis. Ininitially in the pocket of the Warleggans, provoked into turning on Cousin Ross, and generally unable to cope with what life has dealt him, he still provokes our sympathy.

The viewers' desire is that all will become well between him and his estranged Cousin, all sparked off by the latter's totally unexpected return from the American wars, which provides the igniting spark for most of the storylines. The most acute initial point of difficulty between Ross and Francis involves the beautiful Elizabeth - the reason Ross returned to the desperately poor Cornwall at all. So as to not spoiling any potential viewers' expectations of this series I will not reveal how but rest assured Elizabeth is central to many happennings, some with the most unexpected results.

But it is Ross and Demelza we heartily root for, even through infuriating behaviour to others, and to each other, some actions threatening to tear their very souls apart in an instant. Their humanity wins the day, especially Ross and his privileged - if poor - position in Cornish society, where his assisting one unlucky tenant of his nearly places a noose around his own neck, the Warleggans jumping in feet-first in their enthusiasm to help make it happen, at least they can try...

At the time I was a teenager and any character whose portraying actor changed halfway through a run often perplexed me and took that character out of my belief zone for a while; that has not changed over the years and the fundalmental warmth generated by Richard Morant as the idealistic Doctor Enys and his growing strong friendship with Ross and Demelza still jars me when Series 2 commences and Michael Cadman has a difficult job taking over (for me, anyway) an already strongly-established characterisation. But that is me, and many series are afflicted by this common occurence. "Poldark" was one series always strong enough to enable me to get over that.

I would like the entire series unedited and in individual episodic format - until all these four sets are sold completely out that is most unlikely. I also live in hope that some enterprising television company will one day risk bringing the remaining "Poldark" novels to life. But costume dramas will probably wane in times of Credit Crunches and dare I say it recessions, so thank God the BBC took the plunge way back then.

For those who like me who want to discover where character names originated, "Poldark" demands keeping a large-scale map of Cornwall at hand....