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Amazon.co.uk Review
The two-part saga Return to Cranford opens to a struggling Cranford, a traditional village that in autumn 1844 is airing the conflicts that accompany progress. Miss Matty Jenkyns (Judi Dench), after having closed her business in the last series, is happily babysitting the child of her maid, Martha (Claudie Blakley). This gives the ladies in town something to gossip about, as does every other small event in this chatty group. The same women populate this new Cranford--the snooty Miss Jamieson (Barbara Flynn), nosy Miss Pole (Imelda Staunton), Miss Forrester (Julia McKenzie), Peggy (Jodie Whittaker), and Erminia (Michelle Dockery)--while a few new men added into the mix creates options for love interests throughout. In Part One, Peggy, visiting her dead father's grave, bumps into William Baxton (Tom Hiddleston), a young and dapper gentleman who becomes a central character in Cranford's growing divide between those who want a railroad coming through town and those who don't. While politics are sorted, scenes alternate between heated public debates and intimate domestic exchanges to make Return to Cranford as charming as the first incarnations of this historical drama. The emphasis on the ways the women in town navigate thorny social situations remains primary in Return to Cranford. Babies are born and the elderly pass away while the ladies busily decide what to make of it all. While Part One focuses on catch-up, showing where each crone stands on the latest current events, Part Two attempts more to challenge outmoded cultural values such as elitism and to show how the community members toughen up to become a courageous bunch. Unfortunately, Miss Matty discovers that solidarity is hard to come by in this small village, and Part Two is as much about a town falling apart as it is about ways to heal sore feelings and a violated landscape. Ultimately, life marches on in this pleasurably fictionalized glimpse into England's past. --Trinie Dalton, Amazon.com
DVD Description
Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce and Francesca Annis star in the award-winning drama based on the novels by Elizabeth Gaskell.
Welcome to Cranford, where all changes and all remains the same. Miss Matty’s house is full of life and bustle. Her dream of having a child in the house has been realised in the birth of Tilly, daughter of her maid Martha and carpenter Jem. The shadow of the railway still looms but, to the relief of Matty and the Amazons, the line has been halted five miles outside of Cranford because of Lady Ludlow’s refusal to sell her land. Elsewhere Miss Matty’s friend Mr Buxton returns to town with his son, William, and his niece, Erminia. Miss Matty decides to introduce them to Peggy Bell, a young woman who lives in an isolated cottage with her mother and domineering brother, Edward, in the hope of building friendships. But, when tragedy strikes, she comes to believe that she has opened Pandora’s box and fears Cranford will never recover.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I am so glad I hadn't read the reviews here before I ordered this DVD becuase some of the negative comments may have put me off buying it.
However, I shouldn't have worried - it was just as good as I was expecting it to be.
Wonderful acting, of course, from all the actors and the usual BBC high standards of production.
I just hope there is more to come.
However, I shouldn't have worried - it was just as good as I was expecting it to be.
Wonderful acting, of course, from all the actors and the usual BBC high standards of production.
I just hope there is more to come.
75 of 79 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Returning to such a beloved programme for what is essentially just a Christmas two part special was always going to create problems. Many of the aspects that made the first series so special simply cannot be reproduced in only three hours. In particular the characterisations have been cut short and if you haven't seen the first series then you're not going to have a clue who anyone is or whats going on because there's no precis given. The story too, while a good one, simply does not have enough time to breathe and always feels cramped & rushed. The onslaught of technology that rips into the tiny village, a new family whose daughter must fight for the man she loves while contending with her hateful family and a new character who unwittingly divides the venerable ladies of Cranford. Added to these are a few significant deaths that are barely mourned due to time constraints and thus feel rushed and frankly some much loved characters are bustled off the scene with very little care or thought.
The strength that remains is the actors who bring their best once more to their roles. In particular the towns ladies and most of all the excellent Dame Judi Dench continuing to lead from the front as the loveable yet sad miss Matty. All concerned give a great deal of support to their parts and a very believable atmosphere is once again produced. The production values continue to be high and lend weight to every scene including the village itself.
This really would have thrived as a full length series but having all been crammed into such a short space of time has done little to help its cause. Relationships are far too brief and not nearly enough background is given to new characters or departing familiar ones. With this is gone a sense of the leisurely pace of the original and also much of the gentle humour. Pace should at least have injected a sense of urgency and tension but instead this feels like a it is simply running around giving a brief nod to all the characters and places before rushing into an ending that goes for all out drama, loses its nerve, and is simply snuffed out with a whimper.
If you are familiar with and enjoyed the original then the return is well worth a try so long as you accept before you start that it does not have either the depth or richness of the first. If however you are new to Cranford then I would strongly recommend that you start with the first excellent series before trying this out. It may require more of your time but it is well worth it and I am sure you will see what all the fuss was about.
Not an unmitigated disaster but no classic either. This was a rather misguided attempt at squeezing in a couple of episodes where a series would have worked so much better. For fans this was still better than nothing and it was a pleasure to meet the ladies once again.
The strength that remains is the actors who bring their best once more to their roles. In particular the towns ladies and most of all the excellent Dame Judi Dench continuing to lead from the front as the loveable yet sad miss Matty. All concerned give a great deal of support to their parts and a very believable atmosphere is once again produced. The production values continue to be high and lend weight to every scene including the village itself.
This really would have thrived as a full length series but having all been crammed into such a short space of time has done little to help its cause. Relationships are far too brief and not nearly enough background is given to new characters or departing familiar ones. With this is gone a sense of the leisurely pace of the original and also much of the gentle humour. Pace should at least have injected a sense of urgency and tension but instead this feels like a it is simply running around giving a brief nod to all the characters and places before rushing into an ending that goes for all out drama, loses its nerve, and is simply snuffed out with a whimper.
If you are familiar with and enjoyed the original then the return is well worth a try so long as you accept before you start that it does not have either the depth or richness of the first. If however you are new to Cranford then I would strongly recommend that you start with the first excellent series before trying this out. It may require more of your time but it is well worth it and I am sure you will see what all the fuss was about.
Not an unmitigated disaster but no classic either. This was a rather misguided attempt at squeezing in a couple of episodes where a series would have worked so much better. For fans this was still better than nothing and it was a pleasure to meet the ladies once again.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
Perfect for the Christmas period! It is a pleasure to watch the same actors and actresses, and the additions are worthy ones too. I love it when they sing about being alone, and the camera moves on to those who are alone because of their prejudices. But it is a fairy tale. They all have good hearts, and there is only one character without any redeeming quality. And he gets his punishment! And it is fun to think of William Buxton as the new Loki!
Good pictures, good sound, and English subtitles for the non-native speakers and the hard of hearing (like me, you can both).
Good pictures, good sound, and English subtitles for the non-native speakers and the hard of hearing (like me, you can both).
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Cranford DVD
This is an Excellent clean, family entertainment!! which nowadays is a miss...
Love the storyline, you wont be dissapointed . We love it...******
Love the storyline, you wont be dissapointed . We love it...******
Published 1 month ago by mah...
Excellent.
Having already seen and bought a copy of the first "Cranford" I wanted to see the second. I was not disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will certainly watch both again.
Published 1 month ago by grannievon
Excellent
The DVD arrived within the time stated + was in perfect condition. It now goes with the first one in the series + is well worth watching for a second time.
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. J. E. Lee
Return to Cranford
Gentle, sweet, for the whole family, but somewhat too predictable and not exciting enough unlike its previous edition. Read more
Published 3 months ago by M. Berto
Lovely
Really enjoyed watching this again. Wish they had continued this series, so nice after so many violent things on TV these days.
Published 4 months ago by Mrs. R. A. Hewlett
ARRIVED QUICKLY GOOD QUALITY
LOVELY DVD CHARMING TALES OF CHARMING TIMES I LOVE JUDY DENCH THE FILM IS TO BE SENT TO MY SISTER IN AUSTRALIA SHE CANT WAIT
Published 5 months ago by Mrse Kuras
nice
Item received promptly, more quickly than indicated, in good condition, new as described, made a nice gift. A good transaction.
Published 8 months ago by Catherine
It's always Cranford!
I watched Return to Cranford as soon as I got it and it was not disappointing at all, though not as moving and enthralling as the first episode. Read more
Published 8 months ago by donny
Return to Cranford
I found this almost as good as the original series. The original series had more story lines intertwinned but this production still kept our attention. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Terry James
Return to Cranford - DVD
I enjoyed the original Cranford and this storyline is perhaps not quite so gripping but with fine actors such as Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Barbara Flynn et al then it just has... Read more
Published 11 months ago by GoldenGem
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