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Amazon.co.uk Review
The first two episodes of this BBC miniseries only hint at the delights to come. A lawsuit aimed at church reform in the town of Barchester forces a decent middle-aged clergyman (Donald Pleasence) into a moral crisis and a conflict with his son-in-law, a pompous archdeacon (Nigel Hawthorne, The Madness of King George). The gracefully written and acted narrative shows glimpses of dry wit--but in episode 3, the arrival of a new bishop (Clive Swift, Keeping Up Appearances), his imperious wife (Geraldine McEwan, The Magdalene Sisters), and his devious chaplain (Alan Rickman, Truly Madly Deeply, the Harry Potter movies) launches The Barchester Chronicles into a satirical power struggle all the more mesmerizing because of the smallness of the territory. The scheming of the citizens and clergy of this British town is both Byzantine and wonderfully comic as the tempestuous personalities claw and dig at each other.
Rickman, in one of his first film or television roles, turns in a tour de force of oily ambition. McEwan's ferocious machinations are downright terrifying, while the sputtering Hawthorne seems constantly in danger of bursting a vein. At the center of it all is Pleasence. Making goodness compelling has always been difficult, since wickedness is always more dramatic; but Pleasence brings a deep and stirring passion to his role that proves as engaging as all the back-biting that surrounds him. And these are just the more familiar faces; a host of lesser-known actors give equally superb performances. The final episode (of seven) will have you on pins and needles. The Barchester Chronicles, adapted from two novels by Anthony Trollope, is one of those marvels of British television, a skillful production that proves intelligent fare can be hugely entertaining. --Bret Fetzer
Synopsis
Anthony Trollope's novels, The Warden and Barchester Towers, are brought charmingly to life by Alan Plater in his BAFTA- and RTS-award-winning dramatisation. The intrigues and machinations of an ecclesiastical community are the backdrop for a fine cast, including a young Alan Rickman in one of his first starring roles.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
98 of 98 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Who would have thought that the minor indiscretions of mid-nineteenth century English clergy would prove so entertaining?
This dramatisation first introduced me to Trollope when broadcast in the early 1980s and remains hard to beat. I've since grown to love this author, with his gentle chiding humour, something brought out wonderfully by Donald Pleasance as Septimus Harding in this TV version of the first two "Barchester" novels.
Pleasance alone would make this production memorable, but when you have co-stars of the calibre of Nigel Hawthorne (superbly pompous as Archdeacon Grantly), Geraldine McEwan as the insufferable Mrs Proudie, with Clive Swift doing an early turn as a hen-pecked husband (Bishop Proudie) you know you are in for a real treat. Adding a young Alan Rickman as the delightfully oily chaplain Obadiah Slope becomes merely icing on an already sumptious cake.
The transfer to DVD is excellent and makes you realise the limitations of VHS. Only in the extras department is this a little deficient, with just a short documentary on Peterborough Cathedral where the series was filmed. Surviving cast, screenwriter (Alan Plater!) or director's commentaries would have been good, but alas are not available. Don't let this put you off, though. Buy this classic anyway.
85 of 86 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
With my video copy of this superb production nearly shot to pieces through repeated viewing I am delighted that this jewel in the BBC archive has been repolished into DVD format.
Over the years the BBC have succeeded in bringing to the wider public the talents of younger actors who have subsequently gone on to great things - Anthony Hopkins (War and Peace), Colin Firth (Pride and Prejudice), and (hopefully) Richard Armitage (North and South). While the whole cast in The Barchester Chronicles bring off performances that wonderfully pull the emotions every which way, one of the highlights has to be that of a young Alan Rickman as the 'slippery' Slope. Possibly with that in mind the original video production has been slightly re-edited to include from the cutting room floor, one particular short but exquisite scene involving Mr Slope and the Quiverfull children.
As the story unfolds around the crusade aimed at the kind and honest Warden with his dilemmas of conscience, you are drawn by the interaction of the superbly played characters with their individual values into an emotional but thoroughly enjoyable experience. For me it is simply BBC drama (not to mention Anthony Trollope) at its very best.
The DVD is better than the video in every way. As an extra it includes a warm 30 minute portrait of Peterborough Cathedral which was used in the production.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This televised series from 1982 (although it must have been recorded in 1981) has so many winning streaks-it is almost impossible to name but a few. The actors are all marvellous-and very recognisable, too.
Fantastic Alan Rickman is the smarmy, ambitious and scheming Obadiah Slope (a predecessor to latter days Severus Snape of Harry Potter fame-indeed a kindred spirit to the same!)
Clive Swift the hen-pecked bishop one wonders how he'd ever made a point at church meeting, Nigel Hawthorne, overlooked for the position as anything but archdeacon but increadably just and very coleric, and the fierce Geraldine McEwans as a VERY bossy bishops wife.
Of course the rest of the cast also make it a wonderful viewing.Not least, Donald Pleasence who in his portraial of Mr Harding shows that the meek, indeed, shall inherit the earth!
Susan Hampshire as Signora Neroni-one of three "compulsive liars" of children to the Stanhopes-is very good also.
Photographically it is in parts, televised theatre-but one dismisses this lightheartedly since it is so well executed overall!
How this nearly 150 year old story set in the clerical intrigues of an english cathedraltown and all it's different turns still feels so inspiring- is beyond explaining-but watch it and you'll be as hooked as I was!
This is a series with a subtext that is a heady brew of bigotry, prejudice and good old-fashioned naked ambition, surely the church must have changed by now! But alas, I am not too convinced!
Fantastic Alan Rickman is the smarmy, ambitious and scheming Obadiah Slope (a predecessor to latter days Severus Snape of Harry Potter fame-indeed a kindred spirit to the same!)
Clive Swift the hen-pecked bishop one wonders how he'd ever made a point at church meeting, Nigel Hawthorne, overlooked for the position as anything but archdeacon but increadably just and very coleric, and the fierce Geraldine McEwans as a VERY bossy bishops wife.
Of course the rest of the cast also make it a wonderful viewing.Not least, Donald Pleasence who in his portraial of Mr Harding shows that the meek, indeed, shall inherit the earth!
Susan Hampshire as Signora Neroni-one of three "compulsive liars" of children to the Stanhopes-is very good also.
Photographically it is in parts, televised theatre-but one dismisses this lightheartedly since it is so well executed overall!
How this nearly 150 year old story set in the clerical intrigues of an english cathedraltown and all it's different turns still feels so inspiring- is beyond explaining-but watch it and you'll be as hooked as I was!
This is a series with a subtext that is a heady brew of bigotry, prejudice and good old-fashioned naked ambition, surely the church must have changed by now! But alas, I am not too convinced!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great viewing
I loved this series, which was recommended by a friend. Great acting! Now to read the books to see if it is faithful to them.
Published 4 days ago by English teacher in France
Wonderful
We have enjoyed this so much. With such a fine cast it was pretty much guaranteed. I can't praise it highly enough and am so glad I bought this DVD as it was perfection.
Published 1 month ago by Laura
Great TV?
I collect period drama like other people collect stamps (especially BBC series) and greatly looked forward to getting another as yet unseen treasure in the Barchester Chronicles,... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Konstanze Allsopp
Great adaptation
This adaptation of Barchester Chronicles has one of the best casts ever assembled. The acting performances of all are good and Nigel Hawthorne and Alan Rickman are outstanding. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. Judith Worham
In my top 5 TV series of all time
For me, this definitely ranks up there with the BBC adaptations of Pride & Prejudice, The Forsyte Saga and The Pallisers, as well as ITV's Inspector Morse as one of the top 5 TV... Read more
Published 4 months ago by YAOWO
Barchester Chronicle good or bad?
Overall these DVDs are good value for money and the acting is excellent. Whatever your religion or none these will be pertinent to it and we,(my wife and I) thoroughly enjoyed... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Peter Burgess.
Settle down with a good Trollope
This is a great adaptation of the Barchester chronicles, with (as you might expect) some rather good performances, particularly from Alan Rickman (though I may be biased here -- I... Read more
Published 8 months ago by david orman
Barchester Chronicles
I always think it sad that Donald Pleasance is linked with horror films. I think this is his best work. Excellent DVD!
Published 11 months ago by DT
The Barchester Chronicles
I find it so sad that the BBC very rarely produce such gems these days and Trollope seems to have gone "out of fashion" for some reason. Read more
Published 11 months ago by GoldenGem
He added the 'E'
What ever became of Janet Maw!!? I saw her in the BBC production of Richard 2nd, and then the Barchester Chronicles, but very little else. Shame that! Read more
Published 11 months ago by vbprogman
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