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Amazon.co.uk Review
Adapted from the novel by Mary Wesley, The Camomile Lawn proved one of Channel Four's most successful dramas, telling an intricate story set during World War II and over two days in 1984. In this portrait of the Home Front in Cornwall and London in the Blitz, the titular lawn becomes a symbol for halcyon pre-war days, and also for a lost innocence on a personal level. For this is very much about growing up and sex, including rape and child abuse (both handled tactfully, mainly in dialogue), adulatory, ménage á trois, bisexuality and rampant promiscuity. The attitudes, from the war-damaged, nihilistic Oliver, (a powerfully charismatic Toby Stephens) to the mercenary Calypso (an incendiary Jennifer Ehle), and some individual scenes, shock in their very matter-of-factness. What could be salacious soap is leavened by a comic touch, intensified by tragedy and elevated to intensely moving drama during its final half hour set around a funeral in 1984. Generally excellent production values make the best of the television budget, and there are outstanding performances by a large cast including Felicity Kendal and Paul Eddington (reunited from The Good Life), Tara Fitzgerald in her first starring role, and especially Rebecca Hall as Sophy.
On the DVD: The four episodes are presented on two discs, with a total running time of approximately four hours 22 minutes. There are no special features of any sort. The picture is standard television 4:3, and while marginally better than VHS has a slight softness, with occasional after-images to shots with moving lights betraying that the series was made on video rather than film. Some scenes are rather grainy and there is the occasion brief instance of MPEG artifacting. The sound is stereo and appears to have been remixed from mono, some elements such as the music remaining in mono, while some sound effects are stereo. --Gary S Dalkin
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
46 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Camomile Lawn is a production bursting with delicious characters superbly portrayed by a quality cast. The "action" is split between the early years of World War 2 and the "present": 1980's/1990, telling a number of individual but interlinked stories that are by turns touching, shocking and humorous. The lovely Jennifer Ehle as the promiscuous and self seeking Calypso, Tara Fitzgerald as Polly and Felicity Kendall as Helena all bring glamour to their excellent performances as the three leading ladies in the earlier period. Rebecca Hall shines as the naive but worldly child Sophie, trying to make sense of the adult world around her. There are also some cleverly observed turns from the male cast, including the irrascible Richard (Paul Eddington), Oliver (Toby Stephens), and some lovely supporting roles, especially that of no-nonsense, heart of gold Aunt Sarah played marvellously by Polly Adams (Aunt Helen, A Dark Adapted Eye).
Kendal reprises her role in the "present" with grey wig and heavy makeup, while Calypso and Polly are played by Rosemary Harris (Ehle's own real life mother) and Virginia Mckenna respectively, giving a convincing likeness to aid continuity whilst showing that time has most definitely moved on. Claire Bloom seamlessly takes the role of the older Sophie after a gap of forty years, giving a new perspective on the events she witnessed as a child.
The plot and characters are perhaps slightly frivolous against the backdrop of war, but nevertheless capture the essence of the time. The character of Calypso, a woman who most definitely "had a good war" is a very likeable but recogniseable stereotype.
The Camomile Lawn certainly contains some potentially shocking material, both in terms of language and sex, but it is a highly enjoyable and entertaining story of a family's survival and thirst for life under the shadow of World War 2, and their recognition in peacetime forty years later that some things were less complicated then than now.
Kendal reprises her role in the "present" with grey wig and heavy makeup, while Calypso and Polly are played by Rosemary Harris (Ehle's own real life mother) and Virginia Mckenna respectively, giving a convincing likeness to aid continuity whilst showing that time has most definitely moved on. Claire Bloom seamlessly takes the role of the older Sophie after a gap of forty years, giving a new perspective on the events she witnessed as a child.
The plot and characters are perhaps slightly frivolous against the backdrop of war, but nevertheless capture the essence of the time. The character of Calypso, a woman who most definitely "had a good war" is a very likeable but recogniseable stereotype.
The Camomile Lawn certainly contains some potentially shocking material, both in terms of language and sex, but it is a highly enjoyable and entertaining story of a family's survival and thirst for life under the shadow of World War 2, and their recognition in peacetime forty years later that some things were less complicated then than now.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I am always very worried about watching screen adaptations of my favourite books - this is absolutely spot on. This is a DVD to cherish and bring out every couple of years when you are indoors with flu and a hot toddy!
36 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I enjoyed this DVD of Mary Wesley's Camomile Lawn very much more than the book, presumably greatly to the credit of its Director Peter Hall but also to the strong cast. All are good but of particular note are Felicity Kendall who gives a tremendous performance, the eye-pleasing Jennifer Ehle whether clothed or not, her sensible counterpart Tara Fitzgerald, similarly eye-pleasing but in a quieter way, and Rebecca Hall as the juvenile star. And of course there is the coast of Cornwall - contrasting with scenes of London in the blitz with a memorable scene of Tara and Rebecca on the phone to Cornwall from under a table while near-hit bombs (and the ceiling) were falling. Its the sort of film that lives with you for days after the viewing and which you want to go back to and relish.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Keep your anti-histamines handy!
After reading so many rave reviews (and being a huge Toby Stephens fan), I felt compelled to buy this. Complete and utter tosh! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Cicero
Exuberant story of an extended family on the move in wartime
Had the chance to see this again recently after twenty years and not surprised to find how much of the story was stored in my memory, unlocked by the haunting arrangement of... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Philoctetes
The lawn needs cutting!
I love costume dramas,period plays and films about the home front during WWII.So I was really looking forward to this production.Well,I needn't have. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Dr.Trevor
perfect viewing
it is a rare thing when the film of a book is such a fine adaptation that it enhances the book on a second reading. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Avid Reader
Camomile Lawn
Excellent. Most enjoyable. A must for the library. In every way a perfect example of the genre in production and casting. Faultless.
Published 7 months ago by P. R. Millson
a classy little Home Front love fest
OK, it's a bit dated and very stagey in style, partly down to Sir Peter Hall's direction. He is, after all, at his best in the theatre. Read more
Published 8 months ago by jenzance
The Camomile Lawn
Great story. Nice series to relax with on a wet afternoon or evening - or anytime come to think of it! Thoroughly enjoyed it. So did my sister.
Published 9 months ago by Joyce Farrow
My copy does have subtitles
I watched the first episode of this wonderful series simply because as a great fan of The Good Life I wanted to see what Paul Eddington and Felicity Kendall would do with rather... Read more
Published 16 months ago by J
Camomile Lawn - a delight!
This mini-TV series was an absolute delight. The scenes, plot, actors everything!
All performances were superb right from ten-year old Rebecca Hall (incredible and... Read more
All performances were superb right from ten-year old Rebecca Hall (incredible and... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Wessex Man
Found it difficult to understand it wold be better in the Rubbish bin
In watching this Dvd i found it most confusing & did not understand it at all & felt it was entire waste of my money
Published 19 months ago by Mr. Ip Mason
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