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DVD Description
The Devil’s Wh*re is a dramatic tale of intrigue and lust that follow the trials and tribulations of the manipulative Angelica Fanshawe as she exploits a country in crisis in a bid to better her own position. Set against the backdrop of the English Civil War, Angelica abandons her loyalties to the Royal family and leaves the aristocratic court following the execution of her childhood sweetheart and first husband. Destitute, Angelica turns to prostitution and armed robbery, taking several lovers along the way. After marrying the heroic revolutionary Rainsborough, Angelica befriends Oliver Cromwell and becomes his confidante as he begins his reign over England… 10 years in the making and from the Bafta Award winning writer of the critically acclaimed Our Friends in the North, The Devil’s Wh*re is a lavish £8m production.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: 2-DVD Set, Anamorphic Widescreen, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Four part drama that follows the trials and tribulations of the aristocratic Angelica. Born in 1623 at a time when England is divided both by politics and religion, Angelica's life becomes intrinsically linked to the events that surround her, most notably the English Civil War. ...The Devil's Whore
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I first saw this series when it was first shown on Channel 4 and was overwhelmed by the production design. Although the story is a variation on "Forever Amber" and showcases plenty of bodice-ripping interludes, it is overshadowed by the quite magnificent scenery, restricted colour palettes and costume design, possibly the most authentically impressive of any I have seen in a television drama. The set pieces of Charles I's court, trial and execution are astounding and Peter Capaldi must have really immersed himself in research to have achieved the perfect mirror image of the monarch himself, somehow juxtaposing the regal arrogance of God's annointed with the trembling humanity of the condemned man and achieving what Bernini is said to have remarked upon receiving Van Dyke's portrait; "He hath the most unfortunate face I have ever looked upon".
There are weaknesses, of course. Historical facts have been twisted to accomodate the plotline and there is little evidence of Oliver Cromwell being the devout family man of his private life, as his own family are never seen. There is a confusion in direction, with Sexby changing sides in almost every episode but then this is essentially a story of love in war.
Story aside, this is an extrordinary visual event; put away the text books and enjoy the view. Fantastic.
There are weaknesses, of course. Historical facts have been twisted to accomodate the plotline and there is little evidence of Oliver Cromwell being the devout family man of his private life, as his own family are never seen. There is a confusion in direction, with Sexby changing sides in almost every episode but then this is essentially a story of love in war.
Story aside, this is an extrordinary visual event; put away the text books and enjoy the view. Fantastic.
75 of 82 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
As with many 'period' dramas, The Devil's Whore is guilty of bending the truth somewhat. The best way to approach this sort of drama is to take it for what it is, a very entertaining series that, admittedly, would have probably been given 5 stars had it been longer, but the condensing of what was originally intended to be a ten episode drama into 4 episodes was the consequence of the BBC's decision to bump the drama to Channel 4.
Andrea Riseborough is a huge success as the intoxicatingly unconventional Van Dyck-esque Angelica Fanshawe, the central (fictional) character who unites the important people and events of the Civil War and Interregnum. But this political upheaval provides more or less the background to her life.
Starting out as a doll-like debutant courtier, she is troubled by having seen the Devil during certain instances in her life (a little bit of an unnecessary inclusion to an otherwise excellent story-line in my view).
Angelica is married with the encouragement of her guardian, King Charles, to her cousin and childhood friend, Harry Fanshawe. At this time,she comes into contact with hardened mercenery Edward Sexby, and is initially both repelled and intrigued by his thirst for battle and his drifting way of life. As the grimness of the Civil War unfolds, Angelica's boyish husband finds himself in deep water in command of Roylist troops. Demonstrating his military inexperience, he suffers an ebarassing defeat by Cromwell's troops, and King Charles is less than forgiving to the unfortunate pair.
Widowed and helpless, Angelica attracts unwanted advances from a chauvenistic merchant and accidentally gets embroiled in a murder scandal that won't seem to leave her alone. She crosses paths with Edward Sexby, and the pair, world-weary from their shoddy treatment at the hands of the royalists, change alliegence. Angelica is still in constant danger though, and Sexby, who harbours a secret love for her, is her only protector.
By this time, Angelica meets the charismatic political idealist Thomas Rainsborough, and they almost instantly fall in love, but in a time of such treacherous political instabilty, their happiness cannot last.
The action is gritty and suspenseful, even if large chunks of history are left out and Oliver Cromwell is shown in a somewhat lenient light. Michael Fassbender deserves credit for his strong performance as the principled but passionate Raisnborough. But it is John Simm that, for me, steals the show. Standing with quiet but passionate devotion on the sidelines of Angelica's life for so long, his masculinity and mystery is genuinely compelling, and he is the true swashbuckling hero of the drama as he wades in to defend Angelica and save the day and win her love, in uncertain times, danger, betrayal and retributution constantly lie around the corner and Angelica finds she has to take the law into her own hands and rely on her wits for her survival and happiness.
All in all, a thrilling, quality drama that just deserved to be longer.
Andrea Riseborough is a huge success as the intoxicatingly unconventional Van Dyck-esque Angelica Fanshawe, the central (fictional) character who unites the important people and events of the Civil War and Interregnum. But this political upheaval provides more or less the background to her life.
Starting out as a doll-like debutant courtier, she is troubled by having seen the Devil during certain instances in her life (a little bit of an unnecessary inclusion to an otherwise excellent story-line in my view).
Angelica is married with the encouragement of her guardian, King Charles, to her cousin and childhood friend, Harry Fanshawe. At this time,she comes into contact with hardened mercenery Edward Sexby, and is initially both repelled and intrigued by his thirst for battle and his drifting way of life. As the grimness of the Civil War unfolds, Angelica's boyish husband finds himself in deep water in command of Roylist troops. Demonstrating his military inexperience, he suffers an ebarassing defeat by Cromwell's troops, and King Charles is less than forgiving to the unfortunate pair.
Widowed and helpless, Angelica attracts unwanted advances from a chauvenistic merchant and accidentally gets embroiled in a murder scandal that won't seem to leave her alone. She crosses paths with Edward Sexby, and the pair, world-weary from their shoddy treatment at the hands of the royalists, change alliegence. Angelica is still in constant danger though, and Sexby, who harbours a secret love for her, is her only protector.
By this time, Angelica meets the charismatic political idealist Thomas Rainsborough, and they almost instantly fall in love, but in a time of such treacherous political instabilty, their happiness cannot last.
The action is gritty and suspenseful, even if large chunks of history are left out and Oliver Cromwell is shown in a somewhat lenient light. Michael Fassbender deserves credit for his strong performance as the principled but passionate Raisnborough. But it is John Simm that, for me, steals the show. Standing with quiet but passionate devotion on the sidelines of Angelica's life for so long, his masculinity and mystery is genuinely compelling, and he is the true swashbuckling hero of the drama as he wades in to defend Angelica and save the day and win her love, in uncertain times, danger, betrayal and retributution constantly lie around the corner and Angelica finds she has to take the law into her own hands and rely on her wits for her survival and happiness.
All in all, a thrilling, quality drama that just deserved to be longer.
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I loved watching this series when it was shown on Channel four. Both leading actors, Simm and Riseborough, were excellent and the supporting cast didn't let them down.John Simm on his own would have made watching this worth while.His character is so full of contradictions that he is fascinating. A blood-thirsty mercenary, fiercely loyal,capable of dealing with unrequited love without taking advantage when it would have been so easy for him, his silent, brooding presence is mesmerising. Capaldi made a very convincing king Charles the first, showing facets of his personality that enabled us both to understand him and sometimes pity him. Dominic West is a first quality actor and his portrayal of Cromwell was interesting in all its ambiguities.Difficult to like and difficult to loathe! I am no historian so I won't give an opinion on accuracy. Visually, this series was striking and I must congratulate the make up artists who managed to age Riseborough in a very convincing manner. This is so rarely the case it deserves to be mentioned.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
great historical drama despite a couple of pretty significant...
I really enjoyed this series, a fresh approach to the usually mind-numbingly tedious period drama with a great cast and a nice mood.... Read more
Published 1 day ago by Ceallaigh
Excellent
Excellent, well made, well acted docudrama, bring the relatively unknown story of the British civil war to the masses. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Maxwell
Deeply touched by this film!!!
I am moved and deeply touched by this film about the life of Angelica Fenshawe.
She is a young woman oft the gentry who has a bad fate during the troubles of in the English... Read more
She is a young woman oft the gentry who has a bad fate during the troubles of in the English... Read more
Published 6 months ago by O. Steinke
VERY GOOD!
Even though fictional character, the film is very good. I find this to be a very believable description of the period. I loved it and I would really recommend it!
Published 7 months ago by Hege
Some historical fuzziness
The true story of Angelica Fanshawe, they say it is, but that is secondary to the real interest of this mini-series. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Jacques COULARDEAU
Enjoyably depressing :)
A good series, just wish they had kept the original idea of 10 episodes rather than shortening it all into 4 and maybe cut back on the sex scenes. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Jenny
Did not order. Webpage would not send; then sent anyway knowing DVD...
Irresponsible vendor sent these DVDs by mistake & will not answer my emails. DVDs not formatted for US after website said could not send to my US address, they sent them anyway. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Josi Pastora
good
watch it on tv a few years ago and was pleased to find it on dvd. Historical wrong but that goes not stop me enjoying it. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mr. Kevin Goodison
A Perfect Historical Time Capsule
This is a perfect movie of a womans view of the life and times of Charles the Ist, Oliver Cromwell and the arrogance and political ignorance of the English Civil War and that... Read more
Published 17 months ago by cullodenmist
Dominic West stars as Oliver Cromwell
Dominic West, famous for his role in the American award-winning HBO series The Wire, stars as Oliver Cromwell in this 16th century drama.
I have enjoyed it immensely. Read more
I have enjoyed it immensely. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Hektorie
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