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Product Description
Granada TV's dramatisation of Paul Scott's novels about the last days of the British Raj in India. In 'Crossing the River' Daphne Mannings arrives in India for the first time and meets Hari Kumar. 'The Bibighar Gardens' sees the controversy around Daphne and Hari's relationship escalate to a surprising degree. 'Questions of Loyalty' has Hari remaining in prison while Daphne gives birth. 'Incidents at a Wedding' finds Meyrick serving as best man at Teddy and Susan's wedding. 'Regimental Silver' sees Susan prepare to celebrate her 21st birthday. 'Ordeal by Fire' has Meyrick reveal the details of Teddy's death. 'Daughters of the Regiment' finds Sarah the centre of attention when she visits Aunt Fenny. In 'The Day of the Scorpion' Sarah meets the Count while travelling home. 'The Towers of Silence' sees Barbie fall ill after a visit to the home of Captain Cowley. 'An Evening at the Maharanee's' has Meyrick interrogate some suspected traitors. 'Travelling Companion' finds Sarah promoted to the rank of Sergeant. 'The Moghul Room' sees Peron investigate the secrets in Meyrick's past. 'Pandora's Box' has Susie struggle to regain her balance after Meyrick's accident. And finally, in 'The Division of the Spoils', the story of Meyrick's demise is recounted in full.
Synopsis
Jewel In The Crown is a critically-acclaimed drama adaptation based on the Raj Quartet novels by Paul Scott. Set in the fictional city of Mayapore between 1942 and 1947--the years leading up to Indian independence--,it examines the complex relationship which existed between the British Empire and its "subjects", and depicts the lives and loves of people caught in the turbulence of India struggling to break the chains of oppression. The series specifically centres on the experiences of a public school-educated Indian named Hari Kumar (Art Malik), who is falsely accused of raping a British school girl. Whilst incarcerated, Hari is bullied and tortured by a sadistic British officer (played by Tim Pigott-Smith), who is aware of his innocence.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
I bought this wondering whether my memories of the quality of the stories, the acting and beautiful locations in India would match the reality of watching this series 25 years on.I am delighted to say that the quality I recalled was not idle nostalgia but was based on a true recollection of the sheer quality of the production values and the enjoyment of watching a long series over a number of weeks ,just as was done in the 1980s.The slow pace IS one of the great virtues affording time for the characters and varied parallel stories of the Raj in India to develop and allowing one's own thoughts about that period to mature.The finest acheivment of ITV and a worthy contender to the BBC's "Tinker Taylor.." series and "I, Claudius" as the finest British TV ever. I sadly feel it is true"They don't make programmes of this quality now"
77 of 78 people found the following review helpful
By Green Knight
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
In the 1980s, Granada Television went for it. They realised they had the talent and the expertise to challenge the BBC's hitherto unassailable dominance of the 'classic serial' world. They also had the money to do a production proud.
'Brideshead Revisited' was the first epic from the Manchester-based company that made us all sit up and take notice: it was executed with such skill and sensitivity that no-one has ever forgotten it. We all wondered how they could possibly follow it. Follow it they did, almost at once, with 'The Jewel in the Crown' - which was actually in production at around the same time as 'Brideshead'.
This extraordinary series, based on 'The Raj Quartet' of novels by Paul Scott, turned out to be a piece of such powerful drama that it is virtually unassailable.
Yes, it's set in the dying days of the British rule in India - that painful time of handing over sovereignty, while all around are the ravages of World War II.
Nowadays, when it's still fashionable to beat ourselves up over the way the British carried on in the colonies, it's useful to have a drama like this to put some of the background into context. This exquisite series does it very well. Punctuated with the sparing but very effective use of authentic newsreel footage, it's an intense and often harrowing tale of divided loyalties, brooding passions, and twisted sexuality.
The rape of a young Englishwoman (Daphne Manners is definitely an adult - not a schoolgirl, as wrongly stated in the product description) triggers a drawn-out series of events whose outcome can only be tragic for those involved - and whose consequences are as far reaching as the hills that so often grace the horizon in this beautifully-shot piece of work.... Read more ›
'Brideshead Revisited' was the first epic from the Manchester-based company that made us all sit up and take notice: it was executed with such skill and sensitivity that no-one has ever forgotten it. We all wondered how they could possibly follow it. Follow it they did, almost at once, with 'The Jewel in the Crown' - which was actually in production at around the same time as 'Brideshead'.
This extraordinary series, based on 'The Raj Quartet' of novels by Paul Scott, turned out to be a piece of such powerful drama that it is virtually unassailable.
Yes, it's set in the dying days of the British rule in India - that painful time of handing over sovereignty, while all around are the ravages of World War II.
Nowadays, when it's still fashionable to beat ourselves up over the way the British carried on in the colonies, it's useful to have a drama like this to put some of the background into context. This exquisite series does it very well. Punctuated with the sparing but very effective use of authentic newsreel footage, it's an intense and often harrowing tale of divided loyalties, brooding passions, and twisted sexuality.
The rape of a young Englishwoman (Daphne Manners is definitely an adult - not a schoolgirl, as wrongly stated in the product description) triggers a drawn-out series of events whose outcome can only be tragic for those involved - and whose consequences are as far reaching as the hills that so often grace the horizon in this beautifully-shot piece of work.... Read more ›
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
I'm in the U.S. and for years the only DVD available of this masterpiece was one with truly terrible picture quality. It literally looked like a home-made dub from a bad VHS tape. About once a year I would check out video retail sites to see if a newer release was in the offing. No such luck on the home front, but I started seeing mentions of this 2009 UK release including favorable comparisons with the old one.
I ordered it, and the reviews are right. The picture quality may not be exactly HD, but it's vastly better than the old US release . . . about a good as one could reasonably expect from film shot for TV in the early 1980s. Also, this version has subtitles, which were lacking in the old version (my wife has a hearing problem) and there are modern comments tracks on some of the episodes.
If you're in the states or Canada, you'll have to have the ability to play a region 2 PAL disk, but then, if you're interested enough to be reading this, you probably have that ability or know someone who can work it out for you. Ordering in the states from Amazon UK is a non-event: your log-in and one-click settings work just the way they do on the US site.
I ordered it, and the reviews are right. The picture quality may not be exactly HD, but it's vastly better than the old US release . . . about a good as one could reasonably expect from film shot for TV in the early 1980s. Also, this version has subtitles, which were lacking in the old version (my wife has a hearing problem) and there are modern comments tracks on some of the episodes.
If you're in the states or Canada, you'll have to have the ability to play a region 2 PAL disk, but then, if you're interested enough to be reading this, you probably have that ability or know someone who can work it out for you. Ordering in the states from Amazon UK is a non-event: your log-in and one-click settings work just the way they do on the US site.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By vigornia
I failed to see this in its original incarnation as an example of the golden age of ITV (cv: adaptation of Waugh's Brideshead). It is an immense epic which is not afraid to confront big issues which continue to haunt us Brits: how we managed the empire; how class still matters; grammar/public school and maleness/maternity. We've loved watching these 14 episodes, though night thoughts ensue in the early hours' wakefulness. Definitely worth buying-at this rate: twelve hours of intrigue and pleasure. How we all hate Meyrick!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Jay
This was a brilliant series in its day -- the sort of thing television doesn't do any more -- and stands the test of time well. It has been digitally re-mastered and is a joy to watch. Amazon, as always, is the perfect retailer.
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By Philoctetes
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
One doesn't really associate ITV/Channel 3/Granada/LWT - whatever you wanna call them - with quality literary/costume adaptations, but this early '80s series about the last years of the British in India is not only that but superbly acted and visually beautiful, rich in texture and alive with enigmas, metaphors, unanswered questions.
I've just got through watching for the sixth or more time, with equal pleasure, and have been inspired to pick up the novel/s which inspired it.
The jewel in ITV's crown, intelligent, serious, exotic, and with nothing of the circus about it.
Recommended with the greatest enthusiasm.
I've just got through watching for the sixth or more time, with equal pleasure, and have been inspired to pick up the novel/s which inspired it.
The jewel in ITV's crown, intelligent, serious, exotic, and with nothing of the circus about it.
Recommended with the greatest enthusiasm.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Memories
Ordered this after watching the film Passage to India and delighted I did. I had not seen the program since it was first broadcast and really enjoyed it second time around. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Mrs. J. V. Hart
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Box Set
I had forgotten just how good this was - brilliant interpretation of the novels with a superb cast list. I have almost watched it end to end in one sitting.
Published 29 days ago by FlorenceMay
5.0 out of 5 stars
nostalgia
saw this on tv in 80s and very much enjoyed. acting can seem a bit wooden but taken in context of the raj days is reminiscent of old 40s films.
Published 1 month ago by Pauline Henshaw
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Series
Excellent series for anyone interested in the last days of the Raj in India . Great casting and good performances.
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. S. Burgess
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a classic
Although nearly 30 years since it was shown on TV this wonderful story does not age. Outstanding acting by everyone, but Dame Peggy Ashcroft, in particular, is just superb. Read more
Published 3 months ago by David Hutchins
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable viewing
An epic award-winning TV drama from the '80's based on the Booker prize-winning novels by Paul Scott. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jeff Peace
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb
Despite being rather dated now, this series captures the mounting tension and complexity that follow on from the rape of a young English woman as India pushes for independence and... Read more
Published 3 months ago by M E Clarkson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent series.
Gripping from start to finish. British television at its best. Important historically as well as dramatically, especially at the time of the British exodus.
Published 3 months ago by M. Michael Hardcastle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Memories
How wonderful it was to re-visit Jewel in the Crown. I was an avid viewer of this series when it was first aired on tv. What a delight it was to see it again. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Susan E. Roberts
5.0 out of 5 stars
gifts.
these were gifts for others and were very well received, as were others which I ordered at about the same time.
Published 5 months ago by Robert M Black
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