Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Reviews
From Amazon.co.uk
First screened on BBC1 in 2001, The Way We Live Now will surprise those who know Anthony Trollope through the subtleties of his Barsetshire novels. This story of ambition centres around Augustus Melmotte, an Austrian Jewish financier who takes the London money markets and social scene by storm in his efforts to become an "English country gentleman". His rise and fall is followed with remorseless logic by Trollope, and David Yates' direction keeps this in focus against a wealth of sub-plots and character interaction.
The cast is a strong one, with David Suchet's Melmotte gripping in his recklessness, climaxing in the theatrical magnificence of his departure in disgrace from the House of Commons. Shirley Henderson is magnetic as his put-upon daughter Marie, courted by the cream of society bachelors for her dowry rather than her person. Cheryl Campbell gives a good account of the feckless Lady Carbury, writing vacuous novels to support her family, with Matthew MacFadyen relishing the part of her rakish son Felix. Paloma Baeza is sympathetic as her daughter Hetta, whose on-off relationship with entrepreneur Paul Montague, ably taken by Cillian Murphy, provides the main love interest. Douglas Hodge impresses as the loyal and sincere but insipid Roger Carbury.
The series consists of four generous episodes, each lasting 75 minutes. This is an absorbing production of what isn't the most subtle of Victorian novels, but which surely remains among the most relevant. --Richard Whitehouse
Product Description
BBC adaptation of Anthony Trollope's tale of power and corruption in Victorian London. When the great financier Melmotte (David Suchet) arrives in England and announces a profitable new venture, all manner of people sit up and take notice, and not least the aristocratic-yet-impoverished Carbury family. However, the power of big business and the privileges of the old order seldom sit well together, as the Carbury family will soon learn for themselves. Adapted by Andrew Davies ('Pride and Prejudice', 'Wives and Daughters').
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
39 of 39 people found the following review helpful
By Scots Lass
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Anthony Trollope's tail of deception, greed and social climbing may be set in the 1800's but is as pertinent today as then. Augustus Mellmotte is a devil - complete with charm by the bucket, cunning and guile he arrives in London and sets about hosting stunning parties, forming limited companies and clawing his way into the best circles. The aristocracy may not approve of him - but they do approve of his apparant wealth and he has no shortage of backers when he announces his plans to build a railway in Mexico.
But Mellmotte is a fraudster of the highest order and those who look like unmasking him soon see the real man - cold, threatening, bullying. As Mellmotte sets his sights on Parliament his web of deceit begins to unravell and his house of cards looks set to crash down - taking many of the top British families who invested in him with it.
With lavish costumes and a flawless cast, this is a must-see DVD of a great book. If you enjoyed seeing David Suchet's recent portrayal of Robert Maxwell you may well believe that his performance as Mellmotte was instrumental in landing him that role!
But Mellmotte is a fraudster of the highest order and those who look like unmasking him soon see the real man - cold, threatening, bullying. As Mellmotte sets his sights on Parliament his web of deceit begins to unravell and his house of cards looks set to crash down - taking many of the top British families who invested in him with it.
With lavish costumes and a flawless cast, this is a must-see DVD of a great book. If you enjoyed seeing David Suchet's recent portrayal of Robert Maxwell you may well believe that his performance as Mellmotte was instrumental in landing him that role!
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By S. Finch
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This production seems to have attracted low ratings from those who have read the book - I haven't and coming to it with an open mind I think it is brilliant. I originally watched when it was first broadcast, and have just rented it from Amazon. I enjoyed it so much the second time that I've ordered a copy. One reviewer criticised the acting - were we watching the same thing? David Suchet, Matthew McFadyen & Shirley Henderson in particular are outstanding. Rather than portraying Marie as an imbecile (as one review suggests) I saw Marie as a young woman of great spirit and strong will. I've also been a fan of Matthew McFadyen since first seeing him in this. In addition there were some lovely touches of humour that had me laughing aloud. Well done to all involved. PS the extra feature on Trollope is also worth watching and explains some of the changes made from the book.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I don't understand the poor reviews. I've read the novel many times (it's one I'd take to my desert island), and yes, a lot has been left out, but the performances of David Suchet and Shirley Henderson alone make this a 5* in my opinion. Outstanding, both of them, and Matthew McFadyen was also excellent as Sir Felix.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 74 reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Way We Live Now
It is interesting from a social point of view yet I found that the characters were exagerated, almost caricatural. It should have been more subtle
Published 19 days ago by Elisabeth Schreyer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Entertainment
I much enjoyed the Television series screened on 4 Sunday Nights -of some years ago of which this is a copy.
Published 1 month ago by john bownass
5.0 out of 5 stars
History repeats itself
This is a superb story of hubris, greed leading to a spectacular fall. The acting is first-rate, David Suchet's characterisation hits the mark. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Moonwalker
4.0 out of 5 stars
Still relevant to-day !!
A superb BBC production which seems as fresh and relevant to-day as it did coming out in the Thatcher era. Read more
Published 2 months ago by art
5.0 out of 5 stars
the way we live now
perhaps Trollope's greatest (certainly longest) and most penetrating novel, shedding light on relationships, careers and reputations. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Prof Leon Yudkin
1.0 out of 5 stars
Truly awful.
This is, simply put, an abomination. The book is arguably Trollope's masterpiece and is a story of white-collar corruption. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Cyberlibrarian
5.0 out of 5 stars
The way we live now.
Another BBC GEM. David Suchet is just amazing. He is the real villain of the piece. but one cannot help liking him.
Published on 22 Feb 2011 by juliette
1.0 out of 5 stars
My goodness!
I am glad there are other 1 star reviews because I thought it might be just me. I found this awful. Bad acting above all and I wish I hadn't wasted my money.
Published on 21 Feb 2011 by Louisa Maud
5.0 out of 5 stars
a touch of class
David Suchet and Mathew Macfadyen are superb in a delightful production. Perhaps the book is better but this makes for great TV. Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2011 by D. Stephen Wilkinson
1.0 out of 5 stars
Anti-Semitism is Alive and Well in Trollope
Trollope's demonic figure of Melmotte pretty well sums up Victorian attitudes - Fagin with money. And then Suchet plays this mysterious figure from the Continent with a Cockney... Read more
Published on 22 Jan 2011 by apt2full
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Film & TV > Television > Drama
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
