See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.

Ready to Buy?
all your music
Price: £13.89
In stock

10 used & new from £13.09

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Winstanley [DVD] [1975] [US Import]
 
See larger image
 

Winstanley [DVD] [1975] [US Import]

DVD ~ Miles Halliwell
4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


7 new from £13.88 3 used from £13.09
Learn about Lovefilm
Amazon's choice for DVD rental.
With a 14 day FREE trial. Learn more

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?


Product details

  • Actors: Miles Halliwell, Jerome Willis, Terry Higgins, Phil Oliver, David Bramley
  • Directors: Kevin Brownlow
  • Format: Black & White, DVD-Video, PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: All Regions
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: Unrated (US MPAA rating. See details.)
  • Studio: Image Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 15 Feb 2000
  • Run Time: 92 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: 6305760497
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 45,855 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

It Happened Here [1964] [DVD]

It Happened Here [1964] [DVD]

DVD ~ Kevin Brownlow;Andrew Mollo
4.7 out of 5 stars (7)  £9.78
The Putney Debates (Revolutions Series)

The Putney Debates (Revolutions Series)

by The Levellers
£5.99
The World Turned Upside Down: Radical Ideas During the English Revolution (Penguin History)

The World Turned Upside Down: Radical Ideas During the English Revolution (Penguin History)

by Christopher Hill
4.2 out of 5 stars (5)  £9.09
How It Happened Here

How It Happened Here

by Kevin, Brownlow
5.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £9.49
Cromwell [DVD] [1970]

Cromwell [DVD] [1970]

DVD ~ Richard Harris
3.8 out of 5 stars (12)  £4.98
Explore similar items

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

 

Customer Reviews

3 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Achievement, 15 Jan 2002
By Mr. B. Marshall (London) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)      
This review is from: Winstanley [VHS] [1975] (VHS Tape)
Brownlow and Mollo's film 'Winstanley' is a faithful recreation of a forgotten episode in English history. A few months after the execution of Chalres I, after seven years of bloody Civil War, England was in a state of upheaval: a fecund ground for new ideas, new attitudes and new actions.

Gerrard Winstanley and the Diggers were pioneers of 'direct action', claiming back common lands for the poor and dispossessed. The actions of the Diggers attracted the hostility of wealthy local lords, and their commune was many times raided.

This film conveys the hardships through which the Digger went. Miles Halliwell's portrayl of Winstanley is sympathetic; he almost IS Gerrard himself. I also enjoyed the scenes with the Ranters (seventeenth century hippie-types), which marvellously conveyed the mad anarchy of their beliefs, and also captured the bewilderment of Diggers themselves. Real-life activist Sid Rawle played his part with aplomb.

The film's sympathies lie clearly with the Diggers, but the directors do not flinch from showing us the adversity under which the Diggers laboured. Much of this is revealled through the words of their opponents, particularly the nasty Parson Platt, whose wife was entranced by the power of Winstanley's books. Yet not only people made life difficult for the Diggers. A harsh Nature is starkly captured in monochrome, though monochrome also captures the light admirably, which gives us a glimpse of hope, of redemption. Indeed the black and white cinematography--a result partly of aesthetic, partly financial reasons--gives the film a tangible historical edge. The dialogue is likewise authentic, much of Halliwell's narration derived verbatim from Winstanley's writings.

As the documentary at the end of the film shows, it was made on a shoestring, independent of big studios, and acted by amateurs. Its achievements are thus all the more admirable.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars a faithful step back in time, 24 Feb 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: Winstanley [VHS] [1975] (VHS Tape)
Black and white gives a real historical feel to this heart-rendering story. The Diggers were idealists who rightly saw land as a crucial issue during the English Civil war. Sid Rawle - seventies squatter - plays the leader of the Ranters who disrupt the Diggers peaceful mission, Winstanley himself is played by Miles Halliwell, excellent casting in both cases. Though the film was made on a shoestring budget it's a must for anyone fascinated by the history of ideas or who wishes people today treated the earth as 'a common treasury for all'.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars An almost realistic portrayal of a genius., 30 Jan 2002
By richkerridge@hotmail.com (Cambridge, England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Winstanley [VHS] [1975] (VHS Tape)
A wonderful portrayal of a much neglected historical figure. The video emphasises the hardships faced by the Diggers and their constant battle against the fears and prejudices of the locals. It represents England's last chance at making, for Winstanley, a wondeful and equal society. Anything could happen now that the king had gone!
I felt that the black and white production did not enhance my enjoyment, hence four not five stars. The diggers did not live in a 'black and white' age and I feel a colour production would not have been to the film's detriment. That said black and white does give that 'old' feel.
I also thought that Winstanley himself was a very jolly fellow in the film, with a wonderful middle-class English accent. I feel that had Winstanley had his Wigan accent in tact it would have added more realism to the film.
The film was produced on a shoe-string and it means that this particular hero of English history will live on in the hearts and minds of those that see it.
Good on you!
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums
  • drama  (110 discussions)


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Feedback


Fun for Everyone

Christmas Gifts
Achieve over 15,000 RPM with our great range of Powerballs.

Shop the Powerball store

 

Make A Wish

Get what you want with an Amazon.co.uk Wish List Make sure you always get what you want with an Amazon.co.uk Wish List.

More info on Wish Lists

 

Up to 53% off Braun Series Shavers

Braun Series 3 390cc Clean & Renew System Rechargeable Foil Electric Shaver
Get in touch with your smooth side with Braun Series shavers, now with Gillette blade technology.

Discover Braun Series at Amazon.co.uk

 

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

Learn more about Gift Certificates

 
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates