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Hotel Du Lac [DVD] [1986]
 
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Hotel Du Lac [DVD] [1986]

DVD ~ Anna Massey
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
RRP: Ł15.99
Price: Ł8.98 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Frequently Bought Together

Hotel Du Lac [DVD] [1986] + Enchanted April [DVD] [1991] + Widow's Peak [DVD] [1994]
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Price For All Three: Ł25.44

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Hotel Du Lac [DVD] [1986]
66% buy the item featured on this page:
Hotel Du Lac [DVD] [1986] 5.0 out of 5 stars (5)
Ł8.98
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Product details

  • Actors: Anna Massey, Denholm Elliott, Googie Withers, Julia McKenzie, Patricia Hodge
  • Directors: Giles Foster
  • Writers: Anita Brookner, Christopher Hampton
  • Producers: Sue Birtwistle
  • Format: PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: PG
  • Studio: 2 Entertain Video
  • DVD Release Date: 26 May 2003
  • Run Time: 75 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000092WCF
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 24,074 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

Hotel du Lac is an impeccably produced BBC television adaptation of Anita Brookner's Booker Prize-winning novel. Middle-aged writer Edith Hope has fled London and romantic disappointment to find sanctuary at a luxury hotel on a Swiss Lake, but finding no escape from her loneliness must eventually face her past. Edith is played with compassion by Anna Massey, her intellect and wit acting as a defence against her own failings, and support comes from a superb cast including Denholm Elliott, Googie Withers, Julia McKenzie, Patricia Hodge, Irene Handl and Barry Foster.

Brookner's apparently slight but multi-layered tale is skilfully crafted by writer Christopher Hampton, who has with such films as Dangerous Liaisons (1988) and The Quiet American (2002) become a master of literary adaptation. Giles Foster's direction focuses on bringing the best from his cast, rather than attempting any sort of cinematic sweep, and Carl Davis' eloquent theme music makes the introspection all the more touching. Ultimately, though, it is Anna Massey's insightful central performance which makes Hotel du Lac such a memorable slice of television.

On the DVD: Hotel du Lac is presented in the original TV broadcast 4:3 ratio with a very poor, extremely grainy and soft picture. The sound is reasonable mono, clear and free from distortion though lacking in dynamic range. The only extra, though one well worth having, is a serious and highly informative commentary from Giles, Hampton and producer Sue Birtwistle. --Gary S Dalkin



DVD Description

A romantic novelist travels to a lakeside hotel to recover from an unhappy affair. There she encounters a variety of interesting characters, and another tantalizing possibility of love.

Christopher Hampton's adaptation of Anita Brookner's novel was shot on location in London and Switzerland.

Running time: 75 minutes approx.

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Hotel du Lac

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by Anita Brookner
3.6 out of 5 stars (8)  Ł6.41
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Customer Reviews

5 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Hotel du Lac, 22 Oct 2003
This, I consider to be a classic film, which each and every time I view, brings enourmous pleasure. The casting is impeccable. Irene Handl is remembered by her many comedy roles and this, I believe, was her first rerious role which she executes with aplomb. Denholm Elliot is excellent as a calculating divorcee, Googie Withers is superb as a wealthy widow and Julie McKenkie as her over indulged daughter. Patricia Hodge comes up with a performance quintessentially British upper class. Not only are we treated to this superb drama, but it is set partly in the most beautiful backdrop of lakeland Switzerland in the autumn in a luxury hotel.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars THE SWISS EXPERIENCE, 5 Feb 2005
If you have ever had problems which needed to be sorted out this film shows you how to do it.

Anna Massey plays a romantic novelist. Although she creates characters for her books, she cant read real people and knows nothing about human nature.

The guests in the Hotel du Lac where she goes to escape, are anything but what she believes them to be...

All the characters are living un-real lives, Googie Withers as the overbearing mother, Denholm Elliot as the philandering wanderer, Patricia Hodge as the child longing wife and Irene Handel as the abandonded old lady are all brought to life by wonderful acting.

The location of the film, the Swiss Lakes in Autumn, gives the film a luminous quality that gradually overtakes everthing else.

This gentle film probes the depths of the human condition and over the course of her stay she learns what means the most in her life.

A wonderful film to curl up with on a Winters Evening......

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Hotel Du lac, 20 Sep 2007
By Mr. J. Escolme - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Lovely slow production, and very typical of mid-80's British TV. The "very poor" picture quality spoken of by another reviewer is a little misleading. At the time of production it was quite normal for BBC drama to be made on basically 16mm news film stock. This is what we have here in Hotel Du Lac. This DVD is the best quality that could exist, even striking a new print would not produce better results. If you are a British viewer you will recognise this "look" instantly, its not too bad and for me adds something.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Stylish
I could not believe the melancholy pensive atmospheres of Brookner's books
could be conveyed through a film. This film does the trick.
Published 6 months ago by Rosanella Volponi

5.0 out of 5 stars Hotel du Lac
An intelligently acted and subtly portrayed interpretation of Anita Brookner's novel. Anna Massey in particular conveys her character's emotions with facial expression as much as... Read more
Published on 18 April 2005 by Adrian Carter

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