Customer Reviews

The Scapegoat [DVD]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I read Daphne Du Maurier's "The Scapegoat" too long ago to recall how true this new TV drama/DVD is to the original. It is an entertaining psychological not-quite thriller, if you can accept the implausibility of two identical but apparently unrelated men meeting by chance, and one deciding to foist his identity on the other.

John, the Welshman without family ties who has just lost his teaching post finds that, in becoming Johnny he has gained a palatial family home, an army of respectful servants, an adoring wife and cute daughter. However, it soon becomes apparent that he is a scapegoat, since he has also been lumbered with a family business in crisis, and somehow managed to estrange both his sister and brother. Then there is the ultra-efficient and possibly sinister servant, always dressed in black, a younger version of Mrs Danvers lurking in the background.

Much of the initial entertainment lies in seeing how on earth John will manage to gain acceptance from close relatives and friends who ought to know him too well to be fooled, especially since he does not know the way to his mother's bedroom, is unclear how to distribute the presents he seems to have brought, and never knows which of the women he meets will be one of Johnny's lovers.

Although they may look so alike, the two men have very different personalities and values. So, the drama begins to focus on how John will act as he begins to learn more about the business and the individual family members.

A lightweight story on the surface proves to have hidden depths, assisted by a strong cast and careful reconstruction of life in the early 1950s, down to the novelty of the first television set.

Two identical looking men meet by chance, and the 'bad' one of the two immediately gets an idea that should save him from the pickle he's in. He's very rich, has a chauffeur-driven Rolls and lives with several generations of the same family in a huge estate in the country. The family's wealth is teetering on the edge of collapse, due in part to the man's failure to live up to the business management skills of his late father. So he inserts another man, his twin in effect, who we soon learn is the good-hearted one of the two, into the deep end of high-level negotiations with the family firm's bank, not to mention into the beds of his doting wife and the other women Bad John has been having long-term affairs with. Good John quickly learns to like his adopted family and sets about righting a few wrongs and saving them all from ruin.

Set in 1952 shortly before the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, this is a story that is often laugh-out-loud hilarious at some points, and quite moving at others. It shouldn't be taken too seriously, as there are too many unlikely events to really create any sense of credibility, instead it's a mixture of comedy drama with a faint sense of fable or fairy tale. The acting is strong on all sides, not least from both of the Johns (Matthew Rhys) whose farcical encounters early on in the tale make for highly entertaining viewing. Apparently the book, written in 1957, is said by some to be a difficult and complex read but this TV adaptation is absolutely not - it's easy to understand what's going on right from the start and every single minute of it is either funny or inspiring. It might make for a better watch if, like me, you haven't read the book and have no idea what to expect. All I can say is that I thought it was an excellent piece of production and design, authentic to its early 1950s backdrops and quite simply: I liked it a lot. It makes a nonsense of most of the 'real' films I've rented on DVD this year, in fact all of them have been so mediocre that I couldn't be bothered to write a review about any of them. The Scapegoat is definitely an exception, and I look forward to watching it again.

A very enjoyable film which holds the attention right to the most satisfyingly happy ending. Matthew Rhys is excellent in the lead role proving once again that he is one of the best actors of his generation.

We are so pleased with the DVD we purchased of 'The Scapegoat' starring Matthew Rhys in a dual role.
We saw this production, originally, on the 'Ovation' channel.
Since we liked it so much, we decided then and there that we wanted to add a copy of the production to our DVD Library.
Amazon co.uk was able to fulfill this wish in an efficient and professional manner.
We'll be back for more.

This story is very compelling and surprising. There are some good actors in it. Especially Sheridan Smith.The story line was very well thought out and different.

Daphne Du Maurier wrote an interesting, if completely improbable, novel about two very different men who look alike and contrive to exchange places for a short while. She wrote well and thus engaged the reader. This version for television is not written well, directed well nor acted well. I felt I had wasted my money and my time.

Bought this as a gift for a friend after my husband & I recently saw it on TV - excellent story!
If you are a Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier fan you will love this!

Got this as a Christmas present, and had never heard of it, but thought- not another UK drama set in the past ! I mean how many times can UK TV regurgitate this stuff?
However, I really liked this story, and the acting, and found myself wishing for more. Nicely paced, well acted, and well written .Thankfully there were no retroactive "adjustments" such as the BBC likes to do to push its views on various issues near and dear to its lefty,liberal heritage.
At the end, I wished the story had gone on! How did this family work out? Did the aging mother renew herself ? Did the glass foundry develop successfully? Did the marriage and forthcoming baby work out? Did the brother and his wife finally build something together? And the grand house? etc etc.
If those involved in making this film, read any of these reviews-----come on guys, develop the story further! It's just begging for a sequel or even a mini-series!

Get this dvd , I don't think you will be disappointed.

Having watched and enjoyed this on TV, I bought this for friends, who thoroughly enjoyed it too. A first-rate story with a satisfactory ending.

I buy DVDs for entertainment and sit back to relax rather than to analyse. This was a typical "good twin, bad twin" story well acted by Matthew Rhys and with no real surprises. However, it held my attention to the end. For me, the only rather irritating aspect of the story was the passivity of the wife. She came straight out of a Dickens novel without two brain cells to rub together and a personality that would not overflow a thimble. The intelligent and intellectual good twin would almost certainly be bored with her within six months. I recommend it purely on the grounds of light entertainment. to fill an hour or so of free time..