Acclaimed writer Andrew Davies turns his talents to one of Charles Dickens' most brilliant novels - arguably the greatest ever depiction of Victorian London. Fresh and imaginative, yet faithful to the original, this thrilling fast-paced adaptation is shot with a contemporary edge. At its heart is the story of the icily .. Read more
| Starring | Gillian Anderson, Charles Dance, Charlie Brooks, Liza Tarbuck |
|---|---|
| Director | Justin Chadwick, Susanna White |
| Genres | Audio Descriptive, Drama |
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Acclaimed writer Andrew Davies turns his talents to one of Charles Dickens' most brilliant novels - arguably the greatest ever depiction of Victorian London. Fresh and imaginative, yet faithful to the original, this thrilling fast-paced adaptation is shot with a contemporary edge. At its heart is the story of the icily beautiful Lady Dedlock, who nurses a dark secret, and the merciless lawyer Tulkinghorn, who seeks to uncover it. The generous John Jarndyce, struggling with his own past, and his two young wards Richard and Ada, are all caught up, like Lady Dedlock, in the infamous case of Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce, which will make one of them rich beyond imagination if it can ever be brought to a conclusion. As Tulkinghorn digs deeper into Lady Dedlock's past, he unearths a secret that will change their lives forever, and which is almost as astounding as the final outcome of the Jarndyce case.
| Starring | Gillian Anderson, Charles Dance, Charlie Brooks, Liza Tarbuck, Johnny Vegas |
|---|---|
| Director | Justin Chadwick, Susanna White |
| Studio | 2 ENTERTAIN VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 7 hrs 45 mins Blu-ray: 7 hrs 45 mins HD DVD: 7 hrs 45 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Audio Descriptive, Drama |
| Language | DVD: English, English Audio Description Blu-ray: English HD DVD: English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Released | DVD: 20 Feb 2006 Blu-ray: 11 Feb 2008 HD DVD: 11 Feb 2008 Production year: 2005 |
| Format | DVD |
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This was a brave venture by BBC to serialise Bleak House much as Dickens wrote it i.e. in episodes.The transfer to tv written by Andrew Davies(also did the much acclaimed Pride and Prejudice)is excellent and completely faithful to the text.The cast reads like a whos who of the british theatrical establishment and all of the performances are exellent.Watch out for some great unexpected cameos e.g.Johnny Vegas as the sly drunkard landlord.
The plot of Bleak House is one of Dickens most complex revolving around the drawn out court case between Jarndyce v Jarndyce alongside numerous sub plots.Despite this the storyline is very gripping and draws you in like a modern thriller.
My only gripe about the production is the camera work which is often jerky or handheld and can be a bit distracting.Nevertheless after being rationed to 1/2 hour episodes its good to have the whole series pulled together on dvd.
If you missed it on tele rent it now.It will not disapoint even if you dont think you are a Dickens fan.
With Samuel West, Alun Armstrong and Gillian Anderson et al as its stars, this classic by Charles Dickens could not fail to mesmerise. From the start we are swept along by a plethora of intricate sub-plots all woven around a central and seemingly eternal law suit involving the discovery of a final will. Greed, sex and murder are the spices that give this brilliant adaptation its unique flavour.
Anne (Natalie Portman) we've all heard of, her sister Mary (Scarlett Johansson), not so much. But it was Mary who first slept with Henry VIII (Eric Bana), and (according to Philippa Gregory's best-selling historical novel at any rate) she even bore him a son. In one of the more risible scenes in what is for the most part a brisk but decorous melodrama, Henry is distracted from the birth by Anne's peevish promise that, yes, his love will be reciprocated, if only he will make a decent woman of... Read more