The Barchester Chronicles |  | Director: David Giles
Actors: Donald Pleasence, David Gwillim, John Ringham, Joseph O'Conor, Clifford Parrish
Studio: BBC Warner
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.98
Buy New: $16.87
as of 11/22/2009 04:59 CST details
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Rating:  42 reviews
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Original recording remastered, NTSC
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 2
Running Time: 374 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: E2111
UPC: 794051211125
EAN: 0794051211125
Theatrical Release Date: 1982
Release Date: January 25, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | The cozy community of Barchester is rocked from its complacency when a crusade against the Church of England's practice of self-enrichment misfires. Overnight, Septimus Harding (Donald Pleasence) becomes the pawn in a political battle begun by his younger daughter's beau, John Bold, and kept kindled by his older daughter's husband, Archdeacon Grantly (Nigel Hawthorne).Running Time: 385 min. For |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
The first two episodes of this BBC miniseries only hint at the delights to come. A lawsuit aimed at church reform in the town of Barchester forces a decent middle-aged clergyman (the august Donald Pleasence, best known in the U.S. for the Halloween movies) into a moral crisis and a conflict with his son-in-law, a pompous archdeacon (Nigel Hawthorne, The Madness of King George). The gracefully written and acted narrative shows glimpses of dry wit--but in episode 3, the arrival of a new bishop (Clive Swift, Keeping Up Appearances), his imperious wife (Geraldine McEwan, The Magdalene Sisters), and his devious chaplain (Alan Rickman, Truly Madly Deeply, the Harry Potter movies) launches The Barchester Chronicles into a satirical power struggle all the more mesmerizing because of the smallness of the territory. The scheming of the citizens and clergy of this British town is both Byzantine and wonderfully comic as the tempestuous personalities claw and dig at each other. Rickman, in one of his first film or television roles, turns in a tour de force of oily ambition. McEwan's ferocious machinations are downright terrifying, while the sputtering Hawthorne (The Madness of King George) seems constantly in danger of bursting a vein. At the center of it all is Pleasence. Making goodness compelling has always been difficult, since wickedness is always more dramatic; but Pleasence brings a deep and stirring passion to his role that proves as engaging as all the back-biting that surrounds him. And these are just the more familiar faces; a host of lesser-known actors give equally superb performances. The final episode (of seven) will have you on pins and needles. The Barchester Chronicles, adapted from two novels by Anthony Trollope, is one of those marvels of British television, a skillful production that proves intelligent fare can be hugely entertaining. --Bret Fetzer
Product Description
The cozy community of Barchester is rocked from its complacency when a crusade against the Church of England's practice of self-enrichment misfires. Overnight Septimus Harding (Donald Pleasence) becomes the pawn in a political battle begun by his younger daughter's beau John Bold and kept kindled by his older daughter's husband Archdeacon Grantly (Nigel Hawthorne).Running Time: 385 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 794051211125
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 42
 the barchester chronicles May 24, 2009
S. Covington
This is a wonderful production. Marvelous actors, acting, script, sets, & locations. It gets better with each viewing.
Great series! April 12, 2009
C. L. Taylor (Claremont, Ca)
This is one of my favorite series from the BBC. So very well done--a classic with nothing to shame or embarass anyone. You'll love it!
A brilliant production! Superb acting! March 24, 2009
Tracy Marks (Arlington, MA USA)
When I first watched the Barchester Chronicles, I was not expecting a drama about the interpersonal tangles within the Church of England would be particularly interesting. But what a surprise! After renting the series, I knew I had to buy it - and indeed, having now watched it three times, I believe it to be worthy of many more viewings. Never have I seen a film (or mini-series) with so many brilliant actors, creating such enchanting characters.
Donald Pleasance is heartwarming as Mr. Harding; every expression and gesture of his is perfect. Alan Rickman as the Slippery Slope is hysterically appalling, as is Geraldine McEwan as the Bishop's wife - frighteningly unforgettable. Nigel Hawthorne captures well the emotional, outraged but basically decent Dr. Grantley. And the delightful Susan Hampshire (who I first saw and admired in the Pallisers) brings a tone of playful lightness to the film.
I couldn't recommend this mini-series more highly. It is one of the best-acted and best-directed films I have every seen.
Very Delightful and Entertaining March 23, 2009
David (Golden, Colorado)
This is the third time I have viewed the Barchester Chronicles DVD in the last couple of years. I enjoyed it even more the third time than during the first two viewings. It is long, but didn't ever get boring for me. The closed captioning is helpful, too. The movie presents some very truthful observations about what can even happen in churches today, but does it in a most enjoyable and laughable way. The situations encountered inspire some thinking about what is the right and proper actions to take. It also shows some true Christian character in the Warden of the hospital and others. The acting is very superb and scenes are very realistic, which only further add to the enjoyment. The nice thing is that it has an appropriate and enjoyable ending.
A hilarious story that can be viewed over and over and still be amusing and delightful. August 10, 2008
Ruth J. Bernardo (Newton, New Jersey United States)
I am presently viewing The Barchester Chronicles for the 3rd time and enjoying it immensely. The characters are dead-on portrayals of villagers, clergymen and their wives and daughters with all their human foibles. Money, power and ego are fought for here behind all the facades of righteousness. Never depressing though; it's very funny and humor rules the day.
The role of the mild-mannered warden of the hospital is played very well by Donald Pleasance. Nigel Hawthorne is the Arch Deacon who can barely keep his temper under any circumstances, but finds it especially difficult when dealing with Bishop Proudy's shrew of a wife, played brilliantly by Geraldine McEwan (she's absolutely scary). Alan Rickman, as Mr. Slope, takes away top honors in his outstanding portrayal of the Bishop's chaplain. His slimy, smarmy persona counterbalances the witchy ways of Mrs. Proudy and together they manage to give the Bishop many of his "sick headaches."
Take the ride to Barchester, it's well worth the trip!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 42
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