The Cazalets [DVD] [2001]

The aim was to televise the whole of author Elizabeth Jane Howard's saga of the Cazalet family caught up in war. In 2001, though, only six hour long episodes were made - culminating in news of Pearl Harbour.Much of interest here. Visually a treat, especially sight of that family home in Sussex - Cazalets forever to converge for special events, not to mention a refuge during bombing of London. Ursula Howells and Frederick Treves play the heads of the dynasty trying to adapt to rapidly changing times. What now for the vulnerable timber mill, source of the the family fortune? What for male relatives called up to fight? What attitude to adopt to one who declares himself a pacifist? Inevitably there will be increasing apprehension whenever the phone rings or a telegram arrives.Meanwhile there are secrets. For one, rapidly declining health that must somehow be disguised. Another with confusion about her sexuality. How long before philandering Edward is rumbled? All this and much besides.For Hugh Bonneville, an early stepping stone en route to Downton Abbey. Several performances impress, including from those in smaller roles - John McArdle as the loyal chauffeur beset by personal problems; Patsy Rowlands as the former teacher now employed as governess - this, movingly, her escape from loneliness.Somehow I missed the series when first shown. Perhaps others did too? Here is a most welcome opportunity to catch up. Greatest tribute to be paid? Regret it was not around for longer.

Apparently the intention was to adapt all the novels in the series, which would have pleased many readers.It was very well done; of course, there are cuts, which to anyone who knows the novel well, are distracting. Also, surely there are missing characters? But that is only a problem to those who have read the novels.The cast on the whole is ideal, especially the Brig and the Duchy, and the three brothers. It was interesting to compare this dramatisation to the Radio 4 adaptation. For instance, on the radio Pip Torrens made Edward quite dastardly, whereas Stephen Dillane made the character often amusing and likeable – not, of course, when he abuses his daughter. (I was appalled to find on reading her autobiography “Slipstream” that this, like so much else in the novel, actually happened to EDH, and she was amazingly forgiving about it).Lesley Manville brought out Villy’s better qualities, her kindness and helpfulness, rather than the I-am-a-tragic-heroine side of her character, but that really comes later in the story.The sets were wonderful – where did they find that house? – and the costumes also seemed authentic.It was, as many people have said, a pity that the rest of the sequence was not made.

While this is a well-made costume drama of the period that sets the scene very well, it is hard to have much sympathy for any of the characters portrayed. They are well enough acted, so the fault must lie either in the screenplay adaptation or in the books on which it was based - I am not familiar with them - probably a bit of both. Not a third-rate series, certainly, but definitely second-rate and let down by the sudden and inconclusive ending that apparently omitted a large part of what later transpired in the books and was due to the application of a corporate axe on the ruthless principle that you do not throw good money away after bad. The main message of the series is that the good old days were actually not very good at all and we have come a long way since then - a point well worth making, so watch the series if you are in any doubt at all on this point. Now is a better time to be a man as well as (of course) a woman. One can feel quite sorry for those ancestors who lived through it.

The DVD of the Cazalets when advertised did not show that the jacket cover was in Dutch and the DVD, when played, was with Dutch sub-titles - very off-putting - very unsatisfactory. This was made worse for me by the fact that the DVD was a gift and sent directly to the other person.

Remembering how much I had enjoyed, some years ago, Elizabeth Jane Howard's books on the Cazalets, I ordered the new one, "All Change", written many years later. I noticed that I could remind myself of the previous stories on the 2 DVD Box Set and ordered them. What a treat! As far as I could remember most of the first three books were pretty faithfully portrayed in these DVDs and I really enjoyed them. Returning to the world of this family was like meeting old friends and the production was really entertaining. One word of warning, though. I sent the first set back because the picture froze and nothing I did would change the problem. A second set came and the same thing happened at the same point. My husband managed to link the frozen DVD to his laptop and play the rest of that DVD, through the laptop, onto the TV, albeit with a very small screen! Apparently not all DVDs are compatible with our player. On the good side, I felt the production was so enjoyable that I put up with the inconvenience! Please, please, television producers, could the rest of the story be made into another one or two DVDs.

This was just such a treat to watch. The cast was perfect. I watched all six episodes in two sittings. I'm just gutted they only adapted the first two books. I will read the other three and hope I can follow them as the DVD left us wondering what happened next.

Well written and hard to put down. Wonderful story of a family through the wars masses of humour, sadness and general life of this family. A good read. Beware once you read the first book you will be hooked.

Bought dvd a year ago for my period drama collection, in great condition and have watched it a couple of times. For anyone who enjoys period drama-this one is set just before WWII- with great British acting, this is definately worth watching.