Cranford
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Movie Reviews of Cranford
Movie Review: Cranford Captivates
Summary: 5 Stars
We had planned to watch the Cranford episodes as they unfolded on PBS, but because we had a houseguest, I taped them. When we finished viewing the series, my husband had found them so interesting and engaging that he asked to view them a second time. Consequently, I ordered the DVD and we thoroughly enjoyed watching the "Making of Cranford".
I first learned of Elizabeth Gaskell while reading Phyllis McGinley's Sixpence in Her Shoe, when I was newly married. Years later while visiting a London bookstore, I found several of the Gaskell novels and added them to my library. I couldn't resist rereading Cranford the week after seeing the final episode.
I liked the blending of three of Gaskell's novels into this telling of the story. My Lady Ludlow and Mr. Harrison's Confessions give the village a larger context and paint a more complete picture of England at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. However, nothing of the charm of the perfect English village is lost in this delightful retelling of the story. Each actor seems to catch his character's virtues and foibles perfectly.
Movie Review: Gird your loins my dear. We are we all go here in Cranford!
Summary: 5 Stars
No need to restate the plot, others have done it before this review. I have a large collection of BBC period/historical DVDs and after passing over this title several times, I recieved it for Christmas. This is a story written and produced by women about women and the loving touch is evident everywhere. I especially enjoyed seeing Simon Woods (you'll recognize him from Pride and Prejudice, 2005 as Mr. Bingley) and Imelda Stanton (Dolores Umbridge, Harry Potter and O of P) sans pink suite. And of course, there's Judi Dench. She's just wonderful as the younger sister: Touching, sad, lively and ever hopeful. I wonder if Dame Judi needs an extra granddaughter? I'd like to be invited over for tea sometime.
Anyway, make yourself a nice cup of tea (not the green stuff, it's bad for your liver and you'll find out who thinks so), make some time for yourself and watch this beautiful and loving and funny story about the Ladies of Cranford. In addition and just in case you haven't already discovered this gem. Please check out "Ladies in Lavender", with Judi Dench and Maggie Smith.
Movie Review: What The Cat Does with the Antique Lace!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
What a wonderful, rich and cozy experience, but you'll have to wait and see what the cat does with the lace. It's the funniest bit I have seen in a BBC film yet! While this film has not been shown on American TV as yet I was lucky enough to stumble across the entire film on youtube where it was shown in 9 minute segments. Its a quiet film with rich and wonderful characters long remembered. I was afraid that Judi Dench would overpower her role but nothing like it. She was perfect in her poignantly sad but joyfully rising role. It's about the town Cranford, that is fearful of changes being brought by the arrival of the railway. No one of course wants the charm of Old English ways to change and one gets very attached to the warm and sad and silly and funny characters in Cranford. Cranford really is a place one wishes to live and to never leave nor have change. I loved it, anglophile that I am, so this is a creation made just for me and I can't wait to own it when it is released. Another beautiful English costume romance by the people who really know how to do it well!! BRAVO!!!Movie Review: Entertaining!
Summary: 5 Stars
Finally, a period drama that's neither the same old story nor lost in translation.
I thought Cranford would be a subdued drawn out dramatization but I was pleasantly surprised to find it so engaging at every moment. The adaptation had managed to make every character useful and meaningful in a drama where everyone's a hero at the end of the day. And the actors - please don't make me choose between them. They were all plucked out of Cranford itself, I'm sure.
One theme stood out for me. The danger of conjecturing, the gossip it perpetuates and the lives they can destory. Even so, it was impossible to truly fault the culprits as Gaskell shows that a person should be judged as a whole and not by a single deed alone.
I won't dwell into the details as it is too colorful and summarizing would do it injustice but suffice it to say Cranford was very well written with much thought placed into the evolution of characters and the seamless integration of plots. It has everything a little old town can manage.
Do not hesitate. Watch it!
Movie Review: Perfect
Summary: 5 Stars
"Oh," you say, "This just looks like yet another British costume drama they show on PBS."
Well, yes it is. But don't write "Cranford" off. Heck, for that matter, don't write any costume drama off. But "Cranford" in particular is great TV. Based upon three books, the story ingeniously weaves in the tales of the denizens of the small village. The uniformly excellent cast and production values makes this one of the best television miniseries in some time.
Special mention must go to the screenwriters who took the original source material - which is funny and entertaining - and managing to make a tale that has real dramatic heft. It's no easy feat, especially if you're familiar with the book. "Cranford" is one of the most satisfying five hours of television you'll ever watch.