Spent

Starring:Richmond Arquette, Barbara Barrie, Erin Beaux, Gilbert Cates, Margaret Cho, Kaela Dobkin, Nina-Marie Gardner, David Gianopoulos, Deborah Lacey, Phill Lewis, Bassia Loebel, Jason London, John Mooney, Rene Moreno, Greg Mullavy, James Parks, Rain Phoenix, Charlie Spradling, Kim Winter
Studio: Geneon [Pioneer]
Product Type: DVD

Description

The acclaimed BBC adaptation of Vita Sackville-West's beloved novel starring Dame Wendy Hiller

Dame Wendy Hiller delivers a delicately nuanced performance in Vita Sackville-West's classic story of emerging feminist identity in post-Victorian England.

"When can one please oneself if not in old age?" asks 85-year-old Lady Slane (Hiller), who frees herself from society's expectations upon the death of her politically prominent husband. To the shock of her children, who seem more concerned with the disposition of the estate than with their mother's happiness, the widow retreats to a cottage in the Hampstead countryside to rediscover herself.

Nominated for four BAFTA Awards (including best drama series and best actress), this BBC production brings Sackville-West's best-known novel to the screen with all its emotional complexity, intellectual vigor, and profound feeling.

Customer Reviews:

great acting.......2006-11-02

This is an exceptional piece on a woman finally exercising her own thoughts and desires at a time when women didn't have these choices.

She considered the lilies of the field.......2006-10-26

Lady Slane (Wendy Hiller) spent all her life being an et ux. She enjoyed being the wife of the viceroy, a mother, and a leader of charities. However when her husband died she finally, against her children's wishes, had time to contemplate her life, what it could have been and what it will be.

She moves into a smaller house that she had seen 30 years before. Now she strikes up a friend ship with people as the house owner, the craftsman repairing the house and others.

Unknown to her is a friend of one of her sons, who knew her 60 years ago ion India. He reliving the time and she realizing that they both had great depth that was not required of them at the time, form a unique friendship.

We get the privilege of watching Lady Slane make her discoveries and the reaction to this by the family. Of particular interest is her great grand daughter is now on the cusp of making the same life choice that Lady Slane succumbed to.

Based on the novel by Vita Sackville-West, "All Passion Spent" we see a lot of Vita's real life parallels. The screen adaptation is by Peter Buckman. This film has that BBC quality.

"When can one please oneself if not in old age?".......2006-06-14

This delightful, restrained three-part BBC series is the story of eighty-five-year old Lady Slane (Wendy Hiller) whose husband, a former Viceroy of India and former British Prime Minister dies. When the story begins in 1930, Lady Slane's five children gather to discuss their mother's future. With Lord Slane deceased, there will not be enough money to maintain the splendid London mansion, so instead, the children--led by the eldest, hideously pompous son, Herbert (Graham Crowdon)--decide the house should be sold, and their mother rotated between them for short periods of time.

Bossy Carrie Slane (Phyllis Calvert) thinks this is a splendid plan. Grasping son William and his avaricious wife Lavinia (Faith Brook) aren't keen on the idea--after all, it'll probably cost them some money. Gentle spinster Edith (Hilary Mason) can't wait to move into her own flat and fulfill her dream of owning a canary. Kay Slane--a determined bachelor--just doesn't want his life to be disturbed. While the arguments rage between the 'children' (they must all be in their late 50s to early 60s), Lady Slane is hatching her own plans.

Herbert states that his mother has always had "decisions made for her" so he anticipates no argument when he reveals his plan that she should become a roving guest. But there's another side to Lady Slane that her children seem completely unaware of. Yes, she was a devoted wife and mother, but now as a widow, she sees an opportunity to finally please herself.

While her children argue and imagine carving up their share of the jewelry and antiques, Lady Slane quietly and very determinedly sets out to lease a house in Hampstead--a relatively modest dwelling that she first set eyes on thirty years before. She meets the eccentric owner, Mr. Bucktrout (Maurice Denham) and arranges to move in.

Based on the novel by Vita Sackville-West, "All Passion Spent" is an unflinching yet positive exploration of aging. All duties concluded, Lady Slane finally comes into her true self at the age of eighty-five, and stating "I'm going to wallow in old age and be completely self-indulgent" she refuses to allow anyone under the age of 40 to visit her in her new home (the one exception is her favourite granddaughter). In Bucktrout, Lady Slane discovers a like-minded soul--a man who says, "Nowadays I can scarcely enjoy the company of anyone under 70." An old admirer from Lady Slane's past--the eccentric reclusive millionaire Mr. Fitzgeorge (Harry Andrews in a marvelous performance) soon comes to call, and in their mutual old age, Fitzgeorge and Lady Slane become the very best of friends.

"All Passion Spent" is a gentle, eloquent film. There's a bittersweet thread to the story, but there are some splendid touches of light humour--mainly to be found in the behaviour of Lady Slane's children. They see their mother as a role rather than as a person, and her independent decisions seem--at least to the domineering children, Herbert, and Carrie, and the toadying William--to be signs of dementia. There's not much in the way of extras (but who cares?)--just a Sackville-West bio, and cast filmographies. This is BBC drama at its best, and fans should seek out the film and prepare for 158 minutes of sheer delight--displacedhuman

Average customer rating:

How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Starring: RonReaco Lee , Deanna Dawn , Deanna Davis , Jade Dixon , and E. Roger Mitchell
Director: John Fisher (II)
Manufacturer: Xenon
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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don't waste your time
Original Score By Stan Ridgway
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Spent
Starring: Richmond Arquette , Barbara Barrie , Erin Beaux , Gilbert Cates , and Margaret Cho
Manufacturer: Geneon [Pioneer]
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004XMVN
Release Date: 2000-10-31

Description

From its intricate montage, to its heart-wrenching conclusion, Spent is an intense and compelling journey through the intertwined worlds of ambition, addiction, and compulsion. Set among the bright lights and big city bustle of Los Angeles, we find Max (Jason London), a wannabe actor, living for an endless series of tomorrows, caught up in the fast-paced world of high-stakes sports gambling. His girlfriend, Brigette (Charlie Spradling), challenges him to quit betting for a month, which he agrees to do, if she'll stop drinking. But it's a deal neither can keep. The thrill of the next bet, the release of the next drink are simply too tempting. As Max descends deeper and deeper into the hole with his bookie, Jay (Richmond Arquette), Brigette sinks into the depths of alcoholism, and his tortured roommate Grant (James Parks) struggles to come out of the closet. Meanwhile, the big score with a script they're trying to get to Jack Nicholson dangles in front of them, an illusionary life raft in a raging sea of uncontrollable desires and needs. Told with intense honesty, Spent rips the lid off of the LA good life and takes us on an unforgettable journey into the depths of despair... and back. Starring Jason London (Dazed and Confused, Rage: Carrie 2, If These Walls Could Talk), Charlie Spradling (Angel of Destruction), Richmond Arquette (Fight Club, Scream 3), James Parks (From Dusk Til Dawn 2).

Customer Reviews:

don't waste your time.......2004-06-11

bad acting, bad plot. one of the worst movies i've ever seen.

Original Score By Stan Ridgway.......2001-08-11

I bought this to hear what Stan Ridgway would do for the music on this. He did'nt disapoint! The opening titles are worth the purchase. Just like his solo work and his music with Wall of Voodoo, it's a strange and highly ecocative mix of certain ambiguous emotional states hard to name, with a lot of hybrid orchestrations of instruments. Too bad there's no soundtrack CD on this. There should be.

A London Feast.......2000-11-18

I loved this movie! Jason London's acting was wonderful, and he looks simply gorgeous as usual. His wife, Charly Spradling, does a good job as Bridget. A rather raunchy sex scene between the two is made easier to watch by the humorous touch they add to it. A sad but touching movie. Rent or buy it, I believe you will enjoy it.

How i Spent My Summer Vacatoin Whitewater Kayaking DVD

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How i Spent My Summer Vacatoin Whitewater Kayaking DVD

Manufacturer: LVM
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Binding: DVD

Product Description

How I Spent My Summer Vacation. Release Date: Summer 03 Costa Rica Surf Session, Sierra Foothills Creeking, New Zealand Roadside Runs, North East Trip Report, Photography with Jock Bradley and more

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