The Jewel in the Crown

Starring:Peggy Ashcroft, Derrick Branche, Charles Dance, Geraldine James, Rachel Kempson, Art Malik, Wendy Morgan, Judy Parfitt, Tim Pigott-Smith, Eric Porter, Susan Wooldridge, Sallyann Webster, Kumall Grewal, Martyn Read, Janet Henfrey, David Allister, Robert James, Annet Peters, David Leland, Karan Kapoor
Director: Christopher Morahan, Jim O'Brien
Studio: A&E Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Product Description
The New York Times called it Superb! and Time found it Ultimately rewarding...with a sterling cast.This acclaimed adaptation of Paul Scot's masterpiece, The Raj Quartet, won over 20 international awards, including a Golden Globe and an Emmy. Filmed on location, it re-creates the turbulent period when British colonial rule in India came crashing down. The memorable cast includes Dame Peggy Ashcroft and Charles Dance.Finally available on DVD, it comes to life like never before, making this the ultimate version for collectors and new fans of the classic saga alike! 4 DVDs.

Format: DVD MOVIE
Amazon.com
The Jewel in the Crown, adapted from Paul Scott's Raj Quartet novels, tells the story of the final years before India gained independence in 1947. It is rare for a filmed adaptation to successfully preserve the richness and complexity of a great novel, but this epic miniseries succeeds both as personal drama and historical panorama.

In 1942 Daphne Manners, a naive young woman newly arrived in the town of Mayapore, befriends Hari Kumar, an Indian-born journalist who has spent most of his life in England. With his dark skin and educated English accent, Hari feels like an outsider wherever he goes, but Daphne understands his plight and they become romantically involved. Their developing relationship is jealously observed by local police chief Ronald Merrick, a man haunted by his own demons. When the lovers are attacked in the gardens of the ruined Bibighar palace and Daphne is raped, Merrick seizes his opportunity, pins the crime on Hari, and has the young man jailed. Distraught, Daphne flees to her aunt's home in Kashmir, where she dies giving birth to a half-caste child. The focus then shifts to Sarah Layton, a young Englishwoman who becomes fascinated by the story of Daphne and Hari, and who will have her own encounter with Ronald Merrick.

The events in the Bibighar gardens become a symbol of the violent struggle for Indian independence, and other symbols--Daphne's bicycle, a length of butterfly lace, a picture of Queen Victoria on an Indian throne--appear and reappear, linking people and events. This helps to give coherence to the plot even as it spans five years and expands to include many characters whose lives intersect in complex and unexpected ways.

Amazon.com

The Jewel in the Crown, adapted from Paul Scott's Raj Quartet novels, tells the story of the final years before India gained independence in 1947. It is rare for a filmed adaptation to successfully preserve the richness and complexity of a great novel, but this epic miniseries succeeds both as personal drama and historical panorama.

With a huge cast and breathtaking location photography, The Jewel in the Crown was an enormous undertaking when it was made in the early 1980s. Twenty years later it has lost none of its power, and it remains one of the best films ever made for television. --Simon Leake

Product Description

The New York Times called it Superb! and Time found it Ultimately rewarding...with a sterling cast.This acclaimed adaptation of Paul Scot's masterpiece, The Raj Quartet, won over 20 international awards, including a Golden Globe and an Emmy. Filmed on location, it re-creates the turbulent period when British colonial rule in India came crashing down. The memorable cast includes Dame Peggy Ashcroft and Charles Dance.Finally available on DVD, it comes to life like never before, making this the ultimate version for collectors and new fans of the classic saga alike! 4 DVDs.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Bad Sound; Cheap DVD; but Great Story .......2007-03-23

I have read "The Raj Quartet" (i.e. "Jewel in the Crown) twice -- all 2,000 pages of it -- and I love the story. The novel and this DVD paint a fascinating and exhaustive look of the English in the last days of their rule of India.

The story is circular. It centers around the rape of an English girl in the Biribigar gardens in 1942. Seen through the lens of that event we go on to a picture of the British in India during World War II, the growing movement toward independence, and finally the consequences of Muslim-Hindu animosity aroused by independence. Most of the cast is superb and the number of characters is enormous: a tortured, lower-class policeman of chilling efficiency, a sensible English girl with a malevolent mother and a madly incompetent sister, several admirable but ineffective missionaries, befuddled soldiers, a Cambridge scholar, a demented but appealing Russian political advisor, Muslim and Indian politicians, and Hari Kumar -- the Indian boy who was English at heart and served as the scapegoat for all the English failings in India.

It's long, slow-moving, majestic, educational, sometimes a bit unlikely, inconclusive, but compelling -- a soap opera in the exotic and explosive setting of the British Raj. There are elements of Kipling here, and "Passage to India" and Mother Teresa -- a whole melange of not-so-original ideas and scenes. But nobody has ever taken such a meticulously close look at British India in its death throes as has author Paul Scott in the novel and this DVD.

"The Raj Quartet" in my opinion is one of the very greatest novels of the 20th century and "Jewel in the Crown" one of the very greatest of television dramas. That being said neither the color nor the sound of this DVD is of even average quality. The story deserves better.

Smallchief

Fascinating, complex story.......2007-01-16

I knew the Jewel in the Crown was about India, but somehow I always assumed it was 19th century India, not WWII. So this was a complete surprise to me. I also had no idea how dark this series was, so I was shocked as worse and worse things kept happening to the characters. Nonetheless, I couldn't stop watching because I had to know what was going to happen next. The story is very complex, and the ending not as satisfying as I would have liked, but now that it's over I can't stop thinking about it. As painful as some parts were, it was very worthwhile and really made me think. I don't know much about the DVD quality as some people mentioned, but it would have been nice to have some commentary or bonus features.

Jewel in the Crown.......2006-11-28

This is an amazing and very worthwhile production, but the sound recording reproduction leaves MUCH to be desired. The sound is EXTREMELY variable - exceedingly loud then too soft to be heard. This set really needs to have a good sound reproduction company work on it.

Tragic Victim and Tragic Hero.......2006-11-15

Despite the accolades it has drawn, I never liked the PBS dramatization of JEWEL IN THE CROWN-- not as drama, that is. For one thing, it is too laden with Reichian psychology-- and we know what that means, though I can't say it here. For another, it's frustrating. One waits endlessly for the tragically wronged Hari Kumar to be united with the child of his beloved Daphne Manners, who might be his, although then again, she might not be as Daphne was gang-raped immediately after he made love to her. One waits endlessly for him to at last win the respect of the Englishmen he went to school with but who now shun him as (to use the usual English exaggeration) a "black". One is led to believe that these things might have happened-- but only after the drama's unsatisfying end. Finally, the series is unbelievable. For instance, why does Daphne, who is genuinely in love with Hari and opposed to British prejudices, refuse to stand up for him when he is unjustly accused of her rape? Why does she not admit that they made love but that it was voluntary, and that Hari was as distressed by the subsequent attack as she was? She will not even look at the men who are accused of the rape, all Hari's friends-- all we have is this statement from her, piling disbelief on disbelief-- "I know they can't be the ones, because they are all Hindu and one of the men who raped me was Muslim-- don't ask me why." As if someone undergoing such a trauma would notice anything so trivial-- Reichian psychology again. And perhaps something else, for to the extent that the series really reproduces Paul Scott's THE RAJ TRILOGY, which I do not know, having never read it, it is remarkably like E.M. Forster's A PASSAGE TO INDIA, in concluding in some English version of Hinduism-- whether accurate or inaccurate-- that life is meaningless, as Mrs. Moore does after she sees the Marabar caves.

It is only as a documentary of the end of the British Raj and the tensions within Indian society-- tensions which persist to this day-- that the series is not only laudable but a "must-see". Of course we know all about the British government's oppression of the Indians, as symbolized by the evil Ronald Merrick's targeting of the lamb-like innocent, Hari Kumar. What comes as a surprise is the fate of the other native principle in the series, Ahmed Kasim. I grew up in the era of "The Concert for Bangladesh", when even liberals like myself would have agreed that the "bad guys" in the religious conflicts of the subcontinent were invariably the Muslims. After all, how could someone who could not even bring himself to kill a cow kill a human being? So I was unaware of what was happening when Ahmed entered that train cabin with a Muslim maid and several English people, including his best English friend, Sarah. The symbol which a native hurriedly scrawled on the cabin door as the train was leaving was unintelligible to me. Even when the train was forcibly halted by a cow tied to the tracks, and Ahmed looked out in the ominous silence and told his cabinmates to close the windows and hide the maid under the seat, and windows began to break and people to scream, I was confused. I didn't hear him say "Seems it's me they want" before he stepped out, telling the others to lock the door behind him, and thought perhaps he might be joining in the slaughter-- so deep was my prejudice! It was only when the middle-aged Englishman looked out a peephole and said, trying to stifle his urge to vomit, "They're slaughtering all the Muslims-- just hacking them to pieces," did I realize what was really going on-- an attack by HINDU fanatics-- and that Ahmed had given his life to save the others in the cabin. Then I knew that the symbol scrawled on the cabin door had been a crescent. After seeing this segment once again, on a video bought from Amazon, it seems like the stigmata of Christ.

That is why it is difficult to understand Sarah's reaction to Ahmed's voluntary sacrifice. Her shame and self-hatred that they, the privileged English ruling class, had all just "let him go", is natural, but her anger at Ahmed for not seeking to save his own life-- which would of course have jeopardized the lives of all the others-- is not. It is as if she is saying that his death was senseless-- as if she has reached the conclusion that life itself has no meaning, no right and wrong-- like Mrs. Moore after she saw the Marabar Caves. From a broad sociological point of view, Ahmed's death, and the death of all the Muslims on the train-- was indeed senseless. But from a standpoint of personal morality, it makes perfect sense. It teaches us that even in the grip of injustice and cruelty, one must do what is right. Where Hari is merely a victim, Ahmed is a hero, and his death a glorious martyrdom. That a Muslim could be portrayed this way (and accurately, for people who could not kill a cow DID kill human beings) holds a lesson for our time, and my generation whose mindless prejudice has only been worsened by the events of 9/11: THAT WE WERE WRONG, that Muslims can be not only victims but moral heroes as well. And whatever nightmares we have, like Mrs. Moore, built out of our brush with the vast and meaningless OM, that life DOES have meaning. If it takes a Muslim to teach us that, we had better start paying more respect to a religion which does after all, share with Christianity and Judaism a sense of right and wrong.

Fantastic series, over-the-top acting, wretched transfer.......2006-10-06

I loved watching this series. The cast was terrific (Tim Pigott-Smith is as snake-like as the cobra he kills in the bathtub), the locales stunning, and the story compelling. However, the acting was occasionally far too melodramatic, something I don't expect from British actors, and the editing was substandard in places. The DVD transfer was the most wretched I'd ever seen and the sound quality was awful. Whoever handled the transfer has every reason to be ashamed. Do not let any of this stop you. It's one of the best TV mini-series ever made and is thoroughly engrossing to watch.

Historic Travel US - San Francisco - A Jewel in California¿s Crown DVD

Average customer rating:

Beautiful Travel Clips
Good Rough Footage

Historic Travel US - San Francisco - A Jewel in California¿s Crown DVD

Manufacturer: TravelVideoStore.com
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009F4YXK
Release Date: 2005-04-14

Description

"They say that most visitors to San Francisco wish they never have to leave the charming city, and the unfortunate ones who are compelled by circumstances to do so, leave their hearts behind! Yes, there is something special about this bewitching city - some unexplainable charm that inspires everybody from poets and lyricists to singers and politicians.

Pulsating, throbbing, enticing and unforgettable is how this delightful place has always been remembered and this fascinating DVD explains why.

Despite their age, the clips are miraculously well preserved. These marvelous celluloid masterpieces are themselves works of art and as invaluable as the history they serve to preserve. Apparently shot by someone without the benefit of too many technical inputs, some of the clips capture a refreshingly amateuristic perspective of the city. For the pickier, this DVD also has a professional offering on the city's progressive outlook and its capabilities at staging global events.

I love San Francisco and these clips provide a fabulous motive for revisiting it. Tourists, history buffs and San Franciscans, here is one DVD that is certain to bring a smile to your face, and also one that is a must have, if the fascinating city means anything to you!"

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful Travel Clips.......2006-11-28

This DVD is a collection of tourist films and newsreel footage of San Fransisco shot in the first third of the 20th century. It's almost all black and white and has some silent footage with a musical score.

It's interesting because I know the city very well and I liked being able to see what has changed over they years and what has remained the same.

The golden gate bridge and chinatown shots are the best of the bunch on here, but it's all pretty good and I watched it several times.

Good Rough Footage.......2006-05-05

Wow. Some of the footage here is really rough and clearly shot by someone with a home camera. Not that that's a bad thing, it's just something that jumped out at me.

All of the films here are of San Francisco at the turn of the century when the city was trying to move from being a small gold rush city and become a real metropolis.

The city planners put a lot of effort inot growing the city and it shows here.

The rough footage is my favorite because it's free of the promotional aspects of the other clips and made me feel like I was really learning the truth about the city at the turn of the century.

Average customer rating:

the best thing about this dvd is the picture on the cover
An Unoffical Crown
Interesting....could be better.

The Jewel in the Crown: Unauthorized
Starring: Morrissey
Manufacturer: Mvd Visual
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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My Life With Morrissey

ASIN: B0002Z9W2K
Release Date: 2004-11-16

Description

This complete unathorized DVD biography includes exclusive and previously unseen film footage and in-depth interviews with those that worked closely with Morrissey during his career, including interviews with Stephen Street, Tony Wilson, Mark Nevin, Vini Reilly, Jonny Bridgwood and ex-smith Craig Gannon, amongst others. The Jewel In The Crown looks back on his career, and discloses the story of his life and music, and reveals what has inspired him to write some of the finest music of our time.

Customer Reviews:

the best thing about this dvd is the picture on the cover.......2007-02-05

I love Morrissey, obviously - or i wouldn't have watched this, but as a documentary this one is a sleeper.. Details from Morrissey's career are nice, but the reliance on the twitter-twatter of past producers and alienated bandsmen leaves us feeling that we are not seeing too much of the man Morrissey really is.. I do like the descriptions of how he lives his life - rearanging furniture to confuse guests and so forth - but with no actual footage or music from Morrissey - or at least interviews with him - we feel like we are learning nothing...

An Unoffical Crown.......2006-11-09

"Morrissey: The Jewel in the Crown" is a 108 minute unauthorized documentary on Morrissey's solo career, from "Viva Hate", album by album to "You Are The Quarry". It was a little rough in places, but it was a pretty interesting documentary.

Being an unauthorized documentary, there is no music from Morrissey or his former band the Smiths played in the film. Instead, there's some Smiths sound-a-like music that fills interludes here and there. It doesn't overwhelm the background, and isn't played all the time, which is all right. The interviews are pretty interesting, including producer Stephen Street, guitarist Craig Gannon, "Kill Uncle's" Mark Nevin, and a few music journalists and biographers. They discuss the making of albums and singles, various gigs, Morrissey's infamous "Union Jack" incident of 1992, and bandmember politics and legal woes. The discussions about that particular topic was a side to the British music scene, and of Britain itself, that I had never really thought about before. It's quite nasty in a subdued sort of way, all the bickering over who wrote what with Morrissey and how someone else is bending the truth. It's really hard to say who is, that's the strange thing.

It was curious the way the musicians talked about their encounters with Morrissey, too. Through their eyes, he is a man who is rather shy, whose prone to going red with embarassment when something unexpected happens. He's an unconventional songwriter, who doesn't do quite what his co-writers plan or would expect him to do. Morrissey's still really mysterious though, to me anyway. It's like there's always stuff that doesn't quite add up, and he's gone and hidden the calculators. There's an interview with Morrissey as well, taken from a British TV show around the time of promotion "You are the Quarry", but it's fairly short and at the end of the film. In it, he's pretty open and "mellow" (to quote Mark Nevin).

Special features include a Morrissey quiz and a discography, which is a little inaccurate ("You are the Quarry" is written in it as "I Am the Quarry", for instance).

It's worth a look for Morrissey fans, just keep in mind it is unauthorized. On that level, it's really pretty decent, great selection of interviews, even if they ramble on in that British way every now and then.

Interesting....could be better........2004-11-28

Firstly, there are no Smiths/Morrissey songs or music in this documentary. Afterall, it is an unauthorized piece.

Secondly, expect lots of interviews. Can be quite boring at times, ie when Stephen Street and Vini Reilly going back and forth arguing who has the rights to the songs blah blah blah.

Thirdly, this documentary does cover up til You Are the Quarry. But only in the last 10 mins of the show.

Overall, it's an interesting piece but could be better.

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