Daniel Deronda

Starring:Hugh Dancy, Romola Garai, Hugh Bonneville, Jodhi May, Edward Fox, Amanda Root, David Bamber, Greta Scacchi, Barbara Hershey, Celia Imrie, Jamie Bamber, Allan Corduner, Michael Attwell, Anna Steel, Jordan Frieda, Nicholas Day, Josh Cole, Marcus Baron, Jacqueline Pearce, Daniel Arden
Director: Tom Hooper (II)
Studio: BBC Video
Product Type: DVD

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The George Eliot Collection is a set of five BBC programs based on the works of the 19th century novelist: Middlemarch, Daniel Deronda, Silas Marner, Adam Bede, and The Mill on the Floss.

The 1994 production of Middlemarch juxtaposes morals and money, grand ambitions with petty jealousies, and pursuits of the mind with bodily needs. A handsome young doctor named Lydgate (Douglas Hodge, Vanity Fair) comes to the provincial town of Middlemarch to start a new hospital; a headstrong young woman named Dorothea (Juliet Aubrey, The Mayor of Casterbridge) yearns to contribute to the greater good of the world. These idealists enter into marriages that derail all their intentions and lead them into lives they never imagined. The network of characters in this six-episode program, ranging up and down the societal ladder, create an intricate and utterly engrossing narrative as well as a magnificent recreation of life on the cusp of the Industrial Revolution. The cast, from the largest to the smallest roles, is impeccable. When a scene turns to a character you've only glimpsed before, the precision of the writing (by miniseries master Andrew Davies, Pride and Prejudice) and the vivid performances suck you into the life of this person who seemed like mere background scenery only moments before. The cumulative impact of Eliot's story will leave you gasping at its brilliant balance of romance and reality. Performers include creepy Patrick Malahide (The Singing Detective) and sexy Rufus Sewell (Dark City) among the familiar faces of dozens of inspired character actors. Don't let the literary pedigree of Middlemarch scare you off--the plot is as juicy as a soap opera, with a psychological fullness that makes every dramatic turn all the more gripping.

Daniel Deronda, Eliot's accomplished but underrated last novel, is effectively, often stirringly, adapted for this 2002 BBC production, which was scripted by old pro Andrew Davies (Middlemarch) and directed with wit and subtlety by Tom Hooper (Cold Feet). Set in the 1870s, Eliot's story concerns two strong-willed young people whose self-determination is under attack by legal constraints on their rights to an inheritance. The noble Daniel (Hugh Dancy) is of dubious birth; the fiery Gwendolen (Romola Garai) can't possess her late father's estate because she's a woman. They are sympathetic to one another, but not lovers: Gwendolen is obliged to marry into wealth and becomes an unhappy bride of the scoundrel Grandcourt (Hugh Bonneville), while Daniel must sort out his feelings about the much-maligned "Jewess," the beautiful Mirah. Despite Garai's somewhat questionable casting, this lengthy drama--evenly divided between the two leads--never lags in insight or passion.

The title character of Silas Marner, a member of a strict religious community, is wrongly accused of theft and has no choice but to move to a faraway village. For 15 years he lives alone, hoarding the money he makes from his weaving and gaining a reputation as a recluse, a miser, and perhaps even a witch. Marner's life changes dramatically one Christmas season, when his gold is stolen and a mysterious woman dies in the woods outside his cottage. She leaves behind a child that Marner, to the surprise of the other villagers, takes into his home to raise as his daughter. The arrival of the infant, whom he names Eppie after his mother, transforms Marner. His bitterness evaporates; he no longer cares about his lost money; and he commits himself completely to his adopted child, who grows up into a loving and beautiful daughter. But Marner's happiness may be threatened, because Eppie is really the daughter of the local squire, who was secretly married to the woman whose body Marner discovered. Remarried, but childless, the squire decides he wants to claim Eppie as his own. Ben Kingsley gives a subtle and moving performance as the simple weaver, and a strong cast gives him ample support in this 1985 BBC adaptation of George Eliot's novel. Silas Marner is not particularly complex--it's certainly a more modest undertaking than Middlemarch--but this sentimental Victorian tale, filled with historical detail, potential tragedy, heartless villains, and the redeeming power of childhood, makes for a very satisfying film.

Adam Bede is the very definition of a brash young man. George Eliot's young English country hero is headstrong and arrogant, and sees the world in black and white--not unlike his 18th-century countrymen, living and (barely) breathing by the strict moral code of the day. In this excellent 1991 BBC adaptation, Adam is played by the appealing Iain Glen, who shows he's as comfortable in a sweeping period drama as he is in popcorn fare like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider or the Resident Evil films. Adam is torn by love and commitment, and once he sets his sights on the fetching farmgirl Hetty (Patsy Kensit), he's convinced Hetty's love for his rich acquaintance Arthur is a sham, and uses force to get Arthur to break off their relationship. But what Adam has set in motion, the world will be reeling from for a very long time: in the wake of his impetuous act lie despair, heartbreak, a secret pregnancy, thoughts of suicide, a nd death. And still, the moral order must be upheld. Glen shows Adam slowly but truly growing up, realizing the consequences of his actions. (It doesn't hurt that he ends up with the lovely Dinah, played by the fabulous Susannah Harker of House of Cards and the 1995 Pride and Prejudice--why on earth has this talented young woman not become a huge star?) Viewing the characters' transgressions through 21st century eyes can make some of the plot lines feel remote--nearly unbelievable--but the all-too-human struggles of people trying to do the right thing will always ring true.

Based on her own childhood, George Eliot's The Mill on the Floss gets the deluxe treatment in this eight-part BBC miniseries. Set in 19th century Lincolnshire, the story centers on Maggie Tulliver (Georgia Slowe). Headstrong and undisciplined, she loves her brother Tom (Jonathan Scott-Taylor), but he has his doubts about her. Frankly, he finds his sister exasperating. An uptight, ambitious young man, Tom can't understand why she won't act like a proper young lady. While he's off at boarding school, for instance, she forgets to feed his rabbits and they die. Well-mannered cousin Lucy Deane (Moira Durbridge) is a mutual friend and peacemaker between the two. Over the years, Phillip Wakem (Anton Lesser), another neighbor, will also enter their orbit. Alas, Mr. Tulliver (Ray Smith) and Lawyer Wakem (Philip Locke) are sworn enemies. More studious than her brother (now played by Christopher Blake), teenaged Maggie (Pippa Guard) is drawn to the bright, if hunchbacked Phillip, but her ardor doesn't run as deep as his. Either way, Tom doesn't approve--nor, as it turns out, does Mr. Wakem. Further, as the fortunes of the latter rise, the Tullivers fall so far they lose their mill. But all is not lost. Tom will keep the family afloat when he finds employment with Lucy's father, Uncle Deane (John Stratton), around the same time Lucy's suitor, Stephen Guest (John Moulder-Brown), switches his focus to Maggie. Just when it seems relations couldn't get more tangled, the mill itself provides a neat, if tragic solution. Previously brought to the BBC in 1965 with Jane Asher, this fine, if somewhat stagy 1978 production was followed by a 1997 telefilm with Emily Watson.

Description

The next collection in the successful BBC Classics line comes to life with an assortment of all-star casts in five of George Eliot's beautifully astute literary works, all lovingly portrayed in critically acclaimed productions from the BBC. This 5-disc set includes Adam Bede, Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe, The Mill on the Floss, Middlemarch, and Daniel Deronda.

DVD Features:
Featurette:George Eliot: A Scandalous Life (60 min)
Featurette:Middlemarch-A Reader's Guide (40 min)
Photo gallery

Customer Reviews:

The George Eliot Collection.......2007-05-14

Fabulous! Couldn't stop viewing until I'd gone through all the DVD's.
Very fine adaptations of books by a very fine Victorian novelist.
I highly recommend this collection.

Average customer rating:

Can I give it 10 STARS!!!!!!!!!!
Daniel Deronda: A Prince among Men
Read the book!
Excellent adaptation, insightful and moving
Daniel Deronda discovers his Destiny

Daniel Deronda
Starring: Hugh Dancy , Romola Garai , Hugh Bonneville , Jodhi May , and Edward Fox
Director: Tom Hooper (II)
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Our Mutual Friend

ASIN: B000M2E32M
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Amazon.com

George Eliot's accomplished but underrated last novel is effectively, often stirringly, adapted for this 2002 BBC production, which was scripted by old pro Andrew Davies (Middlemarch) and directed with wit and subtlety by Tom Hooper (Cold Feet). Set in the 1870s, Eliot's story concerns two strong-willed young people whose self-determination is under attack by legal constraints on their rights to an inheritance. The noble Daniel (Hugh Dancy) is of dubious birth; the fiery Gwendolen (Romola Garai) can't possess her late father's estate because she's a woman. They are sympathetic to one another, but not lovers: Gwendolen is obliged to marry into wealth and becomes an unhappy bride of the scoundrel Grandcourt (Hugh Bonneville), while Daniel must sort out his feelings about the much-maligned "Jewess," the beautiful Mirah. Despite Garai's somewhat questionable casting, this lengthy drama--evenly divided between the two leads--never lags in insight or passion. --Tom Keogh

Description

Daniel Deronda is a sensitive, intelligent young man, the illegitimate son of an aristocrat, haunted by the secrets that shroud his birth. Beautiful, vivacious Gwendolen Harleth is a gambler and short on cash. When they meet at the roulette table, sparks fly. But Gwendolen needs money more than passion, and the self-centered aristocrat Henleigh Grandcourt is happy to provide. As her situation becomes more and more oppressive, she turns to Daniel for help, only to discover his involvement with the young Jewish singer Mirah Lapidoth.Torn between his devotion to Gwendolen and his passion for Mirah and the plight of her people, Daniel is forced to look at his own mysterious past and find out who he really is...and who he wants to be.

DVD Features:
Biographies:Cast and crew, plus author George Eliot
Photo gallery:Featuring pictures from behind the scenes

Customer Reviews:

Can I give it 10 STARS!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-05-13

Excellent dialogue, acting, and superb adabtion of the book!!!! Must see movie.

Daniel Deronda: A Prince among Men.......2007-04-11

Wow....If the ratings could go higher than 5 stars, I'd sure give it at least a 7!. The actor who plays Daniel Deronda couldn't have been chosen any better and the selection of Romola Garai to portray the beautiful but selfish Mrs. Grandcourt was equally rich. What makes this movie so memorable and endearing is the theme. You have two beautiful, very beautiful and talented girls vying for the heart of one man (of course, this is every man's dream). But where it gets really good, is the humbling process that Mrs Grandcourt must go through, in order to see what kind of woman she was. At the end, through great pain and self discovery of her inner selfishness, she is finally fit to become someone's excellent wife. She pines away the hours and for days on end for the chance to become Daniel's wife, but during this humbing and transformation of the most beautiful Romola Garai, Daniel is falling in love with another girl, whom he rescued from a watery grave. Daniel was an English Gentleman, with manners, courtesy, love and caring for those he knew. As Daniel was slowly discovering his Jewish roots through the girl whose life he saved, he began to fall in love with her, not only for her beauty, but her commitment to God through Judaism and her angelic voice. She was very talented and nice to look at, but it was her singing voice and dedication to God is what attracted Daniel to her. Towards the end, Daniel became more involved is his new found Jewish family and began identifing with them. The scenery of the film switched back and forth from England to Italy, and the twist at the end with Daniel's mother emerging from a life long silence added to the excitment and plot. As Daniel finally proposed to this beautiful Jewess, it was followed by a Jewish wedding ceremony with Jewish wedding music. It was so good to see a film that included the richness of the Jewish traditions and religion without apology. And now, at the end of the story, where both beauties wanted Daniel Deronda, only one of them won the prize. On the one hand, this story is every guys dream; a well mannered rich guy, who is handsome and desired by all the ladies, and on the other hand, they both can't have him, and it leaves your heart broken for the beautiful Mrs Grandcourt. The picture on the cover of the DVD is really a prophetic look at the whole thing. It's a wonderful show, and real treat for guys!

Read the book!.......2007-03-19

Evan the product description is wrong! Read the original book! BBC drama is much worth the penny than American movies!

Excellent adaptation, insightful and moving.......2007-03-19

I'm a HUGE George Eliot fan. Better just get that out of the way to show my bias from the outset.

On the other hand, that could have made me like it less since the film has so much to live up to. Fortunately, this BBC mini-series managed it most excellently. The characters and their lives are engrossing and the film runs long enough (210 minutes) that things are allowed to happen at a natural pace....In Hollywood movies, characters often seem artificial and when they change it's more to fulfill the scriptwriter's needs than their own. In Daniel Deronda, the characters change gradually and realistically, plus the drama is gripping and engaging. Highly recommended!!!

Daniel Deronda discovers his Destiny.......2007-02-14

Daniel Deronda is a fascinating character study as it relates to a man faced with two seemingly impossible challenges. He must realize his true calling and conquer his superficial desires to embrace a much more complex love.

The story unfolds in over three hours of lush settings, gorgeous period costumes and romantic vistas. Yet all the while the story is being told, you can feel the deeper connections between the characters. As you come to terms with their individual destinies, the beauty of this Masterpiece Theatre series reveals itself with startling honesty in a drama where emotions are mostly simmering beneath the surface.

Love as a commitment and love as a game reveals two contrasting worlds. This dance in a world of decadence turns into a game of survival, where the choices of the two main characters hold lives in the balance. One wrong decision and the fate of everyone around them is changed forever.

Daniel Deronda and Gwendolyn meet and mingle in a world of wealth, but in their hearts they long for a more challenging life fraught with conflicts only the soul can fight. Gwendolyn is in a controlling marriage, while Daniel is still finding his way in the world of love. Like a knight he seems to prefer courtly love to a long-term commitment, but this starts to change when he meets a beautiful Jewish singer who he rescues from drowning.

Gwendolyn's wild exuberance while horse riding seems to represent her inner tenacity and as it is only when she has been broken herself and then healed that she too finds her true heart. This series captures an excellence so few period dramas ever try to attain. At first chilling and calculating, this story warms to a shimmering brilliance.

"I shall be better for having known you." ~Gwendolyn

~The Rebecca Review

BBC Drama Collection (The Barchester Chronicles / Daniel Deronda / Jane Eyre / The Lost Prince / Middlemarch / A Room with a View / Wives and Daughters)

Average customer rating:

BBC Drama Collection (The Barchester Chronicles / Daniel Deronda / Jane Eyre / The Lost Prince / Middlemarch / A Room with a View / Wives and Daughters)
Starring: Donald Pleasence , David Gwillim , John Ringham , Joseph O'Conor , and Clifford Parrish
Director: David Giles (III) , Julian Amyes , and Tom Hooper (II)
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Television | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000E0OE1C
Release Date: 2006-01-24

Average customer rating:

Can I give it 10 STARS!!!!!!!!!!
Daniel Deronda: A Prince among Men
Read the book!
Excellent adaptation, insightful and moving
Daniel Deronda discovers his Destiny

Daniel Deronda
Starring: Hugh Dancy , Romola Garai , Hugh Bonneville , Jodhi May , and Edward Fox
Director: Tom Hooper (II)
Manufacturer: BBC Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Miniseries | Television | Genres | DVD | Video