Love for Lydia

Starring:Michael Aldridge, Christopher Blake, Peter Davison, Jeremy Irons, Rachel Kempson, Beatrix Lehmann, Mel Martin, David Ryall, Ralph Arliss, Sherrie Hewson, Wendy Gifford, Christopher Hancock, Michael Mills, Shirley Cain, Neal Arden, Julia McCarthy, Basil Clarke, Georgine Anderson, Eileen Waugh, Laidlaw Dalling
Director: Tony Wharmby, Christopher Hodson, Piers Haggard
Studio: Acorn Media
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Love for Lydia is almost inexplicably engrossing. The central character, Edward Richardson (Christopher Blake), is a young, would-be writer whose emotional immaturity and lack of worldly experience in the Roaring Twenties hamper his aspirations. Worse, he seems incapable of a selfless deed and at times is an outright brute, particularly toward women.

Edward's obsessive longing for the beautiful Lydia Aspen (Mel Martin), a once-sheltered heiress sent to live with two elderly aunts and a drunken uncle in Edward's small, English hometown, can be redundant and tedious. His childhood friends include the wealthy Alex (Jeremy Irons), a charming, even buoyant alcoholic whose vaguely incestuous bond with a youthful mother has made him an unrepentant heartbreaker. Both men grew up with sibling farmers Tom (Peter Davison) and Nancy (Sherrie Hewson) Holland, the former a naive pushover and the latter a country mouse bravely nursing an unrequited love for Edward. None of these characters is prepared for Lydia, a suggestively psychotic angel who plays each of them against the others in her bid for sexual independence and thrill-seeking.

It may be asking a lot to expect viewers to spend 13 near-hour-long episodes with these sometimes painfully unripened people (the series was originally broadcast in America on Masterpiece Theatre, in 1979). Yet Love for Lydia, based on a novel by H.E. Bates, is a compelling, unusually Darwinian drama about surviving a difficult transition into adulthood during heady times. Not everyone is going to come through, and those who do may or may not, for those keeping score, be the most cosmetically appealing or romantically deserving. (The series' very title, Love for Lydia, may evoke hearts and flowers, but in the context of the story it also suggests a syndrome of restless, compulsive self-interest, a shadowy period before one's facility to achieve an attainable destiny, at any cost, reveals itself.)

Description

This witty, musical version of The Philadelphia Story stars Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and the jazz master himself, Louis Armstrong, playing the hottest trumpet in the land. Year: 1956 Director: Charles Waters Starring: Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong

Customer Reviews:

High Society.......2007-04-03

I loved this film. The acting was better than many of the musicals I have, and it has some of the greatest singers of all time. The weakest acting was by Grace Kelly. I have several of her films and felt she was utilized for her extreme beauty and grace more than her acting ability. I think she made a better princess. However, musically you don't get better than Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra, and the great Satchmo, Louis Armstrong...Wow! The story was based on a previous 1930's movie, "The Philadelphia Story" only it was moved geographically to Newport, RI. I feel this was a good choice, but then I lived in the Newport area for 20 years and there was a little nostalgia in it for me. I have seen this movie many times over, and I will see it over again. It's one you won't tire of. If they could have worked in some Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire dances, it could have been even better.

High Society DVD - Great Video .......2007-03-17

This is one of my wife's favorite movies and our VHS tape had faded. This DVD replaced it with clearer video, excellent sound, non-fade media and many extras. A very good value.

musicals.......2007-01-10

recently saw a play based on this movie and wanted to see how it compared with the movie. They were both good and remined us of the earlier days of movie making ,esp musicals.

fun and classy.......2006-11-10

This movie has class and is true entertainment. A romantic story which has one of hollywoods most beautiful legends, Grace Kelly. Grace and Bing remind of the days I miss.

High Society.......2006-11-10

Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong- the Philadelphia Story done one better with a jazz beat, "True Love" is the song of the movie, and describes it perfectly.

Average customer rating:

Love for Lydia
Starring: Michael Aldridge , Christopher Blake , Peter Davison , Jeremy Irons , and Rachel Kempson
Director: Michael A. Simpson , Christopher Hodson , and Simon Langton
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Period Piece | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Television | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0000ACOYN
Release Date: 2003-09-09

Amazon.com

Love for Lydia is almost inexplicably engrossing. The central character, Edward Richardson (Christopher Blake), is a young, would-be writer whose emotional immaturity and lack of worldly experience in the Roaring Twenties hamper his aspirations. Worse, he seems incapable of a selfless deed and at times is an outright brute, particularly toward women.

It may be asking a lot to expect viewers to spend 13 near-hour-long episodes with these sometimes painfully unripened people (the series was originally broadcast in America on Masterpiece Theatre, in 1979). Yet Love for Lydia, based on a novel by H.E. Bates, is a compelling, unusually Darwinian drama about surviving a difficult transition into adulthood during heady times. Not everyone is going to come through, and those who do may or may not, for those keeping score, be the most cosmetically appealing or romantically deserving. (The series' very title, Love for Lydia, may evoke hearts and flowers, but in the context of the story it also suggests a syndrome of restless, compulsive self-interest, a shadowy period before one's facility to achieve an attainable destiny, at any cost, reveals itself.)

Product Description

Josh (Actor/comedian Jason Stuart) is a sensitive, Jewish, thirty-something, who just found out that his boyfriend of 10 years is a cheater. Spurred on by a bet from his best friend Brandon (newcomer, Christopher Cowan) with encouragement from his sister (Alexandra Paul, Baywatch) Josh sets out to find true love in the shallow pools of West Hollywood. If he fails, the lonely solitude of Cleveland, Ohio awaits him. Yikes! Refashioned by Jim J. Bullock (Too Close For Comfort), Josh sets out on the prowl. During the search for Mr. Right, Josh meets a bevy of attitudes: Bryce (Comedian, Scott Kennedy) the only remaining Marky Mark fan, Billy (David Faustino, Married With Children) the straight guy indulging his girlfriend s boy on boy fetish, a faux film maker (Sean Kanan, Bold & The Beautiful) and (Comedy Goddess) Judy Tenuta with some estranged love advice. Follow Josh on a whirlwind tour of the prevailing 10 Attitudes in Los Angeles, to see if he can find the loyal, trustworthy man who just puts three Equals in his coffee.

Average customer rating:

Ding-a-Ling-Less
Starring: Lydia Toon Fleuery , Charlotte Hackman , Robin Myriah Hatcher , Matthew Helms , and Jeff Johnston
Manufacturer: GO-KART RECORDS
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0002ZDPXM
Release Date: 2004-12-07

Average customer rating:

Love for Lydia
Starring: Michael Aldridge , Christopher Blake , Peter Davison , Jeremy Irons , and Rachel Kempson
Director: Tony Wharmby , Christopher Hodson , and Piers Haggard
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0001V017A

Average customer rating:

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0001IMCR0

Average customer rating:

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0001IMCPW

Average customer rating:

Love for Lydia - Part 3
Starring: Michael Aldridge , Christopher Blake , Peter Davison , Jeremy Irons , and Rachel Kempson
Director: Tony Wharmby , Christopher Hodson , and Piers Haggard
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00023JGUK

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