Madame Bovary (1991) (Ws Dub Sub Dol)

Starring:Isabelle Huppert, Jean-FranÃ§ois Balmer, Christophe Malavoy, Jean Yanne, Lucas Belvaux, Christiane Minazzoli, Jean-Louis Maury, Florent Gibassier, Jean-Claude Bouillaud, Sabeline Campo, Yves Verhoeven, Marie Mergey, FranÃ§ois Maistre, Thomas Chabrol, Phillippe Abitol, Henry Ambert, Jean-Marie Arnoux, Henri Attal, Gilette Barbier, Dominique ClÃ©ment
Director: Claude Chabrol
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
It's a mixed blessing, but Claude Chabrol's 1991 adaptation of Madame Bovary can at least claim a proper French pedigree in its fidelity to Flaubert's literary classic. It's certainly more faithful than Madame herself, played here with icy determination by Isabelle Huppert. Frustrated, repressed, and desperate for any opportunity to break free of her numbing marital bondage, the wife of Dr. Bovary finds her chance in the affections of Rodolphe Boulanger (Christophe Malavoy), but she is too shallow and too selfish to sense his lack of commitment. And as Flaubert's tale unfolds (along with Chabrol's dryly accurate interpretation), Emma Bovary finds herself caught in a snare of her own design. This tragedy of self-absorption--a universal study of indulgence, ignominy, and fatal discontent--should prove potent for anyone who feels the oppression of an unhappy marriage, but it's also a compelling study of boredom as an internal phenomenon. Huppert conveys exasperation, passion, and self-destruction in equal measure, yet she barely alters her passive, blank expression; her performance is too cold to ignite the resonant themes of Flaubert's novel. All in all, one wonders if Chabrol--seemingly uneasy with costume drama--is being too respectful of Flaubert at the cost of his own directorial mastery. This is a prestigious and worthwhile adaptation, but like one of Dr. Bovary's patients, it's been bled to the point of paleness and fainting. The result is a literate film that's "good for you," even though it may not be entirely good. --Jeff Shannon

Literary Classics Collection (Madame Bovary (1949), Captain Horatio Hornblower, The Three Musketeers (1948), The Prisoner of Zenda (1937 and 1952 Versions), Billy Budd)
Average customer rating:

Surprised at lack of quality

How I remember these films!

Prisoner of Zenda

DVD of Horatio Hornblower... GREAT!!!

6 GREAT FILMS. GREAT PRESENTATION. GREAT VALUE. BRAVO WB

Literary Classics Collection (Madame Bovary (1949), Captain Horatio Hornblower, The Three Musketeers (1948), The Prisoner of Zenda (1937 and 1952 Versions), Billy Budd)
Starring: Literary Classics Collection
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000KJU18M
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Amazon.com

The great movie tradition of adapting high-toned novels into star-studded vehicles gets an airing in Warner DVD's Literary Classics Collection, a group of six such pictures. It's a grab bag, but some of this stuff is unmissable. The best film in the box might be the 1937 version of The Prisoner of Zenda, Anthony Hope's buckle-swashing tale of a commoner (Ronald Colman) impersonating a lookalike king. This David Selznick production is one of those sparkling examples of the Hollywood heyday of the thirties, in which every cylinder is firing at full speed: buoyant script, luscious black-and-white photography (by the great James Wong Howe), exuberant swordplay, wonderful villainy (take a bow, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Raymond Massey), and a lovely damsel (Madeleine Carroll). John Cromwell directed, although others chimed in. As an adventure picture, it's just about flawless. On the flip side of the disc, the 1952 remake sticks closely to the original--and the formula still works, although the zest isn't quite there. Stewart Granger steps into Colman's shoes, with Deborah Kerr and James Mason in support.

The 1948 version of The Three Musketeers is one of the lesser versions of that swashbuckler; Gene Kelly and Lana Turner leads the cast in a Technicolor-iffic but dramatically underwhelming effort. Raoul Walsh's Captain Horatio Hornblower (1950) delivers thoughtful seagoing strategies, as the British captain navigating gunships and political winds. The movie doesn't have the oomph of the usual Walsh action film, perhaps keyed instead to Gregory Peck's serious presence, but it has a gratifyingly intelligent forward motion. Plus, the Hornblower disc comes with "Captain Hareblower," a Warners cartoon with Bugs Bunny battling Yosemite Sam on the high seas.

The shipboard morality play of Melville's Billy Budd is included here, in the classic 1962 adaptation by director Peter Ustinov (who also plays Captain Vere). Terence Stamp, in his film debut, is the innocent sailor Billy, and Robert Ryan etches one of the all-time portrayals of cold-eyed cruelty as the brutal master-at-arms Claggart. A great conversation piece in the era of the repertory house, the film holds up--and a commentary track with Stamp and Steven Soderbergh provides good stuff on the actor's career start.

The 1949 M-G-M production of Madame Bovary might not please Flaubert purists, but it will impress auteurist fans of Vincente Minnelli. The tale of a wayward small-town wife is infused with Minnelli's swooning grasp of camera movement and décor, and a showpiece ballroom sequence out-duels any Max Ophuls film for swirling dance delirium. Jennifer Jones' alien presence might be a problem for modern viewers, yet her strangeness actually fits the character. This might just be the discovery of the set, which is otherwise filled out with a satisfying batch of vintage cartoons and short subjects. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Surprised at lack of quality.......2007-06-22

I purchased this set mainly for the wonderful 1937 version of "The Prisoner of Zenda." I watched that film first, and was surprised at the lack of quality there. The film does not look to be restored. The picture has a "grainy" look to it. At one point, there are several "scratch" lines running from the top to the bottom of the screen for several frames. The most disappointing flaw, however, occurs near the beginning of the movie: the soundtrack is out of sync with the picture. You see the mouths of the actors move, and there is a split-second delay before you hear the voice. This is most annoying. I have collected many box sets from Warners, and indeed, this company has been my favorite source for the classics. However, their quality does vary from one picture to another (I was very disapointed with "Brigadoon" also -- very poor picture quality). I understand that it takes time and money to restore these pictures, but it also COSTS money to add them to a classic movie collection. If a movie is worth preserving, then it's worth restoring to a near-new quality before producing the DVDs for sale. I realize that we can't have the restoration quality of "The Wizard of Oz" on every product, but for cryin' out loud, can't we at least get a copy of a print with synchronized sound?

How I remember these films!.......2007-05-08

I waited with earnest anticipation for these films to be released. And finally my wish was granted what wondeful and delightful memorys came flooding back to me. How I remember waking early to view these films on The Prize Morning Movie, and how constantly I looked to see if these fims had been released to DVD's, and then suddenly they where all released in One Box Set. I was moved with such joy, I could not wait to view these wonderful restored colored and every thing else they do to restore these films I watched them all in one weekend, I had my own home revival of classic films with popcorn and friends, it was wonderful!!!

Prisoner of Zenda.......2007-05-06

This Definite Literary Classic Collection is great and a great addition to one's collection. My favorite was the 1937 version of The Prisoner of Zenda.

DVD of Horatio Hornblower... GREAT!!!.......2007-03-26

My VHS copy of Horation Hornblower was showing signs of age. I had looked for a DVD copy for three years. When I saw this collection--I bought it for that one movie, but I love Billy Bud, and it's great that it has a commentary. I wish Horatio had one also.

6 GREAT FILMS. GREAT PRESENTATION. GREAT VALUE. BRAVO WB.......2007-03-12

Like so many other Warner Brothers releases, this set will spoil you. A 5 disc set of 6 great films (2 versions of ZENDA on one disc), beautifully remastered, exquisitely packaged, and selling here on Amazon for a bargain price.

This is one to tell your friends about, because there's something for everyone here. I echo all the positive comments left by others, and underscore emphatically how amazing it is to finally have a proper widescreen BILLY BUDD. The other films in the collection haven't been as hard to see or own as BILLY, but BILLY suffered from being made by a small company (Allied Artists).

Warner rectifies that error now with this great new set, which is a no-brainer purchase for any true cinephile.

Average customer rating:

Great crack-whore scene at the end
Masterful adaptation of a difficult piece.
Good film version of a literary classic
An Exceptional Film and Cinematic Treasure
What did they DOOOO!?!?

Madame Bovary (1949)
Starring: Jennifer Jones
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000KJU132
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Description

Romantic drama set in the 19th century about the wife of a country doctor whose dreams of romance, wealth and numerous affairs lead to their financial ruin and her despair.

Customer Reviews:

Great crack-whore scene at the end.......2007-05-12

The differences between Minnelli's film and the novel (especially the Dover Thrift Edition translated by Eleanor Marx Aveling, Karl Marx' daughter) make for interesting classroom discussion. Many themes parallel contemporary life - the notion that `things' will make us happy, obsession with fame, and the crack-whore (so aptly called by a college student) scene at the end.

Masterful adaptation of a difficult piece........2007-05-01

Madame Bovary is a difficut piece to translate to film. It is very easy for the heroine to become either dislikable: either willfull (the PBS version with Francesca Annis) or peevish (the Isabelle Hubert french version).

What Minnelli so masterfully and ironically captures here is the "dream machine" that drives Madame Bovary (and society) to be dissatisfied with their daily lives, to want and need more and therefore to be perpetually unhappy with what they have. Of course, Minnelli was part of that machine for Hollywood, which is the irony. Here he uses the period-correct analogy of romance novels and magazine ads (and to a lesser extent operas and plays) as vehicles that feed and drive Bovary's dissonance with her reality. (James Mason as Flaubert, too!)

The irony that Flaubert was faulted for denegrating the french woman is fully captured here as well. This version still doesn't get to a real meaty statement of realization that men were not considered immorral or corrupt it they have affairs and forget about their children; but women were. Personally, I think that may have been one of Flaubert's real points - this same behavior would have been tolerated and venerated in a male.

Where this production succeeds so brilinatly over the others I mentioned is in the writing and performance of Emma. She is clearly delineated as being a victim of the commercials of her time - the ultimate consumer, and therefore very identifiable. Jone's own personal charm also factors in here. Her fresh innocence and desire to be liked and to entertain come through the role and make her sweeter. Annis is often a bit self satisfied and Hubbert ice cold, making their Emmas less likable, although perfectly valid and well performed roles, just the difference that writing, production and acting bring to the role.

Minnelli liked women and identified with foibles. He gives a very nice slant to Dr. Bovary, too. (Gives him a little more self knowledge and honor than Flaubert did, which also colors the relationship and the film.) Louis Jordan as her dream man is also colored very nicely here, as being sincerely in love with her and very conflicted. Something he does very well, and this all creates a marvelously satisfying production and package. When you add the great score, you have a very fine film indeed.

Good film version of a literary classic.......2007-04-19

Minnelli directed this with his usual tact and talent, though it remains not one of his best works. The stellar cast, however, is excellent, dominating it is Jennifer Jones, beautiful as she can be, and in a paranoic role that suits her well. The sets, costumes, dancing scenes, etc. are shot in Minnelli's typical style. The thing is that a literary classic as this story is is quite impossible to translate into cinema. Hitchcock never dared (he knew better), and explained to Truffaut why these experiments were doomed to fail.

A story like "Madame Bovary" belongs in the books, it's a marriage of language and the imagination. But if somebody had to do it no one better suited than Minnelli.

An Exceptional Film and Cinematic Treasure.......2007-02-26

"Madame Bovary" is one of those rare films that only gets better with age; with each viewing, one notices new elements to appreciate. Vincente Minelli crafted a perfectly literate interpretation of Gustave Flaubert's famed novel. The following is a breakdown of the unifying elements which make "Madame Bovary" so spectacular:
DIRECTION: Minelli's keen eye for composing unforgettable scenes is perfectly realized with "Madame Bovary". The ballroom sequence, with its dizzying 360 degree camera angles, is an exasperating metaphor of Emma Bovary's existence and serves as a symbolic foreshadowing of what is to become of her. C'est magnifique!
SCREENPLAY:Robert Ardrey's screenplay is deftly paced and packed full of poignant dialogue.
CINEMATOGRAPHY: As mentioned earlier, the ballroom sequence is amazing-perhaps the most intricate and inspired of its kind in cinematic history. Robert Planck's moody black & white photography make it all possible. Planck captures Emma at the height of all her fantasies--gazing upward at her reflection, being adored and adulated by throngs of male suitors, in an ornate mirror hanging on the ceiling--brilliant composition!!!
ART & SET DIRECTION: All of the Rococco and Baroque grandeur of 1850s France is expertly represented in "Madame Bovary".
COSTUME DESIGN: Costume designer, Walter Plunkett, also known for his Academy Award winning work in "Gone With the Wind", created costumes for Jennifer Jones which rival his masterpieces for Vivien Leigh. Plunkett complimented Jones saying, "She has exquisite shoulders like Vivien Leigh", and further complimented her in the film by designing a show-stopping ball gown that emphasized her "exquisite shoulders", to say the least. Yards and yards of white toulle give the impression of Jennifer Jones, with her perfect posture and elegant carriage, gliding and floating across the ballroom like a cloud.
MUSICAL SCORE: Most film historians agree that the score for "Madame Bovary" is one of Miklos Rosza's greatest. "The Madame Bovary Waltz" is haunting, energetic, restless-completely representative of Emma Bovary.
PERFORMANCES:Jennifer Jones delivers a superb, emotive performance as Emma Bovary-moments of hysterical melodrama are balanced with poignantly relevant "underacting", such as the unforgettable scene when Emma returns home to her furious husband, Charles after having ingested arsenic. Jones perfectly conveys the gravity of what Emma has done to herself and to the people in her life. She kisses her estranged daughter for the last time. She responds to Charles' accusations, simply, "Don't hate me now, Charles." This is what "character acting" is all about!! Jennifer Jones is in tune with Emma Bovary, from her self-destructive, neurotic drive towards melodrama to her sad, painful death. For her stunning achievement, Jones was awarded the French equivalent of the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film Actress in 1949. Who better to judge one of the greatest French literary heroines than the French themselves?
The Actors: Van Heflin is totally believable as Charles Bovary. Louis Jourdan is perfect as Rodolphe, and makes a beautiful match to Jennifer Jones. James Mason is thoughtful and earnest as the great author, Gustave Flaubert, who also serves as the narrator.
CONCLUSION: "Madame Bovary" is a remarkable achievement in filmmaking. Its longevity has been established, due in part to the cohesive elements listed above. Take note to all of these elements when you watch the film-it will be a much more illuminating and satisfying experience.

What did they DOOOO!?!?.......2007-02-14

Madame Bovary is one of my favorite books, and since I love old movies (pre-1955), I was eager to see this film adapation of it. Jennifer Jones is a sucky Emma. She's a good actress, but she is just not as beautiful or strained as Emma was supposed to be. I think the perfect person for the role of Emma would've been Joan Bennet. This movie was totally risque for the 1940s. It still got over the message of the story though, and it made me cry. But Jennifer Jones was not right for the part, I think.

Average customer rating:

Every sin demands a prize!
The Ice Princess ,the choppy script and the "loveless" lovers
Madame Bovary DVD
One of the best......
Egad! - a French Merchant Ivory movie...only worse!

Madame Bovary
Starring: Isabelle Huppert , Jean-François Balmer , Christophe Malavoy , Jean Yanne , and Lucas Belvaux
Director: Claude Chabrol
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00006L92L
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Amazon.com

It's a mixed blessing, but Claude Chabrol's 1991 adaptation of Madame Bovary can at least claim a proper French pedigree in its fidelity to Flaubert's literary classic. It's certainly more faithful than Madame herself, played here with icy determination by Isabelle Huppert. Frustrated, repressed, and desperate for any opportunity to break free of her numbing marital bondage, the wife of Dr. Bovary finds her chance in the affections of Rodolphe Boulanger (Christophe Malavoy), but she is too shallow and too selfish to sense his lack of commitment. And as Flaubert's tale unfolds (along with Chabrol's dryly accurate interpretation), Emma Bovary finds herself caught in a snare of her own design. This tragedy of self-absorption--a universal study of indulgence, ignominy, and fatal discontent--should prove potent for anyone who feels the oppression of an unhappy marriage, but it's also a compelling study of boredom as an internal phenomenon. Huppert conveys exasperation, passion, and self-destruction in equal measure, yet she barely alters her passive, blank expression; her performance is too cold to ignite the resonant themes of Flaubert's novel. All in all, one wonders if Chabrol--seemingly uneasy with costume drama--is being too respectful of Flaubert at the cost of his own directorial mastery. This is a prestigious and worthwhile adaptation, but like one of Dr. Bovary's patients, it's been bled to the point of paleness and fainting. The result is a literate film that's "good for you," even though it may not be entirely good. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Every sin demands a prize!.......2007-06-30

Madame Bovary is one of the most priceless examples of the Romantic literature that stands out among a group of related works in other countries. As a matter of fact, you may include Anna Karenina in Russia, Effie Briest in Germany and Tess in England.

The common denominator has to do with the lack of satisfaction, the ceaseless search of new experiences, far beyond the hover of social conventionalisms, boredom and the febrile circumstance of breaking the chains of the tradition, it's far to be an apology to adultery, it's the final result of the Romantic view of the feminine universe, where the women just began to realize the importance of them as human being and not simply as an object for sexual enjoyment.

So, this adaptation made by Claude Chabrol, takes into account this scream of desperation, loneliness, boredom and hopeless about the dreams and unsatisfied desires of simple woman, curious but endowed of a strong character who realizes her vision of the world is beyond the approach of her weak husband.

She will decide - regardless the social conventionalisms - to follow her bliss and her pursuit for happiness, no matter the consequences she had to pay after the scandal is reveled. But that fatal decision has its prize, and soon the ambition, caprices will demand its counterpart, that slow but irreversibly will lead her to a tragic final.

But what I mostly enjoyed of the movie was the way Chabrol carved in relief these little sins of the social environment, whose moral corruption and ethic decay bright with nasty intensity.

Isabelle Huppert, shows us once more why she was the perfect actress to perform this role, the camerawork and the theatrical feature of the play may be appreciated in its horrid intensity and superb realism.

Don't miss this classic film, frequently included among the most representative ones any time. In fact, the prestigious "Facets" included this one among the best 600 foreign films ever made, and that means by itself a remarkable opinion.

Go for this one and enjoy it over and over. It's a masterpiece.

The Ice Princess ,the choppy script and the "loveless" lovers.......2007-01-17

Not knowing the original source material by Flaubert allowed me to view this 1991 adaptation for the presented movie itself.In a nutshell,the script was extremely choppy and clunky( like a figure skater who proceeds from jump to jump with no connecting movement),the "passion" of Bovary and her "lovers" was positively passionLESS(where did these people learn to kiss???),and Isabelle Huppert's interpretation of the title character made Scarlett O'Hara seem more like Mother Theresa of Calcutta!The only character that summoned any sympathy from me was Dr.Bovary who was hopelessly devoted to his icy,selfish,narcissistic wife.
I watched this film because the current Golden Globe nominated movie LITTLE CHILDREN starring Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson is based out of the novel MADAME BOVARY and is far more interesting with it's tight and seemless script,flawless acting and direction.Having seen LITTLE CHILDREN,MADAME BOVARY seemed simply dull,lifeless and especially lacking in passion.I have never seen such awful and ridiculous "love scenes" than the ones in this film.For a French film that was to be somewhat scandalous, there most certainly was no Ooo-La-La!
Pretty costumes were the only things that remotely made this period piece watchable.

Madame Bovary DVD.......2007-01-03

A must-see movie to learn the about perils of greed. Excellent protrayal by Isabelle Hupert. Best if you know French

One of the best.............2006-04-25

This is one of my top favourite adaptions of this life changing story.

They stuck well to the book and the "feel" of Emma, the locales and the motivations. It seems a lot of adapations don't do that.

Huppert I thought was perfect to play Emma. She had just the right self-centered, clueless passion.

Egad! - a French Merchant Ivory movie...only worse!.......2004-10-24

The French have made many magnificent historical films, for example Ridicule, Colonel Chabert & Queen Margot. But this one is really awful. The acting is stagy. The script is choppy. Huppert, although in her late 30s here, looks at least 50. She's supposed to be a naive young impulsive country doctor's wife. But Huppert is not young, she's not country & she is definitely not naive. She's just very boring.

Average customer rating:

Not exactly likable, but SO well done!
Definitive Bovary
Good performance by Francesca Annis

Madame Bovary - The Complete Miniseries
Starring: Elizabeth Proud , Jack Le White , Oliver Gilbert , Antony Carrick , and Tom Conti
Director: Rodney Bennett
Manufacturer: WEA
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000A5A1N
Release Date: 2003-09-30

Description

Would you risk everything to achieve your dreams? For beautiful young Emma Bovary, a life of passion and excitement is worth any price. Like a moth drawn to flame, she is entranced by the exotic worlds of romance and adventure found in her favorite novels. Experience her story of illicit passion, ultimate betrayal and heartbreaking tragedy in Gustave Flaubert's classic Madame Bovary. This faithful BBC dramatization follows Emma's determined attempts to turn her fantasies into reality — from a loveless marriage to a kind but dull country doctor...through her torrid, ill-fated affairs...to a final, tragic attempt to break free from the nightmare her life has become. Madame Bovary vividly depicts one woman's search for happiness in the world of class struggle, manners and expectations of mid-nineteenth century France.

Customer Reviews:

Not exactly likable, but SO well done!.......2006-12-11

This is one of the better historical dramas from the 1970s. Many are stagey and slow, and while this production of MADAME BOVARY is very much constrained to stay indoors, this works to advantage for this story of a woman who feels so trapped by her life and her world.

Emma Bovary is not a very sympathetic creature. She is married to a man who loves her with all his heart, who tries to give her everything she wants, is willing to ruin himself to make her happy, and she still cheats on him and remains miserable. In short, she is selfish and inconsiderate, as ugly inside as she is pretty on the outside.

Francesca Annis plays Emma. She is indeed very beautiful. As an actress she often comes across as bright and hard, flirty and flighty, but cold and self satisfied. These qualities, of course, are perfect for this character. Here she seems to be more in love with the idea of being in love than actually loving. Almost anything to break up the dismal tedium of her life and her disgust with everyone and everything in it.

It is very hard for a modern audience to feel sorry for her. Her daily trial does not include housework or drudgery, she has maids for that. She is bored because she is useless, she is useless because she is too lazy to seek something meaningful to do; she wants life to be a party, and resents it when it is not.

Tom Conti plays her devoted husband, who is completely devoid of ambition, in work or society. As an actor, Conti often seems to have just woken from a nap, and this dampness is just right for Dr. Bovary. He too is very lazy in his way, but his seems to stem from ignorance. When contrasted with Emma's willfulness, her husband seems the infinitely better of the two. Conti is really fine here as a man completely out of his depth with this racehorse of a wife.

In much the same way, while Annis is briskly carrying every scene, Conti just quietly steals every one of them. A perfect pairing for these roles.

All the actors here are top notch, and the casting a bit off beat, which adds to the interest. The costumes, especially Emmas, are a luxurious parade of overindulgence. Absolutely beautiful. While we as an audience enjoy the parade of finery, we can also see how this wardrobe would drive even the richest man into the poorhouse. The production is topped off with a novel and lovely score of predominantly piano compositions; pretty and liltling, but melancholy and dissonant.

Don't let this one get lost in the shuffle, it is worth seeing.

Definitive Bovary.......2005-02-04

This adaptation of Gustave Flaubert's sublime masterpiece 'Madame Bovary' is excellent. Presented as four fifty-minute episodes by BBC TV in 1975, it explores the entire novel in huge detail and is much better than the recent adaptation starring Frances O'Conor (although that was still good).

The exquisite Francesca Annis is perfectly cast as Emma, Flaubert's heroine/anti-herione. If, like me, you admire her in this, I would highly reccommend 'Lillie', an outstanding dramatisation of the life of Lillie Langtry with Annis in the title role - in my opinion, she is even better in that.

Despite Annis' great performance, I have to say it is Tom Conti who steals the show as Emma's long-suffering husband Charles. The rest of the cast is very good too, particularly Denis Lill, John Cater and David Waller.

A truly wonderful, flawless production - one to keep beside 'Anna Karenina' (BBC TV 1977), 'The First Churchills' (BBC TV 1969) and 'Pennies From Heaven' (BBC TV 1978).

P.S. I would very much like to see the earlier sixties' adaptation by BBC TV, starring Nyree Dawn Porter - hopefully that will soon become available, but I doubt it could possibly be as good as this one.

Good performance by Francesca Annis.......2004-06-26

This dvd does seem quite outdated, but then again, it is an old mini series. However, the excellent performance by the cast makes it worth watching. Francesca Annis does a great job of portraying the tormented Madame Bovary, who despite her humble beginnings, constantly craves for more passion, and the finer things in life, which her husband is unable to provide. The dramatisation is well-done, and the series on the whole is watchable.

Madame Bovary [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Netherlands ]

Average customer rating:

Madame Bovary [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Netherlands ]
Director: Tim Fywell
Manufacturer: Just Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BRBY7U

Product Description

Netherlands released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. Languages: o Dutch (subtitles) o English (Dolby Digital 5.1) Synopsis: Previously filmed by such cinematic geniuses as Jean Renoir and Vincente Minnelli, Gustave Flaubert's once-scandalous 1857 novel Madame Bovary was transformed into a two-part British miniseries in 2000. Set in the rural Normandy of the 1830s and 1840s, this is the story of Emma Rouault (Frances O'Connor), the pampered, well-educated daughter of a wealthy gentleman. Much to her own surprise, Emma accepts the marriage proposal of Charles Bovary (Hugh Bonneville), the provincial doctor who ministers to M. Rouault during a moment of medical crisis. Once she has become Madame Bovary, Emma quickly grows bored with her bourgeois existence, retreating into erotic fantasies stoked by her addiction to romantic novels. Inevitably, Emma strays from her marital vows, first with a handsome young clerk named Leon (Hugh Dancy), then with dashing country squire Rodolphe (Greg Wise). In order to sustain the lavish lifestyle which she feels is her basic right, Emma squanders all of her husband's money -- which plays right into the hands of usurious draper Lheureux (Keith Barron), who has his own wicked plans for the foolishly extravagant Mme. Bovary. Special Features: o Interactive Menu o Scene Access

Average customer rating:

Every sin demands a prize!
The Ice Princess ,the choppy script and the "loveless" lovers
Madame Bovary DVD
One of the best......
Egad! - a French Merchant Ivory movie...only worse!

Madame Bovary [Region 2]
Starring: Isabelle Huppert , Jean-François Balmer , Christophe Malavoy , Jean Yanne , and Lucas Belvaux
Director: Claude Chabrol
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Cyrano de Bergerac
The Widow of Saint-Pierre
Madame Bovary (1949)
The Story of Adele H
Ridicule

ASIN: B000063BLT

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Every sin demands a prize!.......2007-06-30

The Ice Princess ,the choppy script and the "loveless" lovers.......2007-01-17

Madame Bovary DVD.......2007-01-03

A must-see movie to learn the about perils of greed. Excellent protrayal by Isabelle Hupert. Best if you know French

One of the best.............2006-04-25

Egad! - a French Merchant Ivory movie...only worse!.......2004-10-24

Average customer rating:

Every sin demands a prize!
The Ice Princess ,the choppy script and the "loveless" lovers
Madame Bovary DVD
One of the best......
Egad! - a French Merchant Ivory movie...only worse!

Madame Bovary [Region 2]
Starring: Isabelle Huppert , Jean-François Balmer , Christophe Malavoy , Jean Yanne , and Lucas Belvaux
Director: Claude Chabrol
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video