Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-02-11
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Formats: Colour, Dolby, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 275 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Based on a trio of novels by Elizabeth Gaskell, Cranford is the latest in a long line of sumptuous costume dramas from the BBC. And it's a fine addition to the BBC's heritage too, pulling together a stellar cast for an involving, highly enjoyable series that's well worth picking up on DVD.

The key asset Cranford has in its corner is that aforementioned cast. It's lead by the marvellous Dame Judi Dench, and she's in fine company alongside Dame Eileen Atkins, Francesca Annis, Michael Gambon, Julia Sawalha and Imelda Staunton. They're just some of the residents of Cranford in the 1840s, a town in the north of England on the verge of potentially dramatic changes.

In the midst of the general feeling of unrest comes a new Doctor, Frank Harrison (played by Simon Woods). His presence further unsettles matters, thanks to his appeal to the town's female contingent, and also his differing methods. From here, Cranford goes on to deliver an engrossing cocktail of humour, emotion and raw drama that's quite brilliantly put together.

Cranford is, ultimately, the kind of lavish production that we've come to know and admire from the BBC. It's a very good drama, spread across five episodes, that simply leaves you thirsting for the next time the corporation unlocks the costume cupboard. That time can't come soon enough. --Jon Foster

DVD Description
This is the DVD of the lavish BBC costume drama, Cranford, based on three of Elizabeth Gaskell's novels including Cranford itself.

The cast boasts some of Britain's best-loved and most experienced actresses, including Dame Judi Dench, Dame Eileen Atkins, Imelda Staunton and Francesca Annis.

The five-part drama series tells the witty and poignant story of the small absurdities and major tragedies in the lives of the people of Cranford, as they are besieged by forces that they can't withstand.

Cranford in the 1840s is a small northern English town on the cusp of change. Things are on the move. The railway is pushing its way relentlessly towards the town from Manchester, bringing fears of migrant workers and the breakdown of law and order.

The arrival of handsome new doctor, Frank Harrison (Simon Woods) from London causes a stir; not only because of his revolutionary medical methods, but also because of the effect he has on many of the ladies' hearts in the town.

Judi Dench plays Miss Matty Jenkyns, whose hopes and rebellious spirit are crushed when she was forced as a young woman to give up Mr Holbrook (Michael Gambon), the man she loved.

Philip Glenister, Lesley Manville, Julia McKenzie, Julia Sawalha and Greg Wise also star alongside Judi Dench and the above-mentioned actors. Created by Sue Birtwistle and Susie Conklin for BBC One and written by Heidi Thomas (I Capture The Castle, Madam Bovary, Lilies).

Synopsis
Set in a 1840s Cranford—a small, idyllic Northern English town—where the residents are coping with a sea of change that includes a new railway network that threatens to unleash a tide of immigrant workers that the locals fear will reduce their town to lawlessness...

Customer Reviews

More Please!
Enjoyed every minute of this beautiful series. A well told story, brilliant actors, sumptuous style, truly wonderful!

Fine weave
This a triumph for all concerned. Quality through and through, right down to its boots (and the cat in one). Andrew Davies, scriptwriter on "Wives and Daughters", realised Elizabeth Gaskell's important creative legacy: she told us HOW people lived 140 years ago - their food, carriages, clothes, finances, fears, prejudices and funny bones - without the Dickensian filter of caricature. Sue Birtwhistle and Co. have created a new story from Gaskell fragments that is completely true to the strength and spirit of her. Unusual is the focus on the lives of mainly older women living without men. This may seem, at first glance, a modern feminist fancy. But war, illness, family and social impediments, and choice, produced many a spinster and widow in those days, and if Cranford seems somewhat overstocked with them, well, that allows us so much more fun. The story is cleverly plotted, often poignant and moving, and blessed with wonderful dialogue that shimmers and darts between the many endearing characters. The richness of the weave, indeed, is in the range and depth of characterisation. This series takes a high place among television period dramas.

Touching and involving but SO grim!
Absolutely faultless in terms of acting, story, setting and wardrobe, but in every episode something miserable lands on the village. For the last three of the five episodes I was predicting who would die next, who would get a horrible disease and fever, or who would appear out of the blue and then who would get together with who. There's so much warmth in the story that it's hard to dislike it and the feel good side is very high, but you have to pay for that! Death haunts every episode and tears flow like rivers all the time and that would stop me watching it again even though the rest of the series is so enjoyable. I would have marked it down for that, but to be harsh on such a well made series would be wrong. The goodness in human nature holds everything together and resilience in adversity is at the heart of Cranford.

When a cast of great actors gets together and there's not an ego in sight, this is what you get.