Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6122 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-01-01
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen, Colour
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 198 minutes

Synopsis
Ciaran Hinds (PERSUASION, CIRCLE OF FRIENDS) stars as the tormented Michael Henchard in this lavish adaptation of Thomas Hardy's classic novel THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE. One day, in a destitute and drunken state, Henchard sells his wife and daughter to a sailor at a county fair. Haunted by the memory of this betrayal, the itinerant farmhand decides to change his ways and in the process becomes a respectable, prosperous man. Twenty years later, his wife and daughter reappear on his doorstep, offering Henchard the choice of redemption or a further descent into the web of deceit and betrayal.

Customer Reviews

Quality Historical Drama
I purchased this DVD as it was cheap, I enjoy historical drama and I recognised three of the lead actors from the very successful HBO Rome. I was very positively surprised and wondered why I've not seen this on television or seen it repeated endlessly on cable television as its quality historical drama with a good script, attention to historical detail, sympathetic cinematography and excellent acting performances.

I can only imagine that it's the tale that doesn't light the imagination of the modern audience, as the story of The Mayor of Casterbridge in typical Hardy style is not a jolly tome as it tells the tale of a man's selfishness and ego destroying his life and those of those around him. The lead actor Ciaran Hinds puts in a great performance as despite playing a man who in many ways is fundamentally un-likeable he is is believable and vulnerable. The rest of the acting troop are all well known from our television screens, and, I felt were given the chance to give sensitive performances via a solid script. There is some love interest via the good looking and successful young man played by James Purfoy but the main story revolves around the Mayor and the poor choices he makes in life - all told in the suffocating world of a small town in Dorset overflowing with Victorian values.

Be prepared for tears before bedtime, and if that doesn't put you off and you enjoy historical drama this is a good example.

faithfully hardy
This is a truly splendid production. Ted Whitehead's screenplay manages to capture the spirit of the book and yet deliver a fluent and stimulating dramatization. The production design and art design are extraordinarily beautiful and convincing in their detail. All the cast carry off their roles well. Ciaran Hinds as the Mayor is just about perfect - his impetuosity and passionate temperament are totally believable. Jodhi May is affecting as his "daughter" - some of their scenes together linger long afterwards in the memory. Juliet Aubrey is wonderful in a part quite unlike any I have seen her in, and she "ages" brilliantly. James Purefoy is terrific as the Scotsman Farfrae - never a swagger. The story is engaging and deeply moving. It is one Hardy's best books and this is surely one of the best adaptations of Hardy ever put to screen.

The only bugbear is that the DVD product says, on the box, that it has a number of special features. None actually appears on the disc. Also there are no subtitles. It is a good looking and sounding transfer, but the unfulfilled promise of more is a disappointment. The film itself is so good I cannot bring myself to deduct a star for the omissions.

Excellent transaction
I haven't watched the DVD yet so cannot comment although I recently read the book which gave me the impetus to buy the DVD. It was a good story with lots of twists.