Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #707 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-10-28
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 185 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Screenwriter Andrew Davies describes Tipping the Velvet, his adaptation of Sarah Waters's acclaimed novel of lesbian love, betrayal and redemption in Victorian England, as "Pride and Prejudice with dirty bits". This three-part BBC production chronicles with relish the story of Nan Astley (Rachael Stirling, the ravishing image of her mother, Diana Rigg), barely 18, and certain that life holds more for her than her oyster girl's existence. "You'll meet someone who'll have your head spinning and your legs turning to jelly", her sister promises. That someone surprisingly turns out to be "gay and bold" Kitty Butler (Keeley Hawes), a music-hall entertainer with whom Nan falls instantly, and swooningly, in love. Nan follows her to London, where, as a double act, they become the toast of London, until Kitty's "marriage of convenience" breaks up the act and Nan's heart. The outcast Nan, decked out in Victor/Victoria duds, becomes a streetwalker, and then "tart" to the aptly named Diana Leatherby (Anna Chancellor). This affair, too, comes to "a bad end" as a destitute Nan is deposited back on the streets, where she insinuates herself into the lives of Florence (Jodhi May), a social worker, and her socialist brother.

Is Nan "too spoiled and stained for love"? Will she risk her blossoming relationship with Florence when Kitty inevitably returns to rekindle their affair? Nan's couplings, while tastefully done, do carry what Waters calls "a queer erotic charge". They are graphic by BBC standards. But the sterling writing and performances will captivate even the most sensitive viewers, making this groundbreaking mini-series, to quote one character, "a delightful evening... a rare treat". --Donald Liebenson

DVD Description
Contains the following episodes:

• Episode 1: The glamorous world of the 19th century music hall provides the backdrop for Nan’s first love affair with Kitty Butler, a popular male impersonator. When Kitty is offered the chance to perform in London, a delighted Nan accompanies her as a dresser, but true success doesn’t happen until Nan becomes part of the act.
  
• Episode 2: Alone and devastated by her betrayal, Nan cannot return to her family in Whitstable so takes to the streets to survive. In her guise as a male impersonator, she finds a niche in the Victorian sexual underworld and is also drawn into the web of a rich Sapphic, society widow who offers sex, excitement and luxury but at a perilous price.
  
• Episode 3: Diana throws out Nan and Blake and Blake disappears with all of the money, leaving a totally destitute Nan. The only person she can think to turn to ends up unwelcoming to her. So begins a very different phase for Nan, which leads ultimately to her making the most important decision of her life.

Special Features

• Interview with Andrew Davies and Sarah Waters
  
• Stills Gallery

DVD Technical Information:

• 16: 9 Anamorphic
  
• PAL
  
• Region Code: 2
  
• Running Time: 178 minutes approx.

Customer Reviews

i first watched it on TV
When it aired in my country in the summer of 2002 and i loved it. it was one of the best mini series i have ever watched. i don't know if it was the subject, gay romance in 19 century England, but this is to this day still in my top 5 of most see mini series.
the plot, the script, the character and the acting are amazing. you can tell it is BBC made due to it's quality.
i highly recommend it and If you don't want to buy try and rent it from somewhere I promise it be worth it.

Vapid and Shallow
This is tv at its worst! A vapid story with shallow characters, I can only imagine that it was designed as titillation for the unsophisticated. And, by the way, isn't the story stolen from a Penthouse comic circa 1972? Shame on you BBC.

A brilliant adaptation
Sarah Waters is one of my favourite novelists and "Tipping the Velvet" was the first of her books I read. I love the book and I have to admit that I was both excited by the idea of the TV adaptation but also worried that it might be done in a sensationalist way.

I was wrong. The adaptation was pretty good and I was glued to the TV when it was first shown. Rachael Stirling is brilliant as Nan and the rest of the cast are good too. Nan's affair with Florence is handled so well and with great sensitivity, it is really touching to see it and it made me cry. I must also mention Anna Chancellor too. She is perfectly cast as the imperious Diana Leatherby.

This DVD is an essential for any collection in my opinion, not only for those of us with a personal interest in the subject but also for anyone who likes period drama away from the "crinolines and bonnets" genre.