Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7104 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-09-26
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 385 minutes

DVD Description
Thomas Hardy's powerful tale of a rich and respectable man who auctions his wife and child at a West Country fair. The remorse of the Mayor of Casterbridge finally destroys him. Screened in over 30 countries.

Synopsis
Alan Bates stars as the tormented Michael Henchard in this 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

Another Alan Bates triumph!
I saw this adaptation when it was first televised and was totally enthralled by it. Alan Bates gave a well balanced and sensitive performance of the Mayor tortured by his past. The supporting players including Janet Maw and Annie Massey were particularly impressive too. The period was well captured and the essence of the story was further enhanced by the touching music score of Carl Davis. I loved it then and I love it now! A dvd to be treasured!

You can almost smell thecountryside
I always did think this was a wonderful series and I still do. Alan Bates as Henchard was a perfect mix of bluster and vulnerability and the rest of the cast were really top notch.

The slow country pace of the book is rendered superbly and it all seem so authentically rural that you can almost smell the country air.

A sad, sad tale, and I really felt sympathy for the character of Henchard. Simply filmed, with a really good soundtrack.

You'll guess that I like this and I do. 5 stars everytime.

HARDY, POTTER, AND BATES - wow!
Another example of excellent BBC telly drama - in the days before the Corporation was determined to become poor man's cinema.

A dramatisation by Dennis Potter, no less (the perfect man for this job) combined with an extremely good cast, makes this 1978 gem a collector's classic.

The nice thing about adaptations like this is that they allow time for the plot to breathe - and the viewer isn't left with his or her head spinning after a glossy roller-coaster ride through the bare essentials of the original story ...

(I know I'm a fan of these older 'classic serials' - and view most of them all with a fondness probably born of nostalgia, but hey - why not ? These are high quality programmes, beautifully made and performed. They deserve to be treasured - and most of them knock spots off more recent attempts.)

Go ahead and order - it's well worth it.