The Jewel in the Crown (25th Anniversary Edition)
Product Details | Similar Products | Customer Reviews | Starring: ~ Peggy Ashcroft, Charles Dance Art Malik List Price: $39.95 Our Price: $37.49 You Save: $2.46 (6%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours  |
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 | Product Details: Studio: A&E Home Video Rating:   Sales Rank: 7546 | | Look for similar DVDs by genre: | | Customers who bought this item also bought:
| | Customer Reviews: Very enjoyable. (20 August 2010)This mini-series is well acted, informative of India's history and worth every penny. I read reviews with complaints as to the quality of the DVD transfer, which almost caused me to avoid buying it. What a mistake that would have been. Is it a Star Wars techno-drama, no. Nor should one expect it to be. It's a 1984 mini-series grounded in history and the story requires no snazzy technical wizardry. The transfer is clean and the sound is clear. You will have no regrets if you purchase this DVD. You will have hours of enjoyment in watching it. India Drama During English Rule (11 July 2010)Among the classic installments which aired on PBS Masterpiece Theater over the past 25 years, THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN is one of the best. Although this series first aired in 1984, this multi-layered story about life in India during the 40's continues to pack a powerful and complex dramatization about inter-racial relationships, social and cultural prejudice, classicism, bigotry, hypocrisy, and the effect of imperialism of the British Raj on India, its princely states, and its people. This ambitious epic tackles intricate details about the lives and customs of the ruling high caste Hindu class, and the British who ultimately control and rule their country. Yet, accurately interwoven is the story about the political mood of India; clashes between Hindu and Muslim, strife between the militant rebels and the followers of Gandhi at the height of India's struggle for self-rule and independence. Equally compelling, THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN is also a story about the idiosyncrasies and fallibility of human nature; expertly portrayed by a cast of exception actors: lust for power, hedonism/sadism, vanity, narcissism, deception, cruelty and envy, but also honor and loyalty. The host of characters are unforgettable, and you will long remember the interrelationships of the many individuals who emerge as heroes/heroines, conspirators, villains, martyrs, and the 'righteous'. This DVD mini-series includes four disks, and the quality was very good. If you are a fan of classic PBS mini-series, I urge you to include this DVD box set in your collection. Maizie Lucille James July 11, 2010 The Jewel and the Crown (26 May 2010)Overall, I think this is the best saga of India under the British. The racial prejudice and exploytation ran all through the series. A lot of middle class Brits went out there just to take advantage of the cheap labor which enabled them to live as they never could at home. The underlying rage of the people of India having their culture taken over was obvious and it seemed that the Brits were completely oblivious to what was going on with the natives in spite of all the bowing and scraping. They (the Brits) chose to close their eyes and pretend that all was well. The characters were strong and the acting was great. Would highly recommend this series to anyone interested in India or just a good story. The Jewel in the Crown (21 February 2010)I was so thrilled when I managed to purchase this video through Amazon because in Australia it is out of print. Loved the quality of the video considering its age. Thank you Amazon Hooray Granada! Boo A&E! (06 January 2010)The Jewel in the Crown was a hallmark achievement for television, really the best thing I'd seen on TV in my life until, possibly, the third season of Mad Men. But watching it again, I'm thinking the Jewel is still in first place. So kudos to Granada for creating it. There are so many forces, personal, cultural, sexual, racial, and historic, at work in this complex narrative, I could watch it over and over. It doesn't hurt that it's enacted by a brilliant cast, including legends like Dame Peggy Ashcroft and Rachel Kempson. Judy Parfitt is absolutely chilling. But the video transfer in this set is a crime, really. I remember being struck by the gorgeous location photography when the series first aired. The video quality of this set is jarringly ugly. Surely this is worth a restoration or digital remastering. Shame on A&E for not caring enough to do this properly. Watching this is like looking at the Mona Lisa smeared with vaseline and dryer lint. If it's the only way I can see the Mona Lisa, sure, I'll look. But it deserves better. |
