Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9781569382820
Format: Box set
ISBN: 1569382824
Label: Acorn Media
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
Number Of Items: 4
Publisher: Acorn Media
Release Date: 1999-09-11
Running Time: 220
Studio: Acorn Media
Theatrical Release Date: 1980-06-01

Any good biography of Benjamin Disraeli must necessarily be a mix of partisan-politics oratory and romance-novel sensationalism, even though historiographers might like to forget that the young Disraeli was best known as a kind of 1840s Jackie Collins. So much the more remarkable that such a man--a Jewish man, to boot--became one of the greatest politicians of 19th-century Great Britain. Ian McShane gives an all-encompassing performance in this four-cassette drama, ranging from the young, womanizing Disraeli whose sexual escapades helped get him elected to Parliament to the asthma-afflicted elder statesman long favored by Queen Victoria over archrival Gladstone; at Disraeli's death the queen herself set primroses on his grave. The breadth of acting McShane demonstrates in this production is remarkable given the half-century it spans, and Mary Peach's Victoria is a depiction of the modern world's longest-ruling monarch praiseworthy for its avoidance of Victoria's clichés. Though some audiences will at times find the slow pace difficult to bear, this portrait of Disraeli is refreshing and sober, from its non-Hollywood, theatrical staging to its thoughtful and articulate script by David Butler. --Erik Macki

Customer Rating:
Summary: Disraeli
Comment: I would really have appreciated it if there had been subtitles with this as the sound track and accents are a bit difficult to understand.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Great DVD, give it a change.
Comment: At first I was somewhat disappointed, as this product was more like a play than a movie.
Maybe so, but excellent for what it is. Furthermore, it contains a lot of nuance and detail that I could not absorb the first viewing.
Very interesting from many different aspects, Historical, Political, Personal, Literary, Disraeli the convert.
I enjoyed this very much, and also find much relevancy to US politics in the current time.
Highly recommended.
BTW, the acting and actors are superb, especially Mr. McShane.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Disraeli
Comment: An excellent film (all 4 episodes) in every respect- acting,scenery,dresses,dialogues-I have watched all of it twice until now and I think it goes a long way towards placing the viewer in the centre of events. However,I had to do a lot of reading to follow the exact chronological sequence of events-even British viewers shall have to do that since it is not easy to recall the precise circumstances of the often alternating succession of British Prime Ministers of the time-Peel,Russell,Derby,Aberdeen,Palmerston,Disraeli,Gladstone...I think a
relevant one-page note should be incuded in the DVD box. And lastly-concerning historical accuracy and fairness, I think the film does not do
justice to Disraeli's rival, W.E.Gladstone, a very moral person and, argueably, the best 19th century British Prime Miniser (the contestant to that quality being Lord Salisbury)--I think a film on Gladstone, if ever there was made one - should restore this evident unfairness...

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Victorian Review
Comment: Really enjoyed this show. Ian McShane does a great impression of both an early and then more experienced Disraeli. Period dress was very impressive.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Ian mc shane the best
Comment: This movie felt more like a play you have to give it a chance to really enjoy the story. Ian Mcshane is the best thing in the movie except every time I see him I cannot help but see him as a dirty mouthed mustached saloon owner in deadwood.

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