User reviews

Even though American, I cannot get enough of English literature transferred to cinema. And The Barchester Chronicles is a recent find to my growing list of favorites. However, in this case I discovered the two disc DVD set at my local library before I had read the author's works. I will definitely be reading the Trollope books now that I have seen the filmed adaptation. Granted the beginning was a bit slow, and didn't really pick up until the slithery Obadiah Slope came into the plot. I then could not watch only one installment and ended up watching all of them, making for a long, yet extremely satisfying viewing session. I am glad my first viewing experience of Alan Rickman was his portrayal of Colonel Brandon from Emma Thompson's Sense and Sensibility. The caring, compassionate gentleman he played was a far opposite of the self-centered, ingratiating slime of Obadiah Slope in The Barchester Chronicles. Donald Pleasance, who has usually played villains to some degree, was the glue of the series. Soft spoken and humble, yet at times passionately stirred to compelling argument, his rendering of Septimus Harding made me wish I could have someone like Mr. Harding in real life to remind me of the joys of loving life and putting others before my own needs.

The Barchester Chronicles is now added to my list of British series favorites including All Creatures Great and Small, Horatio Hornblower, and Pride and Prejudice. I look forward to the day when Americans can lovingly and consistently render our classics into worthy viewing.

One of the best Trollope adaptations in recent years. A true classic that will delight lovers of the 'Barchester' novels through more than one viewing. Adapted from the first two novels, 'The Warden' and 'Barchester Towers'. All the cast are well matched to their roles.

Of note: It seems newspapers have changed little in 150 years. The fictional 'The Jupiter' ('The Times' very thinly disguised) is just as sanctimonious and irritating as today's press. Clive Swift as Bishop Proudie is, well, another bumbling Clive Swift. Alan Rickman gives an excellent performance as the ingratiating humbug Rev Slope (formerly Mr Slop). Slope's Cathedral sermon on the demerits of music in the evangelical church (Ep. 2) is brilliant, as is his marriage proposal to Mrs Bold (Ep. 4).

Father and daughter Donald and Angela Pleasance play father and daughter Mr Harding and Mrs Grantly.

A weak point is the character is the second romantic interest of Mrs Bold, The Rev Francis Arabin. In the series he seems a rather dull of stick of about 40, much older than Mrs Bold, and it hard to see why a mid-twenties, attractive and wealthy widow would be in the least attracted to him. He is well spoken and intelligent but otherwise most unprepossesing. In the novel, however, Trollope devotes an full chapter to his history and the minute description of his personality and character. As a result it is quite clear why Mrs Bold found him so desirable from their first meeting.

When I read the book I was probably far too young to appreciate its value. Watching the series sent me back to the book. Its a must see and a must read. It is, I think, what one alien would imagine about being British in that time. The way they talk, and act and everything from the scenery to the little things happening sends you back in that time. I can fully comprehend the concept behind the, blurry till now, term "proper" in the British area. Characters from the book are truly brought to life by the actors, if you read the book after watching the series you would never imagine them otherwise. Must mention Mr. Alan Rickman, he is as usually purely catching. The point deducted from the 10 star rating is because it is not the complete Trollope series and hasn't full language subtitle support (talking about the DVD version).

One runs out of superlatives to describe this flawless representation of Trollope's masterpieces of ecclesiastical fiction. Against the sumptuous background of Peterborough Cathedral and its environs, one is carried into Trollope's world of the intriguing machinations of the clerical establishment of Barchester. Backed by the authenticity of the period detail, the portrayal of all the characters accurately conveys the whole range of human emotions within the stories,without a weak link amongst the members of the cast. In would be invidious to name particular names as meriting special attention, when even the smallest cameo stands comparison with the principals, but I would select Geraldine McEwen, Alan Rickman and Nigel Hawthorne for special commendation - their performances being of the type where the actors disappear and the characters come to life !I was particularly impressed by the clarity of diction and the beautiful,expressive language in this film A 'must see' not only for lovers of Trollope, but anyone interested in seeing character acting at its very best !

I have been waiting more than a decade for this version to be released in the US, and finally my wait is over. When it first aired on Masterpiece Theater, I was transfixed by the story, the acting, and the sets. Watching this production 2 decades later confirms my earlier opinion that Barchester Chronicles is one of the very best of the Brit adaptations ever to appear in America.

The story concentrates on the private and public lives of clergymen and their families in a cathedral town of the Victorian age. Political intrigue, romance, and situation comedy are deftly interwoven by Trollope's magical hand. What makes this production so wonderful, though, is the acting. Can anyone imagine a Machiavelli more accomplished and doomed than Alan Rickman as the bestial Obadiah Slope? Could anyone else play the awful Mrs. Proudie as well as Geraldine McEwan? Could any other actors than Donald Pleasance and Nigel Hawthorne make believable their affection despite persistent differences of opinion? A host of minor characters rounds out the cast, including the wonderfully irresponsible Bertie Stanhope (Peter Blythe) and his scheming sister Madeline (Susan Hampshire), the marvelously weak pawn of a bishop (Clive Swift) and the delightfully vague Susan Grantly (Angela Pleasance). Absolutely splendid!

The first two hours are on the slow side, to be sure. However, once the new Bishop and his entourage arrive on the scene, there is nonstop action and amusement for another five episodes. If you have never read Trollope, this production will send you to the library!

Ecclesiastical politics when your high............

At 19 years of age and having been involved in the Church of England for most of my life, I watched Barchester unfold week by week with bated breath. I couldn't wait for each new episode. I knew all the characters! I'd met them before! I saw them week by week in real life. My Church of England was just the same as that, only 150 years later. ok, well not quite, but those of you who have seen Barchester know what I mean. Superlative casting, acting, sets. No wonder it has just been voted as the most wanted repeat on BBC. It makes me laugh out loud and then cry too. If you've not seen it, then make sure that you do - soon!

There's just nothing better than a BBC drama set in England in the 1800's. The ensemble cast plays each character archetype to perfection. The romantic & societal intrigue of the town of Barchester centers on the ambitions of the church clergy, which proves quite entertaining. The dialogue of this adaptation is excellent. A young Alan Rickman superbly plays the conniving Reverend Obadiah Slope, echoing his later tour de force performance as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter movies.

Enjoyable, like a Shakespearian comedy, leaving the viewer well satisfied.

That any miniseries as exquisite as this, dating from 1982, would be long unavailable in the U.S., and then appeal only to a small audience, while American rather than British TV and cinema from all reports take the world by storm and set the standard, is cause for amazement if not alarm. Need anyone look further to sympathize with the conservatives in this story, who are wont to feel, in Mr. Arabin's words, that all virtue is disappearing in the wake of modern "progress"? On the other hand, the author Anthony Trollope's star has risen recently among critics and academics; and, even if you have yet to read him, this adaptation will at least afford you a breath of relief that something is therefore going right.

As the only (and minor) negative already noted by others, the character of Arabin is underdeveloped and perhaps miscast, or at least not well conceived and made up. We can even imagine that a scene or two written to this end were dropped at the last minute to save running time. Eleanor's eventual attraction to him surprises us, along with others in the story, almost enough to have _deus ex machina_ written all over it. While we must remember that a filmmaker cannot as easily as a novelist take a detour to acquaint us with an important character entering late, a problem remains for the audience here and something should have been done to solve it.

Now back to the positives. The script is full of quotable lines worthy of the IMDb database. I'll work on it. I also admire this production as a celebration of music. Several times we glimpse Mr. Harding conducting or training one of the finest choirs in the world. Although I doubt that a cathedral precentor even in the 19th century would be directly responsible for this work, it is peculiar that anyone who is, precentor or not, would be consigned to poverty: but, as we know, such is often the way of things. Mr. Harding's musicianship is nevertheless a great source of joy to himself and others. As he tells his daughter brightly when they must move to humbler quarters, "But we shall take the music with us!"

We must recognize in the cast, as Miss Thorne, the daughter of a great composer: Ursula Howells's father Herbert was the dean of cathedral music for two generations, leaving us a cornucopia of liturgical repertoire radiant with a distinctively Anglican mysticism. All concerned must have regarded her part in this production as a mutual honor and privilege. Along with the closing credits rolls a setting of the Jubilate Deo (Psalm 100) almost worthy of his pen, distinguished by a wistful violoncello part evoking the roles of all our Mr. Hardings.

Anthony Trollope was a much underrated writer and storyteller. "The Warden" and "Barchester Towers" upon which "Barchester Chronicles" is based were great reads. More times than not literary classics are not easily adaptable to movies or TV, but BC is a rare exception.

First, the acting is absolutely stellar. Particularly first-rate are Donald Pleasance as the kindly Septimus Harding, Nigel Hawthorne as the often exasperated Archbishop Grantly and Alan Rickman as the slyly clever passive-aggressive Obadiah Slope, and certainly last but not least Geraldine McEwan as the domineering Mrs. Prouty.

The production design, scenery, directing and music combine to produce a wonderful mini-series that despite its 10-hour, 8-part length, is riveting and entertaining. It is also very funny as well as trenchant in its dissecting the hypocrisies of its time.

I highly recommend BC to all who appreciate great Victorian literature. Kudos to the entire cast and crew, as well as the producers and directors for mounting such a splendid piece of theater.

Starts off seeming as if it's going to be boring, but turns out to be a delight! It just takes awhile laying the foundation of your understanding of each of the characters. Very well done, witty and with excellent acting! - Some parts drag by, but not unbearably so and not often. I've shown this film to "action-addicted" teenagers and was pleasantly surprised with how enthralled they became with the story.

I loathed Trollope as a child, I think I was introduced to him far too early. My son, knowing my love of Alan Rickman, purchased this DVD set for me. I later paid him back(that is another story!). I watched it over two days with my husband(a bit of a non-literary person), and I cannot comment on the faithful adaptation. I can only say we enjoyed it so much, we identified with the corporate Church of England, we gasped,we chuckled, we laughed aloud. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Simply cannot recommend it enough. A triumph. And dear, talented Alan Rickman. He was amongst the greats - Donald Pleasence, Nigel Hawthorn, Gereladine McKeown, and more than made his own. Superb, beastly little creep! (Slope, not Rickman!!) Why was he not snapped up then and there for future glory? He had to wait for "Die Hard"? For shame! I count this as one of the best DVD's I have ever purchased, I will watch it again and again - and, yes, I will be revisiting the books! Even if you do not know Trollope, even if you do not know the machinations of the C of E, this is a must-have for a superb piece of a by-gone age. In more senses than one!

The Barchester Chronicles (1982) was directed by David Giles. Anthony Trollope was a genius. The question was whether Director Giles was capable enough to to trust Trollope's plot, and find the actors capable of portraying Trollope's characters. Giles carried it off with skill and finesse.

The movie has the usual excellent production values we have come to expect from the BBC. The fictional cathedral town of Barchester is reproduced in Peterborough.



Donald Pleasence plays Rev. Septimus Harding. Harding is a kind and gentle man, but he has a backbone when that's what's needed.

Donald Pleasence is often cast as a villain. Here, he is anything but a villain. His acting skills were amazing.

Geraldine McEwan is outstanding in the role of Mrs. Proudie, the wife of the new bishop.

This was Alan Rickman's first major role. He portrays Obadiah Slope, chaplain to the Bishop. He's sly, well spoken, clever, and unprincipled. Rickman was made for this role, and her performs it perfectly.

Even if you don't like Victorian novels, this is a movie worth seeing. I highly recommend it. P.S. Angela Pleasence is the daughter of Donald Pleasence. She plays the role of his daughter in the series. It's clear that she inherited her father's acting skills.

The BBC is currently transmitting its 2nd radio version of The Warden and Barchester Towers, having made an excellent one about 10 years ago. The current radio production only emphasises how good this TV production is.

It is difficult to choose between superb performances - the two top contenders are Geraldine McEwan as the imperious consort of the Bishop (Clive Swift) and Alan Rickman as the oily, noxious, calculating over-ambitious slippery Slope, his chaplain (and once her most favoured protégé). The titanic final confrontation between the two is dramatic in the extreme, conducted nevertheless in the appearance at least of polite language, a confrontation between two courageous big beasts of the jungle who tower way above their nominal principal, the hapless Bishop whose secret prayer is that the two destroy each other in the process.

The adaptation by Alan Plater is superb - certainly keeping to the spirit of the book. Given that underlying the story are theological differences between the Mrs Proudie/Slope and the Rev Harding camps (centrally important in mid 19th C Britain) I don't think Plater got this right. However for a modern audience it perhaps doesn't matter).

Nigel Hawthorne's impressively extreme aggression and love of conflict is certainly in the script. Clive Swift's wetness perhaps a little beyond belief but an excellent foil to the "thorn" he believes God chose to give him - his wife. Susan Hampshire made an alluring Contessa Neroni whose slight but audible laughter at Mrs Proudie's expense makes the latter's humiliation all the more grievous in a memorable comic scene. The Rev Arabin might have been lifted from the 1850s in terms of absolutely authentic appearance and manner, slightly discordant compared to the rest of the cast. Donald Pleasance, who specialised in playing odd, slightly other-worldly characters, is not fully convincing as the simple and good Rev Harding.

It stops with Slopes expulsion "back to the gutter from whence he came" according to Mrs Proudie. In the book Mrs Proudie dies suddenly and unexpectedly, causing a sudden change in tone where the Bishop struggles with his beliefs and conscience at his feelings of relief.I think that the adaptation was right not to cover this. It is a long series and parts are fairly procedural rather than dramatic or comic but the set pieces are eternally memorable.

This was another historical series of novels, which the BBC faithfully adhered to (and they managed to run two unequally-sized volumes, "The Warden" and "Barchester Towers", together without the join showing).

Donald Pleasance, normally noted for playing Bond villains, played the modest and unctuous Septimus Harding brilliantly. Nigel Hawthorne, as his son-in-law Dr. Grantly, provided the perfect combative foil. However, Alan Rickman, in one of his first major roles as the scheming Obadiah Slope, may have stolen the show. Clive Swift, as the henpecked Bishop of Barchester, established and refined the character he was later to play as the husband of Hyacinth Bouquet in "real" comedy.

The location shots in cloisters give a very real impression of a withdrawn and contemplative clergy, obsessed with its own affairs and internal squabbles. The jarring note of the first two or three episodes, when John Bold questions whether a long-established tradition connected with a charitable bequest is indeed in the interests of the recipients of that charity, shows the how uneasy the various clerical characters are when dealing with the world outside.

Many of the shots in scenes in a flat countryside seemingly locked into August throughout the eight episodes which covered a span of several years, also give the impression of withdrawal from the day-to-day life of any activity but that of the church.

As an examination of the mores and attitudes of his period, Anthony Trollope produced a brilliant pair of novels. The BBC have produced an equally brilliant adaptation, although slow enough in pace to be almost soporific in parts.

Alan Rickman was apparently the second choice for the part of Obadiah Slope. I have no idea who the original selection was - but I bet he's been kicking himself ever since!

In the book, Slope is portrayed as a somewhat uneasy cross between a buffoon and a disturbing snake in the grass. Every time he threatens to become too dangerous, Trollope proceeds to undermine him again.

I believe that the reason why Rickman was offered the part is because the director wanted an actor who could come across as amusing and sleazy, yet plausibly creepy - and sexy.

Slope HAS to possess a great deal of animal magnetism, as this is what explains the extremely strong reaction he produces in otherwise respectable ladies of whatever age.

Rickman certainly gets THAT across - in spades. He may not be conventionally good-looking - but he's totally incapable of playing an asexual character.

Problem is, he ends up completely overwhelming Mrs Bold's other two suitors. Any heterosexual female viewer with any sense will keep shouting at the screen: "You daft bat! Forget Arabin! It's Slope you want!!!!!"

I agree, Arabin is far better served by the book than this adaptation.

The Casting of the characters is brilliant, the direction flows well and the settings are exactly right for the period and subject. Nearly all the characters portrayed come across as they should, and make this a gripping series, can be watched time and time again.

Donald Pleasance gave an uncannily accurate portrayal of an eccentric old clergyman ... reminded me of people I know. Probably would for you too. The scene near the end (of Novel 2) where Eleanor is addressed, well, boldly, came off pretty well; Trollope celebrates quiet triumphs.

Worth seeing what you can; you can't see much in the United States, as the series is not distributed there, nor any longer shown on television.