★★Collection of BBC drama series adapted from the novels by Charles Dickens★★ In 'Great Expectations' (2011) eleven-year-old Pip (Oscar Kennedy) encounters escaped criminal Magwitch (Ray Winstone) while out on the marshes and, out of fear, helps him, an event which will shape both of their futures. When the wealthy Miss Havisham (Gillian Anderson) seeks the presence of a boy at her grand house, Pip is sent to her and becomes a playmate for her adopted daughter, Estella (Isobel Meikle-Small/Vanessa Kirby). As a young adult, Pip (Douglas Booth) learns that he will receive an inheritance from a mystery benefactor when he turns 21. Now under the guardianship of lawyer Jaggers (David Suchet), Pip moves to London where he hopes to become a gentleman worthy of Estella's love. In 'Little Dorrit' (2008) the Dorrit family has spent years in a debtors' prison due to the financial mess in which father William (Tom Courtenay) managed to land himself as a youth. Youngest daughter Amy (Claire Foy), known as Little Dorrit, finds work with the wealthy Mrs Clenham (Judy Parfitt) but knows that her father will, in all probability, spend the remainder of his life in gaol. However, when Arthur Clenham (Matthew Macfadyen), recently returned from abroad, comes to suspect that his late father was in part responsible for the Dorrits' plight, he becomes determined to make amends. But as he continues to delve into the mysteries of the Dorrits' and his parents' shared past, he is unaware that his own mother's house has been placed in peril by the arrival of a sinister stranger.
J**N
Rags to Riches and Back Again!
We were into Dickens at the moment,having watched "Bleak House" over a two week period made my wife and I start reading again.The 200th Anniversary Collection did not appear to indicate which DVDs it consisted of,when I ordered it,but it contained Great Expectations,Little Dorrit,Oliver Twist and.........Bleak House! All the productions were vintage BBC, and ,as I recall, follow the books closely. The books were the soaps of their time, and by watching one episode at a time we felt that we were experiencing the "pot-boiler" aspect of Charles Dickens's works, and looked forward to the next evening's entertainment.If you like Dickens,these are all good examples of his works,and the Collection is very good value for money when compared to the individual prices of the DVDs. John
M**R
Great collection. Some of the best versions of Dickens ...
Great collection. Some of the best versions of Dickens ever filmed I think. I especially loved 'Little Dorritt' which is the one I really bought it for but found that 'Oliver Twist' and 'Bleak House' were both brilliant - I missed these when they were on tv. 'Great Expectations' didn't quite hit the spot for me although there were some wonderful performances in it however I think the Pip and Estella weren't particularly convincing.
M**D
Breathtakingly brilliant
Superlatives were invented for this! The production values on these BBC Dickens adaptations are breathtakingly high; the direction is masterful; and the acting superb. These are simply wonderful productions which draw you in from the very first.Little Dorrit is my favourite of the set - heartache and passion delivered through fantastic acting. Brilliant.Bleak House is also wonderful - tragedy, longing and intrigue. Superb.Oliver Twist is excellent and the perfect antidote to that irksome 1968 musical.Great Expectations was my least favourite. It is still good, though I think Pip is miscast, and it feels a little hurried compared to the others.This is TV classic drama at its very very best.
H**N
Wow.
I had seen Bleak House and Great Expectations before I bought this dvd set. I had enjoyed them so much I was willing to gamble on the other two. They did not disappoint.I had never come across the story of little Dorrit. I have now watched the adaptation and read the book. I am also now reading Bleak House and suprising myself that I haven't done this before.There is also Oliver Twist and it is shorter than the others but just as gripping and well acted.My only criticism is one of information. The episodes aren't a consistent length and it is impossible to know how long each episode is until you start it (and get your device to display time remaining). Consistent episode length would have made it easier to watch, or choose to watch, but I loved the 1/2 episodes in Little Dorrit and possibly Bleak House.Overall a great box set of some of the most stunning, disturbing, compelling, and heartwarming viewing I have seen in a long time.
M**T
Real quality
A great set that brings recent Dickens interpretations together. Altogether there is a lighter touch than in previous presentations although Dickens is never very far from despair. Bleak House was the best of the group. The series gives a great window on the brilliant characterisation that is Dickens. True classics that still have immediate relevance today.
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