POLDARK: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION

Decided I wanted it so I could watch it again and anytime I felt like it very very well done series

Back in the late 1970s I remember a couple of summers when Sunday night's Masterpiece Theater had me utterly transfixed. Poldark was a swashbuckling tale of late 18th century Cornwall. Captain Ross Poldark has returned from service in the British Army after the American Revolution to find his father dead, his estate gone to rack and ruin, and his beloved Elizabeth engaged to his cousin Francis. Season 1 focusses on Ross's continuing love for Elizabeth, his struggle to make his tin and copper mines profitable, and his growing love for Demelza, a young girl he takes in as a servant, marries out of duty after making her pregnant, then finds her to be an ideal life partner. Most of all, there is the rivalry between Poldark and the ambitious George Warleggan, a story which symbolizes the changes in England as a rising newly wealthy class, founded on industry and sharp business practices, challenges the power of the older gentry families. Season 2 continues to chronicle Ross and Demelza's doings but also introduces several new characters, most importantly Morwenna, Elizabeth's beautiful cousin who loves Demelza's brother Drake but is forced into marriage with an odious clergyman instead.This is a barebones description of the lengthy but always fascinating main plot with its multitudinous twists and turns. There are many sideplots as well, including the love of Francis's sister Verity for a sea captain with a dark past, the simple miner Mark Daniel who tragically falls in love with a beautiful actress, the young Dr. Enys who plays a role in Mark Daniel's tragedy then falls in love with the witty Caroline Penvenen, and the hilarious servants Jud and Prudie Paynter. Watching Poldark again after so many years is fun, though some of the soap operaish touches and melodramatic musical flourishes seem a bit over done. I'm very glad to have the complete and unedited series on DVD. Previously I had owned box VHS sets of both seasons, but they were clumsily edited with a lot of the subplots truncated or even done away with completely. Now I can watch Ross's ups and downs, along with those of his friends, family, servants, and enemies, whenever I choose, and I will choose to do so often!

When this series was on Masterpiece Theater way back when, I loved the episodes. Unfortunately, it was on at a time prior to our having a video recorder of any type. I have often wanted to watch the series again. The day my DVDs came, I watchjed every episode and it was as good as I remembered it being.The lighting and the staging is pure 1970s, but that is part of what gives the series its charm. Robin Ellis is charming and roguish and perfectly cast as Ross Poldark, proud, wounded by his cousin who marries his fiance whilke he is away at war, concerned for the welfare of the miners who depend upon him for jobs/income, brave, but humble when complimented on his prowess in battle or rescuing friends.Ross and Demelza have a tumultuous relationship because they are both strong personalities that have been wounded by thoses who should have loved them better so they nearly alwayd assume the worst about each other's intentions. But they are well matched which is best shown when Demelza bankrupts the family in an attempt to keep their friend's bank afloat when the Warleggan Family (owners of a rival bank) attempt to get rid of the competition and give themselves a clear way to run roughshod over the entire county.The setting for the story is Corwall about 1800 so the costumes and the sea just ooze romance. This is a wonderful series which I am eager to watch again.

I wish I could give this no star. I have watched the first disc and don't know if I care to watch the rest. I have read 8 of the 12 books of the series and it is wonderful reading. Winston Graham is incredible! I will in time read more of his writings. I have watched the series on TV and it is beautiful. This original does not follow the story at all! I am so disappointed. For someone who has not followed the series and is watching this video then they may enjoy the story. For those interested in this series I suggest they read the books.

I absolutely loved watching this series when they were showing it about 15 yrs after it's first airing on our PBS station. So, once it was over I went to the library and read the books. The books were written by Winston Graham (original author of the book of "Marnie" that Hitchcock changed and filmed). There were changes. There had to be, since there were quite a number of novels to cover. But I thought both novels and TV were very good. I learned a lot about England after the war that we Americans call 'The Revolutionary War'. I learned a lot about mining in those days too, and it was fascinating. But of course, the story of the people is the main reason that we watch and read this great series. Americans have to remember how British television differed from American at the time it was made (1975). Much of the time it feels more like a stage play videotaped with a handheld camera. Once you deal with that it is a wonderful experience. It was always hard to wait for the next week's episode. Also, in answer to the first reviewer and anyone else that is concerned about subtitles not being mentioned. If you look up the site of the company that put this series onto DVD (Acornonline.com), you will see in the "Details" section that they do have "SDH", which stands for "Subtitled for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing". So, there should at least be English subtitles available. This is an important issue to me as well. I am excited to get the series.

Costuming and setting are good. Quality not as good as Downton Abbey.

Series 1+2 = 32 episodes - that's a lot of enjoyment! Better dialog than the 2015 version; it will move you more. The 2015 version is amazing, but the 1975 version is actually better and makes me want to watch it again as I get into the final episodes.

I purchased this DVD collection and really wasn't sure it would be as good as I remembered the series from the 1970's. I am so happy I did. Perfect quality, sound and stays true to the books. Don't hesitate if you are thinking of buying it - well worth every penny, speedy delivery and well packaged. Perfect viewing for these cold, wet, dark days.

I found this set very enjoyable. Having said that, the decision to run episodes together without a break on each DVD, and, apparently, some cuts, mean that the narrative sometimes seems oddly paced - weeks or months can have passed between scenes, and while some storylines are allowed to build, others end abruptly or fail to develop momentum. Overall, though, it holds the attention : Robin Ellis is suitably dashing - sometimes literally - as Ross, Angharad Rees is a fiery Demelza, Ralph Bates' George Warleggan is wonderful as the JR Ewing of Cornish banking, and who could resist Christopher Biggins as an ambitious and over-sexed cleric ? Worth watching ? That it be !

Loved it. It is still the best production of Poldark. Angharad Reece as Demelza was an utter delight.

ho acquistato questo prodotto pensando che con 8 dvd avrei aggiunto qualche altra cosa al prodotto acquistato in precedenza con 4 dvd ma, a parte i sottotili in inglese, per me molto importanti, non ho visto altro se non la copia esatta di quello che avevo senza nulla aggiunto. comunque sono contenta perche' i sottotitoli mi aiutano a capire veramente tutto. aspetto comunque che esca in italiano. non si capisce perche' in italia non si riescano ad avere certi prodotti. eppure e' stato trasmesso in italiano alla tv e quindi proprio non ci si capacita di dover per forza ascoltarlo in inglese e non poter scegliere. aspetto anche prigionieri delle pietre che e' bellissimo in inglese ma che noi italiani gusteremmo di piu' nella nostra propria lingua. viviamo nella speranza.