There are so many perfect moments in this series, and the scene (2:40) of Charles walking to Sebastian's room that Sunday morning is among the more perfect - the fantastic voice over with Waugh's gorgeous prose, the church bells and lovely theme by Burgon, the beauties of Oxford on a sunny morning, and the audience's chance to imagine what's in Charles' mind after Anthony's verbal tidal wave the night before. All this comes together so remarkably. Exquisite film making.
After watching the mini series back in the early 80's I found the latest Movie indigestible, I couldn't relate to either actor. Glad Evelyn Waugh didn't live to see what they did to his book. The mini series is a masterpiece and will always shine as an example of what can be accomplished with the right director and cast.
Anthony Blanche knew that Charles was not interested in what he had to say about Sebastian and his family. But, he was trying to warn Charles not to be taken in by the family's charm so as not to interfere with his growth as an artist.
+Janet Little Nope. He was always talking shit about Sebastian because he wants Charles! Jealousy. Charles, on the other hand, puts up with him because jasper is Sebastians friend. And also being totally blind and naiv
I agree. Fascinating and Ghastly in equal measure, the Anthony Blanche character is an important one to the story .....the Libertine, he symbolizes lust, self-indulgence, and immorality. At first I wondered if he was envious of Sebastian but I think you're correct Janet, he was warning Charles.
I don't know if it's just me, but the guy who plays Anthony Blanche- Nickolas Grace- looks exactly like Tim Curry. I actually thought for a second that it was him.
Thank you so much for posting this. Living in France, I miss out on these excellent productions from British TV. (French television is dire and is rarely worth watching). Anyway, thanks again.
The brilliant thing about this series is the definative nature of the actors playing the characters. Jeremy Irons is a pretty definative Charles Ryder, although I believe the character is a bit interchangable and could be played by any competant dramatic actor (although Irons obviously brings something to the role) Anthony Andrews always seems to fall a bit short to me,though obviously his performance is not bad. But Nikolas Grace IS Anthony Blanche and John Gielguid IS Ryder senior! Brilliant!
@ggggroucho What you watch first probably does affect your preference. I thought the movie strayed too far from what the book was trying to say, completely changing/making stuff up, where-as the mini series is faithful. So, if you want Waugh's true vision, it's the mini series. It -needs- to be told at length over several episodes, it needs a slow pace to allow for the characters to develop and for the atmosphere of the time to show through. It doesn't work as well condensed into one movie.
Think the movie based a lot on the series. But I like both. The movie has an excellent score what makes it very dreamy and dramatic at times. And I love Whishaw's Sebastion as I like Andrews and especially Irons acting. But of course, there is more context here.
Quite brilliant...i`m annoyed but abused that being a brit i`m not allowed some oarts in my country, except it was made here..me being a brit BUT ON AOL... aha..never mind..these are a reminder,..thanks..i`ve collected box sets as tesco did them cheap but....now flat bound
@ggggroucho Whishaw is a great actor but he was completely miscast as Sebastian, no one but Anthony Andrews could ever be Sebastian. As this mini series is the most faithful adaptation of the book, I find it hard to believe anyone could think Charles and Sebastian miscast in it.
Curious! I thought exactly the same in reverse. I was a huge fan of the Robin of Sherwood series of the 1980's where Nickolas Grace played the Sheriff of Nottingham. I am now watching the 1990s version of the 3 musketeers and wondered if it was Nickolas Grace playing Cardinal Richlieu. Just found out it's Tim Curry.
Wikipedia has a lengthy and quite good summary of the plot and a helpful discussion of Waugh's themes in the book plus his own remarks about it. Not having finished the series yet, I'm curious what is meant when it says the Anthony Blanche character was "sent down" in the end. I've researched the term (it isn't used in American parlance) and see that it can mean "expelled from university" or "sent to prison." Which was it? The character is so ridiculous and outrageous that it's hard to know and, given the era, it could have been either.
How and why would someone as eccentric and colourful (and camp) as Anthony Blanche spend time with someone as insipid and colourless as Charles Ryder? I've never understood their "friendship".
Sebastian's homosexuality and weakness was purely invented in the film, at no point is it directly suggested that either are homosexual as Waugh was a conservative catholic classist. If you have seen the series in its entirety Sebastian and Charles pick up women in a nightclub. The book asserts that he has many high class women fans sending him party invitations all the time, and his the head held high perfect gentleman. Warshaw is a disgrace, he didn't even have the accent or clothing right!
All of this “Waugh was a Catholic!” He converted. Google him, in Wikipedia it says about how he was part of a society called The Hypocrites Club & had several homosexual affairs! 😱
Nit picking! No one makes 11 part series now, there was a luxurious castle, the QE2, Oxford & Venice - try Totting up the 💰of that now. Even all 3 Lord of the Rings wouldn’t cover it! Plus the BBC was rolling in it then, didn’t have Thatchers dislike
Развлечения
There are so many perfect moments in this series, and the scene (2:40) of Charles walking to Sebastian's room that Sunday morning is among the more perfect - the fantastic voice over with Waugh's gorgeous prose, the church bells and lovely theme by Burgon, the beauties of Oxford on a sunny morning, and the audience's chance to imagine what's in Charles' mind after Anthony's verbal tidal wave the night before. All this comes together so remarkably. Exquisite film making.
Jaspers accent is halarious and awesome.
After watching the mini series back in the early 80's I found the latest Movie indigestible, I couldn't relate to either actor. Glad Evelyn Waugh didn't live to see what they did to his book. The mini series is a masterpiece and will always shine as an example of what can be accomplished with the right director and cast.
Gielgud's performance in this proves there are no small roles, just small actors!
Anthony Blanche knew that Charles was not interested in what he had to say about Sebastian and his family. But, he was trying to warn Charles not to be taken in by the family's charm so as not to interfere with his growth as an artist.
+Janet Little Nope. He was always talking shit about Sebastian because he wants Charles! Jealousy. Charles, on the other hand, puts up with him because jasper is Sebastians friend. And also being totally blind and naiv
I agree. Fascinating and Ghastly in equal measure, the Anthony Blanche character is an important one to the story .....the Libertine, he symbolizes lust, self-indulgence, and immorality. At first I wondered if he was envious of Sebastian but I think you're correct Janet, he was warning Charles.
'the mini series is faithful' Hear hear!
I don't know if it's just me, but the guy who plays Anthony Blanche- Nickolas Grace- looks exactly like Tim Curry. I actually thought for a second that it was him.
Thank you so much for posting this. Living in France, I miss out on these excellent productions from British TV. (French television is dire and is rarely worth watching). Anyway, thanks again.
"...and then, FIFFT!, v-v-vanished, with nothing left atall. Nothing."
"...Should we go, Anthony?"
Thank you so much for uploading this!
"Money... I wouldn't worry about anything like that at your age". What strange, strange words to the ears of a student of today!
The brilliant thing about this series is the definative nature of the actors playing the characters. Jeremy Irons is a pretty definative Charles Ryder, although I believe the character is a bit interchangable and could be played by any competant dramatic actor (although Irons obviously brings something to the role) Anthony Andrews always seems to fall a bit short to me,though obviously his performance is not bad. But Nikolas Grace IS Anthony Blanche and John Gielguid IS Ryder senior! Brilliant!
Wow, the film Brideshead Revisited reinvented quiet a lot! Series vs Film, feels very very different.
TV series was far, far superior!
I love the man at ;40!!
@ggggroucho What you watch first probably does affect your preference. I thought the movie strayed too far from what the book was trying to say, completely changing/making stuff up, where-as the mini series is faithful. So, if you want Waugh's true vision, it's the mini series.
It -needs- to be told at length over several episodes, it needs a slow pace to allow for the characters to develop and for the atmosphere of the time to show through. It doesn't work as well condensed into one movie.
cousin melchior!
Think the movie based a lot on the series. But I like both. The movie has an excellent score what makes it very dreamy and dramatic at times. And I love Whishaw's Sebastion as I like Andrews and especially Irons acting. But of course, there is more context here.
Quite brilliant...i`m annoyed but abused that being a brit i`m not allowed some oarts in my country, except it was made here..me being a brit BUT ON AOL... aha..never mind..these are a reminder,..thanks..i`ve collected box sets as tesco did them cheap but....now flat bound
@ggggroucho Whishaw is a great actor but he was completely miscast as Sebastian, no one but Anthony Andrews could ever be Sebastian.
As this mini series is the most faithful adaptation of the book, I find it hard to believe anyone could think Charles and Sebastian miscast in it.
Curious! I thought exactly the same in reverse. I was a huge fan of the Robin of Sherwood series of the 1980's where Nickolas Grace played the Sheriff of Nottingham. I am now watching the 1990s version of the 3 musketeers and wondered if it was Nickolas Grace playing Cardinal Richlieu. Just found out it's Tim Curry.
"let's just say you were on queer street and keep it at that."
@graceaspenmatthews You are most certainly not alone in that! I was just thinking the very same thing myself.
Wikipedia has a lengthy and quite good summary of the plot and a helpful discussion of Waugh's themes in the book plus his own remarks about it. Not having finished the series yet, I'm curious what is meant when it says the Anthony Blanche character was "sent down" in the end. I've researched the term (it isn't used in American parlance) and see that it can mean "expelled from university" or "sent to prison." Which was it? The character is so ridiculous and outrageous that it's hard to know and, given the era, it could have been either.
Expelled from university
I want Charles' hat at (3:14) !
The mass of today is a new invention. it has nothing to do with the traditional mass available before 1960.
How and why would someone as eccentric and colourful (and camp) as Anthony Blanche spend time with someone as insipid and colourless as Charles Ryder? I've never understood their "friendship".
+S Kandy I prefer Met3lAngel's answer. It is more plausible.
jeremy's dad seem pretty posh
There are at the end of the traditional Latin Mass.
@mannixisle antony gets drunk and does tell everything even when jeremy is clearly not interested.
Picteur
Hv
Sebastian's homosexuality and weakness was purely invented in the film, at no point is it directly suggested that either are homosexual as Waugh was a conservative catholic classist.
If you have seen the series in its entirety Sebastian and Charles pick up women in a nightclub. The book asserts that he has many high class women fans sending him party invitations all the time, and his the head held high perfect gentleman. Warshaw is a disgrace, he didn't even have the accent or clothing right!
Waugh slept with men in his Oxford years.
All of this “Waugh was a Catholic!” He converted. Google him, in Wikipedia it says about how he was part of a society called The Hypocrites Club & had several homosexual affairs! 😱
Nit picking! No one makes 11 part series now, there was a luxurious castle, the QE2, Oxford & Venice - try Totting up the 💰of that now. Even all 3 Lord of the Rings wouldn’t cover it! Plus the BBC was rolling in it then, didn’t have Thatchers dislike
At least get his name right, Whishaw. Plus he is an excellent actor, watch Suffragette, and you’ll get an different view