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I just rented the original version of Love in Cold Climate on DVD. Having never seen the broadcast, I was a bit taken aback at first because it clearly belies its age (1980), but after I got into the second episode I was hooked. All commentators who have bemoaned its absence should run to their favourite source and get the DVD. The DVD is well made and has subtitles for those of us who are hard of hearing or have trouble with the accents. It was interesting to see the younger Judi Dench and a set of excellent actors that have not had immense careers afterwards. Seeing the DVD has made me want to go and read the books on which the series was based just as seeing Brideshead Revisited (to me still the best book adaptation that I have seen on TV) sent me to read the novel.

I agree with all the previous comments. This is one of the best Mini series of all time. Superbly cast. Accurate in every detail. Judy Dench wonderful. A true reflection of the books. I too spent a lot of time trying to track it down. I could not watch the new version, Jeremy Irons notwithstanding.

The original version is now owned by the company that took over Thames Television but they say they have no plans to release it. There must be some reason why. I miss the bolter, Linda, Fannie, Uncle Mathew, would give anything to see it again. Maybe there should be a write in campaign.

For those of an adventurous nature, a well known UK TV torrent site has this amongst its list. Registration isn't always open, just be patient.

On seeing it recently, the production shows its age a little, in that there are some comedy scenes where the actors are silent for a moment or two as if giving the audience time to laugh. Aside from that it entertains as much as it did in 1980, and the production settings are absolutely of a high standard, some sets would have cost a fortune to create.

Apart from the excellent Judy Dench, you'll ask yourself "where have all these marvelous character actors gone"? It's great strength for me is that it doesn't do a downstairs/upstairs thing, it's about one hilarious family with very different peculiarities and I'm not sure that Boy Dugdale's preferences would be dealt with these days with such clarity.

Love In a Cold Climate (the first version, not the 2001 remake) is the best Masterpiece Theater series ever. The actors were perfectly cast and the dialogue was extremely well-written. I'm sure Nancy Mitford was proud!

I have looked for this on video for years with no success. I'd give up every video in my collection to be able to see this one again. I went out and bought the book after seeing the series and have gone through several copies of it as my teenaged daughters read it, lost it, went to college with it.

These characters have gone around in my mind over and over for years and have never lost their charm. I would recommend this movie highly to anyone.

2010 - I read from another reviewer that the DVD series was available from a company in Canada. I ordered it and have since watched the series several times. It is every bit as good as I remembered from when I first saw it on PBS!

Are there just a handful of people who love and remember this mini-series? The story is so engaging and this production is a wonderful dramatization of the book.I love Nancy Mitford's books and so does my teenage daughter who unfortunately hasn't seen this miniseries. Does the story appeal only to women? I think that Nancy Mitford is comparable to Jane Austen as a novelist whose writings make great movies. Is the cost of producing the series on DVD thought to be greater than the potential market? Who controls the right to reissue this miniseries?

I thought this miniseries was absolutely delightful and one of the best I've ever seen on TV. Why isn't it available on DVD?

I have been so heartened to read that other viewers all over the world feel the way that I do about this treasure of a television series. I knew from the previews on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (then it was Commission) that this was going to be something extra special. That was during 1981. It was repeated in 1986 but I did not see it then as it was newly arrived in another city and had no TV. I contacted the ABC some time in the intervening years and asked if they could repeat it but they said they no longer had the rights. However, it was repeated eventually (in a late night time slot) during 1998. I have done internet searches trying to find out if it has ever been released to VHS (and now DVD) and found nothing. The problem may be that whereas Thames Television was releasing some of their programmes to video in the 1980s (and 1990s) eg The Naked Civil Servant (which I have on video) they lost their license to broadcast television in the 1980s and at some stage were taken over by Fremantle Media (a European company). It is all very complex as some of the old Thames television shows that appear on cable in Australia are branded with Pearson (which I think took over Thames and was absorbed in turn by Fremantle Media). It is really important that anyone reading this contacts Fremantle Media and I suggest you use the email address to contact for video and DVD releases which is to be found on the Fremantle Media homepage>About Us>Contact Us. You have to express as much interest as possible from all over the world and urge Fremantle Media to realize that there is enormous love and interest in this series (and also others). We just have to get it released in Britain, US, Canada, Australia and NZ and countries between. I will buy two copies for starters and like all of you are prepared to pay a premium for it! It did create a magical world that you (and I) could inhabit with the characters. I saw it in 1998 and it is absolutely as held in my memory. I feel so very sorry for all you American viewers who have not seen it since 1981. Please get everyone you know to contact Fremantle Media!

My husband and I remember seeing the 1980 version of Love in a cold climate when it first hit PBS in probably 1982. Would that I had a handy dandy VCR recorder at that time, because that series is a keeper! I totally agree that it is a far more entertaining version than the 2001 one now running on TVO(Ontario).

I don't believe we have ever laughed so hard in our lives at the hilarious antics of Mitford's semi-autobiographical family members. PBS has given us many enjoyable moments in the past, but this series was a true gem.

Like the rest of the reviewers, I would give a king's ransom to obtain a copy of this truly delightful min-series.

At last. In September this year (2011) this masterful adaptation of Nancy Mitford's semi-autobiographical family saga is being released on DVD in all its eight-part glory. I'm not sure if it's slated for release in the States, but British buyers can advance-order now. This is one of the finest literary adaptations ever, ranking with Andrew Davies' 'Pride and Prejudice' and with the BBC adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's 'Brideshead Revisited'. It is witty, but also moving and at times tragic. The story inspires its cast (including Judy Dench, Vivian Pickles, Michael Williams and Michael Aldridge) to turn in some of their finest performances. I had often wondered why Thames Television was resolutely ignoring such a gem in its back-catalogue; thankfully, someone in that organisation has finally woken up.

Anthony, in Woodend, Victoria, Australia

This series was the apex of Masterpiece Theatre presentations. The late 70's through the mid 80's saw some of the best programming. The original Love In A Cold Climate had it all. Outstanding acting, excellent writing and great subtlety. It captured the mood of the intra war period with a brilliant plot. Whoever owns the rights should get this series to DVD. It will sell. I never understood the purpose of the remake. And why give it the sole stage for this story? Bring back the original with Alistair Cooke's introduction. Who can forget his tweed jackets, wry wit, carefully explaining anglo terms and concepts to an American audience. All Masterpiece Theatre DVD releases should include his introductions. It was a wonderful period where the erudite looked forward to Sunday evenings.

Nancy Mitford's 'Love in a Cold Climate' and 'Pursuit of Love' have become two of my favourite books, with their colourful characters, rich stories and perfect mix of humour and pathos.

There are two TV versions (this and a later one from 2001), that adapt both stories into one, and there is no doubt in my mind which is the better of the two. The 2001 adaptation, despite top notch production values and some good performances, was too short, too rushed, tried to tell too much in a short space of time, layered characters like Cedric had very little to them as a result of the condensation and what there was of humour was not frothy or light-hearted enough and the darker parts coming across as cold emotionally.

While adaptations do deserve to be judged on their own merits, as an adaptation this 'Love in a Cold Climate' scores far more highly, being not only true in detail to the books (yes even with telling two stories in one) but also capturing much more of the spirit and atmosphere of them. Telling two stories in one could easily have been a problem here, if it made the 2001 adaptation's further mistake of trying to tell both stories concurrently which caused a good deal of confusion and abrupt and jarring shifts in tone, but actually it wasn't, seeing as the storytelling took its time to develop without being too slow and it had a longer length to work from (being 7 hours in alternative to the recent version's 2 hours and a half).

For all this talk about how it fares as an adaptation, the rest of the review will now talk about how this version of 'Love in a Cold Climate' succeeds as a standalone. The good news is, it succeeds brilliantly. One might argue that it has a 80s period drama look (yes it has been criticised for being "dated"), to me it was a really beautiful-looking adaptation that had some very sumptuous interiors, locations and scenery, elegant and colourful costumes and an atmosphere that was rich in detail and charmingly cosy. Music is appropriately understated, and the direction keeps the narrative moving at a smooth but steady pace.

'Love in a Cold Climate' is superbly written too, both script and story. The story takes more time to tell, being longer, but never feels over-stretched and is always engrossing, the different emotions for each scene always present but never lost. This version achieves a much better balance of humour and pathos, and both dimensions are of higher quality. Unlike the 2001 adaptation, this version remembers that 'Love in a Cold Climate' gets more light-hearted and frothy and 'Pursuit of Love' takes on a darker tone as it progresses. The humour is genuinely entertaining, often hilarious, and never dealt with in a heavy manner, the frothy parts are charming but never mushy and the moments that are darker and have more pathos have a real emotional thrust.

Characters are colourful and interesting in personality, layered and easy to like. Great acting helps, and you certainly get that from quite frankly wonderful performances from Judi Dench, Michael Aldridge, Michael Williams, Vivian Pickles (a is a real gorgon here), one that rank among their best, Michael Cochrane benefits from Cedric being much better written and the central trio of Fanny, Polly and Linda are more consistent (in the recent version only Rosamund Pike as Fanny worked, whereas all three did here).

Overall, brilliant adaptation and mini-series. If you can find it, luckily a DVD is available, go ahead and watch it, you won't be sorry. 10/10 Bethany Cox

I agree with all the previous comments and more. Anyone that lives nearer than I to Thames TV (the makers, I think) please approach them. I cant get any further away than i am unfortunately. Ask them if it possible to make copies, I will gladly fund any costs; as long as I can distribute the copies freely.

I have sent many a communication to Thames but have never heard back. Please contact me if anyone has any luck. There must be an original copy on video in the archives inn the dungeons of Thames.

I am going to try and contact Thames again and put this proposition to them as I gave up on this a couple of years ago.

To me, this is the Holy Grail of Masterpiece Theatre presentations. I'd trade all of the ones in existence for this one - why Thames won't (or can't) make it commercially available, I don't understand. I'm sure somebody somewhere has a bootleg copy (this being shown first time 'round - and to my knowledge, only time around) in the fall of 1981. This was broadcast in the days when VCR's were available (at great cost, but available nonetheless). Wish I were friends with Dame Dench - both she and her late husband had featured roles. Somehow I'd bet she has some footage (or could get her hands on some).

In my recollection, this production was pitch perfect. True to the books (unlike the recent Moggach adaptation - true to the concept, but these were works to savor, not condense, and that's what Moggach did, just like in the new "Pride and Prejudice") and perfectly cast. Sheila Gish was a good Lady Montdore, but Vivian Pickles was even better - no introspection whatsoever. Boy (in the original) was somehow a little more "lapdog" than Jeremy Irons (who nonetheless steals a number of scenes)and John Hurt was the definitive Cedric. The narrator in the original was perfect (unlike in the recent remake, where Rosalind Pike's beauty eclipses both Polly and Linda, which skews the story somewhat). There was balance in the original between the older characters and the younger characters; in the newer version, I thought the elders stole all the scenes, which is problematic. The original version is definitive, superlative - but unavailable. A sad state of affairs.

If anyone ever gets their hands on it, please let me know!

I too have been searching for years for a video or DVD of the original 1980 Love in a Cold Climate series. It was the definitive version. The casting and performances were brilliant. Not even Alan Bates can compete with Michael Aldridge's Uncle Matthew--he was perfection! And, for heaven's sake, it also featured Judi Dench and Vivian Pickles, among other truly great performers. I was astounded that anyone would even do a remake when there was no possibility of surpassing the original 1980 version. It's difficult to understand why such a masterpiece is not available to the public. Will someone please put this on video or DVD. I promise to buy one for everyone I know!

I've been searching for 20 years to buy this on video. Can anyone help?? I've looked in London and all over the US and all over the web. If it exists, and they sell everything else, why can't one purchase this???? And they've replayed nearly every other series but this one. I just don't understand it.

This mini-series was so wonderful, I lived inside its ambience for months after it was over. And I read and reread the books. The language of the scripts is brilliant--a great homage to Mitford; and the acting is sublime. Fa, Lord Merlin and Davey were especially superbly developed characters, as was The Bolter. Hilarity reigned in many scenes and poignancy in the rest. The whole thing was just great!

This was such an excellent series, & yet it seems to have disappeared without trace Caught the book(s) so much better than the 2002 version, and was an altogether much richer and more colourful production, well cast and with superb acting.

The superior 1980 version includes Judy Dench as Sadie , Michael Aldridge as Uncle Matt and Isabelle Amyes as Fanny plus veteran actress Vivian Pickles playing the acid tongued Lady Montdore who is transformed into a glamour fag hag when her effeminate nephew Cedrick Hampton arrives to inherit his estate from Canada.

The masquerade ball scene left out of the later version is a joy to behold .

The story set between 1924 and 1940 draws on the authors experience of being raised in an aristocratic climate just before World War 2 when three cousins Fanny , Linda and Polly are led down very different paths due to the consequences of their life choices .

My main criticism of the most recent version apart from editing out characters like Davey Warbeck played by Michael Williams the real life husband of Judy Dench in the 1980 version was the miscasting in the 2001 adaptation.

Judy Dench gives a stella performance as usual and Michael Williams character of Davey Warbeck I thought added such an interesting sympathetic buffer to the female characters.

The casting of Lucy Gutteridge as the glamorous flirtatious Linda and Isabelle Amyes as cousin Fanny is much more believable in the 1980 version of Love in a Cold Climate.

It's fascinating to me to appreciate 2 very different screen writer's and directors adaptations of the same story for my money Simon Raven screen writer and Donald McWhinnie's 1980 version is the superior adaptation.

Especially the conclusion of the series which in the 2001 version was especially abrupt and very different in moral tone.

Both adaptations are entertaining however the characters are much expanded and I would suspect more faithfully portrayed in the 1980 version which if you only want to watch one adaptation I recommend.