Flambards

I love this series. I first saw it as a child-- my mother had taped most of the episodes off of PBS. It inspired me to learn German, and to study the WWI period and its aftermath. The acting, writing and set decoration are first-rate and it will please history buffs, horse buffs AND airplane buffs. It stands up wonderfully well. It's now available on VHS so for those new to the series be warned that vols. 2 & 3 are a bit slow, but be patient and stick it out. It is so worth it for the payoff in vols. 4-6.

The series gets better every time I see it and I am always finding more to love about it.

I first saw this visiting my grandmother. One episode and then I was hooked! This is a wonderful mixture of horses, old English countryside life, people one cares for and a down to earth atmosphere. In the middle of the series the setting changes to an early 20th century airfield where the exciting history of flying is in its beginning. Everything takes a turn with the start of world war I... The people feel real and the story is strong and one that could very well have happened.

I well remember the day I saw in the paper that there was a rerun of these series, only one hour away... I tumbled down the stairs down to the convenience store, stacking up on empty videotapes and telling my boyfriend that the video now was booked for the next 13 mondays...

Just a wonderful feeling!

I saw this series when it first came out in the UK and it left a big impression on me then. Thank goodness for the advent of DVD which seems to have breathed life back into so many gems such as this, which might otherwise have been forgotten. The characters are fascinating, it is difficult to make a final judgement on some of them. The historical period wrapped around the First World War is a fascinating one, so much change and in some ways 'the end of innocence' (discuss!). The sets are great, the acting wonderful (what happened to their careers??), you feel like you're there. It's feel-good at times, bitter-sweet at others. If you treat yourself to the DVD you'll feel that you've made a real discovery. And the music, hauntingly beautiful....

This series is absolutely incredible. For several summers after it came out in '78, PBS would run the entire 13 part series. My sister and I watched it religiously. Then, inexplicably, it seemed to drop off the face of the earth. We were so excited when, years later, A&E ran it, albeit with commercial interruptions and cutting. Even more excited when another local PBS channel aired the complete version of the series. We both have them on tape now and have watched them again, and again... and again. I have read the books by KM Peyton, and although they are very good, this is one instance where the film version surpassed the books. The performances were fantastic. Christine McKenna as the freespirited orphan Christina, Steven Grives is excellent as the naughty, arrogant (but lovable) Mark, and Alan Parnaby as the shy, intelligent William. We watch the characters grow from sheltered teenagers to adults with difficult choices to make. Based on three books, one can almost see the "break" within the series, the first part being Christina's arrival at Flambards, her introduction to horseback riding, her adjustment to living with the crumbly, wheelchair bound Uncle Russell, and the two brothers. Secondly, she falls in love with William and runs off to London with him so that he may pursue his dream of designing airplanes. There they live a relatively carefree existence until World War I approaches and William decides to join the Royal Flying Corps. These characters are so endearing, so lovable; the entire series is beautifully filmed, music and costuming are great, and the "flying machines" are spectacular. What is most astonishing to me is that very few people I've talked to have ever heard of this series, and it is so seldom shown anymore that I doubt if many people will be introduced to it any time soon. Yet, I have actually gotten people ADDICTED to it by watching my videos; in college I would come home from class to find my roommates completely engrossed and watching it for the second, or third time. I do wish that this series would get the recognition it deserves. I believe now that it is available as a video boxed set, which is at least a start, but I believe that PBS should revive this, and other great series from the 70's.

I must have watched Flambards three times through! I also read the book! It's a terrific horsey airplaney soap opera with a wonderfully strong and surprising heroine. Gives the viewer a flavor of 1910's England.