The Barchester Chronicles

Even though American, I cannot get enough of English literature transferred to cinema. And The Barchester Chronicles is a recent find to my growing list of favorites. However, in this case I discovered the two disc DVD set at my local library before I had read the author's works. I will definitely be reading the Trollope books now that I have seen the filmed adaptation. Granted the beginning was a bit slow, and didn't really pick up until the slithery Obadiah Slope came into the plot. I then could not watch only one installment and ended up watching all of them, making for a long, yet extremely satisfying viewing session. I am glad my first viewing experience of Alan Rickman was his portrayal of Colonel Brandon from Emma Thompson's Sense and Sensibility. The caring, compassionate gentleman he played was a far opposite of the self-centered, ingratiating slime of Obadiah Slope in The Barchester Chronicles. Donald Pleasance, who has usually played villains to some degree, was the glue of the series. Soft spoken and humble, yet at times passionately stirred to compelling argument, his rendering of Septimus Harding made me wish I could have someone like Mr. Harding in real life to remind me of the joys of loving life and putting others before my own needs.

The Barchester Chronicles is now added to my list of British series favorites including All Creatures Great and Small, Horatio Hornblower, and Pride and Prejudice. I look forward to the day when Americans can lovingly and consistently render our classics into worthy viewing.

This was another historical series of novels, which the BBC faithfully adhered to (and they managed to run two unequally-sized volumes, "The Warden" and "Barchester Towers", together without the join showing).

Donald Pleasance, normally noted for playing Bond villains, played the modest and unctuous Septimus Harding brilliantly. Nigel Hawthorne, as his son-in-law Dr. Grantly, provided the perfect combative foil. However, Alan Rickman, in one of his first major roles as the scheming Obadiah Slope, may have stolen the show. Clive Swift, as the henpecked Bishop of Barchester, established and refined the character he was later to play as the husband of Hyacinth Bouquet in "real" comedy.

The location shots in cloisters give a very real impression of a withdrawn and contemplative clergy, obsessed with its own affairs and internal squabbles. The jarring note of the first two or three episodes, when John Bold questions whether a long-established tradition connected with a charitable bequest is indeed in the interests of the recipients of that charity, shows the how uneasy the various clerical characters are when dealing with the world outside.

Many of the shots in scenes in a flat countryside seemingly locked into August throughout the eight episodes which covered a span of several years, also give the impression of withdrawal from the day-to-day life of any activity but that of the church.

As an examination of the mores and attitudes of his period, Anthony Trollope produced a brilliant pair of novels. The BBC have produced an equally brilliant adaptation, although slow enough in pace to be almost soporific in parts.

I have been waiting more than a decade for this version to be released in the US, and finally my wait is over. When it first aired on Masterpiece Theater, I was transfixed by the story, the acting, and the sets. Watching this production 2 decades later confirms my earlier opinion that Barchester Chronicles is one of the very best of the Brit adaptations ever to appear in America.

The story concentrates on the private and public lives of clergymen and their families in a cathedral town of the Victorian age. Political intrigue, romance, and situation comedy are deftly interwoven by Trollope's magical hand. What makes this production so wonderful, though, is the acting. Can anyone imagine a Machiavelli more accomplished and doomed than Alan Rickman as the bestial Obadiah Slope? Could anyone else play the awful Mrs. Proudie as well as Geraldine McEwan? Could any other actors than Donald Pleasance and Nigel Hawthorne make believable their affection despite persistent differences of opinion? A host of minor characters rounds out the cast, including the wonderfully irresponsible Bertie Stanhope (Peter Blythe) and his scheming sister Madeline (Susan Hampshire), the marvelously weak pawn of a bishop (Clive Swift) and the delightfully vague Susan Grantly (Angela Pleasance). Absolutely splendid!

The first two hours are on the slow side, to be sure. However, once the new Bishop and his entourage arrive on the scene, there is nonstop action and amusement for another five episodes. If you have never read Trollope, this production will send you to the library!

There's just nothing better than a BBC drama set in England in the 1800's. The ensemble cast plays each character archetype to perfection. The romantic & societal intrigue of the town of Barchester centers on the ambitions of the church clergy, which proves quite entertaining. The dialogue of this adaptation is excellent. A young Alan Rickman superbly plays the conniving Reverend Obadiah Slope, echoing his later tour de force performance as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter movies.

Enjoyable, like a Shakespearian comedy, leaving the viewer well satisfied.

At 19 years of age and having been involved in the Church of England for most of my life, I watched Barchester unfold week by week with bated breath. I couldn't wait for each new episode. I knew all the characters! I'd met them before! I saw them week by week in real life. My Church of England was just the same as that, only 150 years later. ok, well not quite, but those of you who have seen Barchester know what I mean. Superlative casting, acting, sets. No wonder it has just been voted as the most wanted repeat on BBC. It makes me laugh out loud and then cry too. If you've not seen it, then make sure that you do - soon!