Kane & Abel

It must be more than ten years ago that I saw this mini-series. Probably a period that I loved very dramatic films and books. But I can never forget this series. It was film so 'smooth' and 'rich' and especially the music was dramatic. I'm really curious what I would experience if I would see it these days. It's funny that the bible-borrowed title of the series announces that the clash between Kane and Abel will be very dramatic. That's very smart of the creators, I think.

I seen the mini series when aired on British TV and i enjoyed it very much.

Sam Neill was brilliant as William Lowell Kane my mother would have to disagree as she liked Peter Strauss as Abel Rosnovski as she had a soft spot for him as an actor.

I have now bought volume 1 & 2 on VHS.

But i can not find the volume 3on VHS any where if anyone knows where i can obtain it i would love to hear from you.

I would also like to find the 3 volumes on DVD also.

As the videos are for my mum who also loved the mini series.

And watch it once again.

In 2022, after 37 years, this series is still watchable and can hold one's interest. Gets clichéd at points but still was overall very enjoyable. However, peter Strauss was terrible in his role as Abel. His fake Polish accent was a monstrosity. He made expressions and faces like a clown. I guess in those days such histrionics was considered good acting? But in 2022 its intolerable. On the other hand Sam Neill was superb in his role as always. Anyway, I enjoyed the show 37 years after it was made, thats something.

If you take on one of the most successful books ever, there's not much room to mess up. However, this un-even mock-up manages to fall at the first hurdle.

Peter Strauss and Sam Neil fail to portray the two ruthless Financial American giants created by Jeffery Archer. These two are the solid underpinning of the entire story. Yet they can't just can't capture them.

Sam Neiil mostly looks ready to burst into tears. Or uses two other facial expressions - a rather perfunctory smile and an attempt to look serious with a clamped jaw. Acts like a carrot and looks like puffed wheat.

Strauss completely left Archers' well-shaped character character somewhere on a boat. After a while his rigid accent grates as he attempts to mouth a tormented soul.

But if you missed the book, there's enough juicy story lines to carry you through.

As a huge bonus, the visuals are fabulous! Sail away in luxury and furs. Rumble along in magnificent cars.

But don't expect much heavy metal clash of Titans. Such a pity.

I have read and re-read this masterpiece of a novel many times in the last twenty years. My Mom gave me the book when I was recuperating from a bad car wreck, knowing that I would enjoy a novel that mixed actual world history in the storyline. Living in Lowell, Massachusetts and knowing Boston very well it was entertaining to see such familiar names and landmarks mentioned. Abel's early life in German-occupied Poland was more fascinating. When the miniseries came around I had to see it. Good casting and acting...that is about it, I felt I had an advantage over the casual viewer, having such intimate and detailed knowledge of the book. I could not help but silently critique it, but in the end I felt it was a very entertaining effort and enjoyed it. It was worth the watching, although the reading was better. Isn't it always that way, and rarely vice-versa? I give it a 7-plus out of ten.