Edward the Seventh

The very finest of British actors in a splendid production. I recommend everybody with interest in quality to buy this video. A historical drama which is intense and accurate. Anette Crossbies and John Gielgud performances are beyond Oscar quality.

This 4-disc set contains all 13, 50-minute episodes from the British TV miniseries "Edward the King" which was first aired back in 1975.

This TV presentation covers the period of time in history just after Queen Victoria dies (1901) and Edward (Victoria's eldest son) ascends the throne, reigning for only 9 years (until his death at age 69 from cancer).

Unfortunately, I found this costume/period production to be much too stuffy and dry. It was a lot like watching a very stodgy stage play.

And, as a result - My attention tended to wander far too much while watching this soap opera about the royals.

Being fans or admirers of a lot of the actors here and being drawn to such an interesting subject, I loved Edward the Seventh. It is a visually sumptuous affair with beautiful costumes, locations and photography. The music is likewise gorgeous. The story is highly absorbing, well paced and very accurate, and the writing is intelligent even in the wordier parts.

Edward the Seventh has a superb cast. Not only is it great on paper, but it is so much fun seeing so many familiar faces and all of them give great performances. Timothy West is marvellous in the titular character role, and of the cast the standouts were Helen Ryan as a tolerant and sympathetic Alexandra and especially Annette Crosbie's nuanced turn as the definitive Victoria.

That is not to dispute the other performances either. Robert Hardy is suitably rigid and determined as Albert, John Gielgud is a wonderful Disraeli, Christopher Neame is a wonderfully wicked Kaiser and Francessca Annis is also very good as Lillie. All in all, a really well done series, very absorbing with not a dull moment with great production values and you couldn't have asked for a more better cast too. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Long before "Margaret Meldrew", Annette Crosbie was quite an accomplished actress and she shows that off well here as Queen Victoria - the matriarch of a family of 9 children with her Consort Prince Albert (Robert Hardy). Their heir was "Bertie" (Charles Sturridge and Timothy West span his 68 year lifetime) and this lengthy, detailed and stylish 13-parter traces the life (and plentiful loves) of this Prince through from boyhood until the end of his 10-year reign as King and Emperor when the British Empire was still pretty much at it's zenith. The first few episodes focus more on his temperamental mother; of her relationship with her husband; her indifferent relationship with her "ugly" children and the politics of the time - her favouritism of Lord Melbourne over Sir Robert Peel; expansionism of the Empire and the addressing of the many social privations of many of her subjects. As the chronology progresses, we are introduced to the decent, but somewhat wayward young man whom, from the outset, instinctively rebels against the constrictions of his parents causing arguments and conceivably, even, the premature death of his father. His affairs de coeur cause his mother, his wife Princess Alexandra (Helen Ryan), and frequently the government no end of hassle as he bulldozes his way through life waiting - for 60 years - to ascend to the throne. Once there, however, he proves to be a popular, considered individual with an adeptness on a particularly tricky international stage that proves useful in preventing conflict between the great powers of the time. It's got an excellent cast supporting along the way - Richard Vernon, a very young Charles Dance, Francesca Annis, Felicity Kendal, André Morell, Jane Lapotaire, Michael Hordern and Sir John Gielgud and the writing gives ample opportunity for the them to create characterful performances and the attention to the detail of costumes is first class. West comes into his own as the King, his performance as the rakish but intelligent man evolves well, demonstrating the frustrations of someone who has waited a very long time for his job to become vacant. Of course, virtually all of it is speculation, but what this series offers is a plausible critique of life at the top of the British Empire and also of a vulnerable, flawed collection of human beings who were at the apex of every ruling family in Europe by the end of the 19th century. Well worth sitting through; makes for a great binge-watch!

I remember watching this series when it first came out and really enjoyed it very much. Annette Crosbie was absolutely wonderful as Queen Victoria. It was truly sad to lose her when she had to die in the series. I also remember Helen Ryan being wonderful as Princess and later Queen Alexandra. Of course Timothy West did a fine job as Prince Albert Edward and later King Edward VII. I must admit I felt that Robert Hardy was sadly miscast as Prince Albert. Felicity Kendal was great as the Princess Royal and Empress Frederick. Francesca Annis was lovely as Lillie Langtry. It really was sad when the series inevitably had to end as it grew on you with every episode. It has rarely been repeated which is truly a sad endictment of television today. It should be as it is very good indeed.