Poldark

OK, so Ross originally fought AGAINST us in our Revolution, but he is one of us at heart. A fellow with an appropriate sense of noblesse oblige, even if he ignores his own safety and interests in carrying it out, is so irresistible. How could Elizabeth have been so foolish as to not appreciate that essential element of his character?

Robin Ellis' performance is so amazingly positive we can't help but feel that anyone who finds themselves on a downward spiral can get it together if they have enough courage and determination. He's a role model for anyone who's even tempted to throw in the towel.

And a big Bronx cheer to the late Louis B. Mayer for denigrating things "where people write with feathers." The period of this story is one of my all-time favorites and not just for the clothes (I challenge anyone to say that the men of this series look anything but appropriately masculine), but for the ideals that were born in it. Sometimes we need to go back to our roots...

What a series! My husband and I were spellbound for the 18 or so hours (over a month) it took to watch Part 1 and 2. The plot twists are great but what is primarily so entrancing is the presentation of life at the end of the 18th Century. We particularly like Ross Poldark's propensity for going into prisons and removing prisoners who have been falsely jailed or whom he is fond of. He does this on a fairly regular basis. Cornwall seems to be very much like Seattle - only a few scenes are shot in sunshine - all in all, a sort of up-scale, historical soap-opera.

I remember my mum being glued to BBC's Poldark when I was little (eight years old to be exact!) so when the first series was shown again in the eighties I watched and was hooked. I bought the videos as they were released and rationed myself to an hour a night! I have watched and enjoyed both series many times since.

The BBC got everything right, it's a rip roaring tale with a wonderful cast, well worth a look if you haven't seen it or if you haven't seen it for a while!

Why couldn't ITV have employed Robin Ellis and Angharad Rees when they made that Poldark 'special' a few years ago.

If you read the books first or see the series first, either is a very satisfying experience. Lovers of romantic period novels should give this series a try. If I remember correctly, the first series covers the first 3 books; the second, books 4, 5, and 6 (the titles escape me). Graham wrote more books after the first six but those have never been dramatized for movie or television. Look this up on Amazon for more user comments.

Poldark originally was broadcast here in the US on Masterpiece Theater. While many Masterpiece Theater Shows have been excellent, Poldark stood out as probably the best of any I have ever seen. It was amazing. A story about a man just returning from the revolutionary war to find his home and estate in ruins, the girl he loved gone and many challenges to face. Well acted and well directed this story will keep you guessing and wanting more. I can't recommend this one enough. I hope they put it on DVD soon so I can see it again and again.

Note: There is also another Poldark series, Poldark II, which is a continuation of this series and tells you the rest of the story.