Customer Reviews

A&E Biography - Prince Charles the Private Man the Public Role [VHS]

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Copyrighted in 1994, this video came out two years after the very public separation between Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Initially described as an amicable split, the recriminations had grown vicious and it is clear that this video was an attempt to rehabilitate Charles' image in the eyes of a hostile public. Charles is shown making many public appearances and working for the British people. Everything from his attempts to sell British arms to Arab states to meeting with small military units while in uniform is shown. The strain of having so public a life and having to sit through so many events is clear and expressed verbally and via the images.
There are also many scenes of him interacting with his two sons; he is portrayed as a very involved and caring parent. They fish, ski and walk their dogs together. The closest the viewer gets into achieving real insight into Charles' life is during the one-on-one interview segments. Most of the questions are softballs, yet his answers and often non-answers help you understand how Charles looks at the world. He clearly wants to be king, yet he dislikes having every aspect of his life under such scrutiny, which of course is mutually exclusive. While it is possible to have some sympathy for the man, it is hard to have it rise to any great height, for his life is one of privilege when so many struggle to survive.
The sound is not of the best quality, some of the conversations are difficult to hear, yet the scenery is unsurpassed. It is impressive to see the interior of some of the old structures and the tombs of such historical figures as Henry the VIII. This tape certainly succeeded in what it was intended to do, help turn the public mood from being against Charles to one that is more tolerant. However, it is difficult to know whether his return to favor was simply due to time, the revelations about Diana's affairs or a consequence of this tape.