Product Details

• Actors: Rowan Atkinson
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: BBC Warner
• DVD Release Date: June 26, 2001
• Run Time: 180 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005A1ST
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,212 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Black Adder" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/13/2005 Run time: 196 minutes Rating: Nr

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Black Adder gets medieval, April 24, 2001

By 

SH in Tampa "SPH" (Tampa FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Black Adder (DVD)

Black Adder stars Rowan Atkinson, an absolute comic genius who is also the star of Mr. Bean. The screenplays were written by Richard Curtis (Mr. Bean, Not the nine o'clock news) and Ben Elton - possibly one of the funniest modern writers.

In the first series, Rowan Atkinson plays a weak chinned, effeminate heir to Richard, Duke of York. Set in medieval England, we are introduced to two of the most often recurring characters in Black Adders live(s) - Percy and Baldrick. Lord Percy is an eager to please, high strung dolt. Baldrick, an filthy peasant that is under qualified to be the village idiot, acts as Black Adder's golfer.

There are six episodes in the first series:

1. The Foretelling - a lone horseman, cursed with a bad haircut and a large codpiece, races to battle after sleeping in. After three cases of mistaken identity, the wrong king is crowned, the enemy escapes and three witches fortell of Black Adder's rise to the crown.

2. Born to be a King - the cowardly Black Adder must plot against a barbaric Scottish cousin in order to keep his holdings amidst a cast of leaping rabbi's, a eunch's feast and the death of a pharaoh.

3. The Archbishop - Archbishops die fast and often in Medieval England. So it is perfect obvious to Black Adder that his pious brother, and rival to the throne, desparately needs the job

4. The Queen of Spain's Beard - international treachery gives Black Adder a chance to press his shriveled little body against some of Europe's most eligible princesses.

5. Witchmeller Pursuivant - a bit of black death is in the air, but that's not what is threatening to kill Edmund Black Adder

6. The Black Seal - thwarted for the last time, Edmund sets forth to find seven evil men and fulfill the witches prophecy

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars He has a cunning Medieval Plan, December 29, 2003

By 

Deborah MacGillivray "Author," (US & UK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Black Adder (DVD)

Rowan Atkinson is one of Britain's most beloved comedians, but it is with the tales of the BlackAdder he shines most. This is the first series of tales that start in Medieval times and correct the "mistaken point of history", such as who really killed Richard III. This is the complete Medieval arc with all 6 tales.

The Foretelling tells how Richard III did not really die on Bosworth field, and Edmund Blackadder's father rising to be King. However, three witches mistakenly tell Edmund he will one day be King, so he set off to make this happen.

In the second episode - Born to be King - he plots to expose his brother Harry as being born out of wedlock, believing his father is already dead and he will then be crowned king. Instead, of exposing his brother, he finds out there is a question about his own birth.

In Episode 3 (one of the most hilarious) - The Archbishop - the King decides he need someone as Archbishop to stop people from leaving their worldly wealth to the church. He figures Edmund is just the person to be his handpuppet. Only, two Knights Templar over hear a conversation about Becket and think the King was Edmund killed.

Episode 4 - another riot called - The Queen of Spain's Beard - The king decides Edmund, no longer of use as ex-archbishop, he can marry a foreign princess in order to strengthen England's alliance. She is far from idea in Edmunds eyes and he goes to various extremes trying to rid himself of her.

Episode 5 is called - Witchmeller Pursuivant - The plague is start to rear it's head, and with it the Burning Times. And Edmund instead of being closer to the throne is suddenly accused of witchcraft - and his horse, too.

The series closes with the last episode - The Black Seal - In a last determined effort, Edmund does what he must to be crown king....

They are so funny with a super supporting cast. They are British Comedy at it's best.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant demented history!, March 13, 2005

By 

GBS - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Black Adder (DVD)

Rowan Atkinson is charmingly evil in the lead role. Somehow twisting his face to look a human rat, he plots and schemes his way to his own destruction in his quest to become the king. (Which he does, albeit for a few seconds.) Being a BBC production, it's rather like watching a goofy version of I, Claudius. It's a tribute to Atkinson's skills as a performer, that even after all his dire deeds, he is still a pathetic figure at the end. Wonderful program!