Product Details

• Actors: Carinthia West, David Dodimead, Tim Brown, Francesca Gerrard, Yvonne Coulette
• Format: 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: WEA
• DVD Release Date: September 30, 2003
• Run Time: 225 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000A5A1L
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,648 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Crime & Punishment - The Complete Miniseries" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Experience the gripping tale of pride, remorse, and redemption set among the 19th-century Russian working class in Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Two-time Academy Award®-nominee John Hurt stars in this moving BBC dramatization that brings to life the classic story of an antihero doomed by his misguided sense of intellectual moral authority. A former student with fierce and rational intellect, Raskolnikov feels that he is above the law and even capable of shedding blood without penalty. When he commits a murderous act, he is forced to confront his inner demons as well as a clever adversary determined to bring a killer to justice. But Raskolnikov slowly realizes that he will never find peace until he admits his guilt to himself

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Picture on cover?, February 4, 2005

By 

LUC (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crime & Punishment - The Complete Miniseries (DVD)

I have just finished watching this brilliant adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky's 'Crime & Punishment'. The three episodes last seventy-five minutes each, a total of just under four hours. In my opinion, the first episode is the best, but I enjoyed the entire DVD immensely. I do not know how faithful it is to the book as I have never read it, but I certainly shall now.

The wonderful Jack Pulman adapted this for BBC TV in 1979, shortly before his death. Again he manages to produce an impeccable script, full of both drama and humour. Interestingly, as with so many of his works, his wife Barbara Young makes an appearance as the eccentric Amalia Ivanovna - or at least that is what she calls herself.

The cast is outstanding and features many well known and hugely talented players. The amazing John Hurt is simply riveting as the tortured Raskolnikov. Sian Phillips and Frank Middlemass are both very moving and Timothy West is masterfully subtle and understated. Other standouts include David Troughton and Beatrix Lehmann as the Pawnbroker. In fact, the only member of the cast who was not particularly good was Yolande Palfrey as Sonia, but even she was acceptable.

The sets and locations are very authentic and there are some unforgettable scenes. The story is dark and bleak, but enthralling, thought-provoking and simply fascinating.

All in all an excellent production - one to keep beside 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' (BBC TV 1979), 'Anna Karenina' (BBC TV 1977) and 'The Mayor of Casterbridge' (BBC TV 1978).

But why on earth is there a picture of Elizabeth Garvie and David Rintoul in 'Pride and Prejudice' (BBC TV 1979) on the back cover? I am surprised that no previous reviewer has commented on this.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid teleplay, February 11, 2004

By 

Extollager (Mayville, ND United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crime & Punishment - The Complete Miniseries (DVD)

Read the book -- but this _is_ a superb miniseries. John Hurt is a little older than is ideal for the role of the student Raskolnikov, but otherwise is a fantastic choice for the part. The story is absorbing and thought-provoking, and, at least in the marvelous scene in which Raskolnikov taunts a police inspector --- funny!

Crime and Punishment was preceded by an adaptation of Dostoevsky's The Possessed. I hope that will become available.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars crime & punishment, February 27, 2006

By 

H. Davies - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crime & Punishment - The Complete Miniseries (DVD)

Superb acting and script. Recent adaptations seem afraid to include original dialogue at any length- this gave us so much that was gripping and character-revealing. I wish all past BBC miniseries were available. Brilliant!