Customer Reviews

Edward the King

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

You do not have to be British or even knowledgeable in British History to enjoy this 13-episode (each being about 51 minutes) story of the making of King Edward the 7th. It was originally broadcast on British TV (as Edward the Seventh) in the 70s but is so well done that it appears to be a 21th century release.

Queen Victoria (Annette Crosbie) begins as a young lady who married Prince Albert but initially left him out of government and British leadership. Her love for the Prince brings her to full devotion, even after his death in 1841. The role of the queen could be played no better. Watching the change through the episodes as the Queen (who reigned 50+ years) brings the role even more reality. The acting brings out your own emotion as you begin to almost feel a part of the family.

Bertie, who would become King Edward VII, played by Timothy West, is equal to Crosbie's stellar performance. West does such a good job of playing Bertie, who eventually the King after a 60 year wait due to Queen Victoria's refusal to relinquish her role. The viewer empathizes with Bertie in his struggle to make a difference in British lives. Between his coronation in 1901 and his death in 1910, King Edward VII became even more beloved by the UK people and known for his peacemaking abilities.

This is a story of a monarchy, particularly the years of Queen Victoria and her son Bertie, but the story is written to make the viewer feel their humanness and experience their struggles with politics and family, joys and grief--also very familiar to common people. This is so much more than a British history lesson.

Lillie Langtry's (Francesca Annis) relationship with Bertie, is included as well as his mistress Alice Keppel. Side note: Lillie's own story was placed into a British drama series of it's own in the 70s. "Lillie" is also a recommended DVD set. Both "Lillie" and "Edward the King" are must-own's for the British drama enthusiast.

Costumes, dancing, and the home furnishings in the sets are exceptional, as are many landscape scenic views. It is like a travelogue show depicting the British Monarchy from 1840s to 1910. But this is a story, mind, not a documentary; a performance, not a history lecture.

This Acorn Media release of the series is ENLARGED AND PACKED with special features that add so much more to the award-winning drama that has already proved itself over a couple of generations of viewers.

The BAFTA, "Best Drama Series", award proves this DVD's worth.
FIVE STARS AND FIVE BRAVOS. A JOLLY GOOD SHOW.

"Edward The King," a 1975 British television drama about the life of Edward VII of Great Britain, has just been released in a box set, consisting of four DVD's, that comprise the original thirteen episodes of the series. It was originally broadcast in the U.K. as "Edward the Seventh," and was aired in the U.S. on public television stations and major network affiliates in the late 1970s. Evidently, it dates from the great age of British TV series, and like many of them, was made for Britain's ITV, Independent Television; it bears the hallmarks of those classic 1970's series: an all-star cast, tremendous production values - a cast of hundreds if not thousands, richly detailed sets and costumes. It won an Emmy for Outstanding Costume Design and three BAFTA Awards, including Best Drama Series and Best Actress. The box set boasts several special features; but, unfortunately, does not offer subtitles.

Timothy West (Bleak House) stars as the title character, and does an extraordinary job of taking Edward from young adulthood through old age. Annette Crosbie (Calendar Girls) costars as his remarkable mother, Queen Victoria, and must be said to do an equally remarkable job of taking her character from child-bearing young woman through old age. Other stars include Felicity Kendal (Rosemary & Thyme - The Complete Series), Robert Hardy (All Creatures Great and Small: The Complete Collection), Charles Dance (Bleak House), Michael Holdern, and Sir John Gielgud. Francesca Annis (Reckless), plays Lillie Langtry here, and was, in 1978, to play the well-known courtesan/actress again in her own estimable series, (Lillie).

As you might expect with thirteen episodes, the series also bears that British hallmark of leisurely story-telling; some viewers might prefer to initially skip the first DVD, about Edward's rather miserable childhood, then double back to it. Mind you, Edward's childhood was obviously privileged, in comparison with the rest of his country and his world, still, the poor young child was subject, from the age of seven, to a solitary and grueling educational program dreamed up by his father, Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's consort. (To some of us, indeed, Albert seems overwhelmingly to be the source of some of the least pleasant features of the period that bears his wife's name, the Victorian.)

Victoria was extremely long-lived: the celebration of her Diamond Jubilee (50 years as Queen), is shown in this production, and Edward waited nearly 60 years to become King. During most of that wait, his mother refused to allow him to play any part in the governance of the nation, sentencing him to a life of skirt-chasing, and society pursuits. He reigned for only nine years, from January 22, 1901, to May 6, 1910, continuing his philandering during that time. Nevertheless, his nine year reign was influential, and its period is generally known as the Edwardian. He did his level best to bring peace to Europe during his brief reign, but was, ultimately, unable to sufficiently influence his nephews, the German Kaiser Wilhelm, and the Russian Tsar Nicholas, and, four years after his death, World War I broke out, thereby putting an end to the leisurely luxurious Edwardian life the upper crust had enjoyed. Despite his years of frivolity, he was very popular with his countrymen, and indeed, in Europe, and the Americas. I was once, for whatever the reason, mooching through old "New York Times" microfiche, and came upon a story, published shortly after his death, that remarked that the black ebony earrings, then customarily worn by women in mourning (you certainly see them frequently in "Edward"), had sold out in New York after his death, and were not available at any price.

Anyone who is interested in history, be it British/European/world/political/military or royal, will find this an excellent, truly enjoyable picture of the period in question. It should find its place in many DVD libraries. It has in mine.

Phillip Magnus's magisterial biography of King Edward VII was deemed worthy of a miniseries by the BBC, so this exceptionally lavish (and, unfortunately, exceptionally long) miniseries adaptation was commissioned of it by the BBC in the mid 1970s. Very little expense was spared, and the costumes faithfully replicate the court dress of every decade between 1842 (when the miseries begins, at Queen Victoria's realization of Edward's conception) and 1910 (when Edward dies); many scenes are shot at the actual locations, including Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral. You should be warned from the get-go that, due to its extreme length, the miniseries sags quite a bit in the middle, between Edward's marriage to Alexandra and his accession to the throne. For whatever reason, the BBC decided that Edward's numerous extramarital affairs could be mentioned but that "Bertie" (Timothy West) could be shown giving nothing more passionate to his many illicit loves other than a kiss on the cheek--and then only once, in parting with Lillie Langtry (Francesca Annis). So the rest of the middle section of this miniseries is pretty dull, with far too many bluff and hearty dinner parties, and with far too many minor sexual and social scandals, most of which could have been easily cut, since Edward's protests to his mother and wife of doing nothing more indiscreet than admiring the beauty of these women is borne out entirely by what we see on camera. Also, the children of Victoria and Albert (and their childrens' spouses, the heads of European royalty) are so nice and well mannered that not much of anything seems to happen in the middle. Yet the miniseries is more than worth seeing for the three episodes at the beginning and the three episodes at the end. The latter sequences are worth seeing for what happens when Edward finally is enthroned, close to age sixty, and has the ability to do what he has long dreamed of doing, and can brokers a European peace by dint of his influence upon his two nephews, Kaiser Wilhelm II and Czar Nicholas II, who are the actual rulers of two of the most important empires on Earth. This latter triad of episodes also shows this series' Edward and Alexandra at their absolute best: as Edward VII, Timothy West is never quite so likable as when playing with his many royal grandchildren and happily making a fool of himself, while Helen Ryan, as the deaf, forgiving, kindly, yet surprisingly patriotic Alexandra, shows herself at her most eccentric and lovable. And the first triad of episodes is worth the entire series, because they give the great Annette Crosbie her fullest showcase as Edward's mother, the inestimable Queen Victoria.

Although Queen Elizabeth I has been the proverbial role for giving actresses a great showcase for their talents, nearly as many have had a go at the Last of the Hanovers, from Helen Hayes and Anna Neagle to Irene Dunne and Judi Dench. But none of them have been allowed further range than Annette Crosbie is here over the course of a full ten episodes, and she so dominates the series that for all of these first ten episodes she is deservedly given top billing. Hers is the performance that far and away makes the greatest impression, perhaps because Victoria is the most interesting person in the entire series. From her first scene, screaming "'MUST'... TO ME!" at her former governess in outraged disbelief, Crosbie's Victoria makes us laugh almost constantly. Trained from an early age to see the entire world subject to her whims, Crosbie's Victoria is so surprised when the universe does not obey her that her whole body reacts in outrage; often she is caught so by surprise at the expressions of willpower in other people that she freezes in shock before she can quite make up her mind whether to explode in fury, burst into tears, or erupt in laughter. I can't remember the last time an actor's performance caught me so repeatedly off-guard, and made me chuckle so often in delight. Even in the long later years of her reign when she mostly does walk-ons during the dreary events of the middle episodes devoted to her sons' scandals with his mistresses, she keeps a wonderful comic routine going with her dismaying prime minister William Gladstone (Michael Hordern), who always says exactly the wrong thing to her. You look forward to Annette Crosbie's every appearance on camera; it is one of the true triumphs of Seventies British acting, and makes the whole thing a kind of classic.

Snow hit this country and I needed a good film to watch. I went to my cabinet and picked Edward The King to watch once more. It was even better the third time.

I like the era it was from and the acting was very good. Timothy West made a great older Bertie but was not very convincing in the younger days. Annette Crosbie was an amazing Queen Victoria. Her range of emotions shows well not only in the words she says, screams or cries, but her eyes tell you much more of what she is thinking. Outstanding work for her.
Overall, this is a good one to watch more than once so purchasing it makes some sense at the price. Costumes are nice, scenes are well done and of course the scenery in these period pieces is always a joy to behold.

A fantastically entertaining serial about english royalty in the mid 19th century and the early 20th century pre WW1
great portrayal of queen victoria by annette crosbie, prince albert by robert hardy, and edward vii by timothy west.
accurate costumes and social norms of high society at the time shown, as well as the goings on of world politics. well worth purchasing.

A wonderful historical drama that covers the period of Queen Victoria's reign into King Edward's reign. It depicts the battle between the old ways and the coming new age. Off with old and onto the new, but the process is messy and destructive resulting in the beginnings of both Great World Wars.

Another winner from the Golden Age of the BBC, Edward the King is 12+ hours of splendid drama. ETK is so much more than a bio-pic as it follows Bertie/Edward VII's life from his frustration at being kept out of statecraft by Queen Victoria and hers and Prince Albert's disapproval at Bertie's behavior--normal for a young man of privilege--to the excesses of his adult years. Far from being merely the libertine of legend, Edward VII was a statesman, and this series well illustrates his even hand as an administrator and the personality that branded his name on an age. Timothy West is simply terrific as the older Bertie/Edward and the rest of the cast is equally great. Watch for Francesca Annis as Lillie Langtry, Felicity Kendall as Princess Vicky, Sir John Gielgud as a dashing Disraeli, and Robert Hardy as Prince Albert, and Annette Crosbie as a very human Queen Victoria. Crosbie's regal tantrums and strangleholds on her children and stature as the Queen are wonderful and awful to see.

As in all BBC productions, the period detail is impeccable down to the fashion, wallpaper and china patterns, and the sets are atmospheric (if can overlook minor details like recently completed Sandringham having ivy covered walls). The writing never bogs down, and despite the series' length, the story clips along efficiently, making it hard to find a stopping place.

For a total immersion experience, watch this series, The Pallisers and Lillie. Who says you can't time travel? The length and depth of these series ensures it!

Edward the King (original title Edward the Seventh) is another of those wonderful British historical dramas from the 1970s. It was originally filmed in 1975 and was shown in the US on PBS later in the 1970s. A dramatization of Sir Philip Magnus' biography of King Edward VII, the series covers the king's life from before his birth until his death. The sets and costumes are sumptuous and the casting superb, led by Timothy West as the adult Edward (or Bertie as he was known in the family), Annette Crosbie as the quintessential Queen Victoria, and Robert Hardy as Prince Albert. There are many other excellent actors playing smaller roles, like Sir John Gielgud as Benjamin Disraeli.

This series is one of the most exhaustively researched I have ever seen. Practically every detail of the King's life is depicted, including his arranged marriage with the beautiful Alexandra of Denmark and his numerous love affairs, including his three main mistresses, Lillie Langtry (here played by Francesca Annis who was to reprise the role a couple of years later in Lillie), Daisy Warwick, and Alice Keppel. Even the several scandals in which Bertie was involved as Prince of Wales as a result of his addiction to women and gambling are included in detail. Most interesting is the depiction of the expansion of Queen Victoria's family over time, so that we see her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren by the time she was an elderly lady. The three last episodes, which deal with Edward's time as King, do a good job detailing the political and diplomatic issues of the Edwardian era and the King's part in them.

This is a melodrama, and there are some really strong hints of soap opera about the production, particularly the background music which accompanies every scene. Some of the characters have been whitewashed, or at least some of their more unsavory aspects have been glossed over. For example, Bertie's oldest son Eddy was notably dissolute and perhaps bisexual, but there are only the barest hints of it here. Bertie's second son Georgie, who became King George V, has probably had the most complete character transformation, making him into some sort of shy intellectual rather than the bluff sailor he really was. But Edward the King is excellent drama and enjoyable viewing for the entire family.

I have watched most of the dramas based on the lives of British Royalty and have very much enjoyed all of them. This one may be the best yet. As a lover of history, I enjoy trying to remember who was the mother or father or grandparents of which one. It sometimes makes my head spin. I think I'll make a chart so I can finally get it straight.

The backgrounds in this series are lovely and the actors superb! I have to keep reminding myself not to feel too sorry for "Bertie" because, poor thing, he was isolated and made to work hard and rarely appreciated for doing anything right. He had the best of educational resources and luxuries beyond our imagination. Yes, their lives are different from ours. That's what makes them fascinating to watch.

I could hardly tear myself away from watching as one episode stopped and I had to take a break in watching. The thing I loved most about this series was the history. Did I really care about the characters and what happened to them? Not always. Sometimes I was glad that they got what they deserved. Their values and lifestyles (excessive and brutal killing of wild animals for example) are not like ours. I'm happy to enjoy the history and the beauty of all their ceremonial events, but, as an American, this series proves to me once again that it's much nicer to enjoy it from a distance. I'm glad we left it all behind.

I very much recommend this series to anyone who loves historical drama.

Edward the King was produced in 1973 and may lack some of the fancy bells and whistles found in today's high tech productions. No matter as this British series is so finely acted the viewer is transported back into history and is able to live through the reign of Queen Victoria and King Edward. In fact, this drama is so well acted viewers will often have a difficult time discovering which actor played which character. (Big hint look for John Guilgood or Geoffrey Palmer) who both had parts in Edward the King also known in Britain as Edward the Seventh.

Family and social history is not forgotten either as this series often depicts both the heartbreaking and loving methods of family dynamics. Edward, often misunderstood by his parents, is never given encouragement for trying to do his best in academics as a child. Later as an adult, Queen Victoria never offers her son any substantial work to do. Prince Albert Edward later turns to the playboy life which the queen criticizes.

The show offers the back story of history as Queen Victoria's children marriages stretched from Germany to Russia. Family meetings, as depicted in this series, were often lively as different sovereigns argued over their national interests during family visits.

Highly recommend as this series offers a historical view of both Victorian and Edwardian history.