Customer Reviews

Gardens of the World With Audrey Hepburn

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This program offers maximum value. Not only are all the features of the original broadcasts on PBS and the set of tapes present, extras are included as well, including a profile of Audrey Hepburn, a promo for Penelope Hobhouse, and separate audio tracks for the major music used as backgrounds in the shows.

The DVD production is impeccable (and cheaper than VHS to boot). Color is wonderfully pure, and images crisp and sharp.

But above all, it is the many gorgeous gardens (worldwide) and Audrey Hepburn's appreciations of them that will hold you entranced. The scope is broad, and the loving care used in photography, presentation, and production are always evident. My own favorite is Monet's garden, but there are wonderful shots of many other spots as well.

This comes highly, and unreservedly recommended!

Beautifully conceived and beautifully executed, this is truly and amazing DVD! The two-sided disk contains eight half-hour visits to the world's most beautiful gardens, plus eighty minutes of great music-only tracks, and two great behind-the-scenes segments showing Ms Hepburn at her most charming and personable.

I bought this DVD because I'm a Hepburn fan and her participation in this project certainly lends the entire undertaking a touch of class. She introduces each segment, reads poetry (and Anne Frank), converses with gardeners, and makes observations of her own--usually as she drifts in or out of the picture wearing elegant Ralph Lauren outfits and swinging a straw basket or plucking a bloom or two. (Watching the episodes in quick succession, I realized how true it is that she always favors her left profile.) In some episodes, however, she is barely on screen at all. As these shows were taped the year before her death, I suspect her participation was limited by the state of her health and that she was not able to fly to every location.

Although the shows would have been much poorer without Ms Hepburn, they are substantial in their own right. I found the episode on "Tulips and Spring Bulbs" especially informative. The bulk of the script, it should be noted, fell into the lap of the narrator, Michael York. He rose to the occasion as best he could, but some of the text he was expected to read was surely not written to be read aloud by any human being. (One amusing moment occurred when Mr. York, using his best Oxonian English, referred to George Washington as "OUR founding father.")

The theme that seemed to run through all the episodes is that gardening is a delicate collaboration between man and nature. As Ms Hepburn states, quoting gardener Anne Leighton (?), "A garden, to be a garden, must represent a different world, however small, from the real world....Gardening offers man a chance to regulate at least one aspect of his life--to control his environment and show himself as he wishes to be."

The "Gardens Of The World" series can't be faulted in any way. The gardens shown are all stunning. Audrey Hepburn is so elegant, charming, and beautiful. On the technical side, though, this DVD is disappointing. It's the only DVD I've ever purchased where you can't see how much time has elapsed while you are viewing, nor can you see which chapter you are watching. And, if you stop the DVD, it doesn't resume playing where you left off. No other DVD I own (and I own quite a few) is like this.

While the original TV release of this series in 1993 was beautiful to behold, both in content and picture quality, both the earlier and latest DVD presentations leave much to be desired. The original 2000 release by Perennial Entertainment was just OK, as far as picture quality goes, and the latest September 2006 release from Kultur is certainly no better. I would say they are both from the same video tape master. The series was shot on film, and then transferred to either 1" video tape or SP Betacam for world-wide TV release, and by the look of the picture quality of both DVD versions, they could have been transferred from a poor quality VHS tape. When enlarged onto a front projection screen, the picture quality deteriorates badly. Be warned, the latest edition is no better than the previous version.

I was expecting and hoping for much more information and insight on Audrey Hepburn and the making of 'Gardens of the World' in the 'newly' included documentary "In Pursuit of Beauty - Audrey Hepburn's Gardens of the World Grand Tour" which is included on disc 3 in the new release. This is NOT a documentary in the true sense. It is a series of very poor quality "on location" shots complete with a few outtakes, several bloopers and many clapper boards, and a few scenes from the completed sequences thrown in for good measure. The interviews with Miss Hepburn are also featured in the earlier version. The picture and sound quality of this 45 minute ramble is terrible.

All in all, in my opinion, this new version is a waste of money IF you have the 2000 version in your collection. Such a disappointment because it was truly a remarkable and visually beautiful series with a most elegant and serene Audrey Hepburn. I'd give it 5 stars for Miss Hepburn's presentation and its content, but only 2 stars for video quality.

Yes! Yes! Yes! I just got it, and it is wonderful! It is good and it is worth it coz you see Audrey being herself. And there is a great special feature about her...on location in UK behind the scenes, which is at least 20 min long. You get to see her wonderful and infectious personality and she wins you over all over again. She does an episode about Rose Gardens, and little does she know that she outshines the Rose. She also quotes a line from a poem: "O Rose! who dares to name thee?"
Well, I say..."O Audrey! who dares to name thee?"
Is that enought to tempt u...?
Lol. Well, I am not a huge gardens fan, but i enjoyed this series alot coz she made it fun and interesting to watch

Gardens is one of the best most inclusive look at various gardens throughout the world. I especially loved the rose garden segment and watch it whenever I need to have a calm break from the world. Hepburn is very passionate about the need for gardens and appreciative of all the beauty found in them. I recommend this for all nature lovers.

I ordered this series because I am an avid Audrey Hepburn fan. The candid footage of her in England and Holland was a joy to watch. I also found myself very entertained by the wonderful Gardens shown as well as the historical info on gardening, different types of gardens (Zen, Flower, Formal, etc), and the interesting information on the development of flowers. A+

Audrey Hepburn is charming, Michael York narrates, and the filming is stunning. Features gardens of the world. Favorite sections are the roses and public gardens. After watching several times, didn't realize that the DVD flips over to play the opposite side. You can also play the classical music that is used in the filming. Highly recommend this DVD.

It is extremely hard to find quality garden videos so I was a little concerned this would fall flat, but be assured...this is truly worth the money. I was so delighted that I had to buy it for my parents and have recommended it highly to gardening friends. It is so much more than just video of beautiful gardens, Audrey Hepburn is gracious and elegant and inspirational. In addition it is a wonderful value as you get 2 dvd.s and there is hours of beauty to enjoy on each dvd. I have watched these over and over and just love the lift I get...especially during the winter months. You won't be disappointed.

This is a magnificent DVD about natural beauty. As an avid gardener I loved the superb creations shown on the program; especially striking were the scenes from Holland and Somerset. The accompanying music is perfect.

Even so, it is the lovely presence and presentation of Ms. Hepburn that makes this truly special. Talk about iconic beauty! Her grace, peace and warm features are the perfect complement to her natural surroundings. I loved it! It's a great value as well, three long DVDs at 25 bucks or less. Highly recommended.