Customer Reviews

Masterpiece Theatre - The Cazalets

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is the story of a large extended, relatively well-off British family from just before WWII up through the early years of the war. The film breaks off about half way through the war while the novels continue through until the end of the war. The way the film ends it feels as if the people making this intended to continue in another season, so it finishes with a lot of loose ends. Despite that fairly serious flaw, the superb character development and the rich range of very real individuals who range from young children to very elderly, from sleazy to incredibly noble and self-sacrificing, makes this something not to be missed. This is about the home front and is a bit more about the women than the men, but the male characters, I thought, were as well developed as the females. In the interest of not offending those who are more puritanical than I, I should mention that there is a very tender, very closeted lesbian relationship involving one family member. In addition, there is a male family member who is less than faithful to his wife. In neither case does much happen on camera. The Cazalet's are in the main generous and loving people. You will be glad you met them. If they had continued with the rest of the story line from the novels, I would have given this 5 stars as a first installment.

After gleefully investing six hours in the fabulous and riveting "The Cazelets", I was woefully disappointed that the video ends mid-story (let alone in the middle of WWII!), with so many plotlines in full throttle: will Rupert make it home from the war; will the Brig make it THROUGH the war; will Zoe and Roddy...? Well, I don't want to spoil it for you, dear viewer. Acting and production values are full-on, in the best Masterpiece Theatre traditions. The camera lingers on those details ( i.e. a bucket catching drips from a leaky skylight in the cozy-but-grand family compound) that add so much to believing you are a fly on the wall as the drama unfolds. I wish I knew whether there is a Part 2 that PBS just neglected to import or whether I will, of necessity, read the last two books. I HAVE to find out what happens!

This mini-series certainly helped to pass the long days of summer vacation for me! Usually anything from Masterpiece Theatre is excellent--but this one surpassed many other mini-series they've done. The intertwining stories of all the members of the Cazalet family are artfully put together in such a way that it keeps the viewer constantly interested. The costumes were very true to the era and the jazzy theme music sounded like a real tune right out of the 1940's. Among the engrossing characters there were two who stood out the most. Louise, one of the young Cazalet daughters, had to struggle with a perverted father while trying to move up in the theatre. The other was Christopher, a Cazalet counsin who objected to the war. His father wanted him to join up, but he eventually has a breakdown because of it. If you love character sketches and period pieces, this one is for you!

The acting is great, the period drama done so well, as only the British can do. It is a great story, and you are really getting into the whole thing, and wham bam in the middle of the war the series is over. Clearly there was meant to be more, there was a great deal more written in the books, but you are left hanging, with no conclusion and no ending. What happened to this mini-series, do they run out of money? Very, very disappointing.

I agree with the other reviewers. it is a great story. I have read all the books twice and although the DVD is worth buying it is disappointing not to see the end of the Saga.

I have always loved the cazalets, but this American release was rather annoying.

From the constant "brought to you by ExxonMobil" voice overs to the fireside-feel basic WW2 history blurbs delivered after each episode, there are additions in this version which are unnecessary and spoil the 'BBC Englishness' which I reasonably expected. (It seems odd that the history blurbs were not made into a separate added-feature, instead of being embedded in the episodes)

The Cazalets appears to be unavailable on amazon.co.uk, so any non-American buyers should be aware of the changes. If it weren't for them, this would be five stars - the sound and picture are great!

I would have given this five stars if they had FINISHED THE DARN STORY!!! I fast forwarded after Louises wedding, Because it was obviously not the end right? but much to my chagrin,,,there was nothing else to be had! What happens to this family? where is Rupert? is he alive? what happens with christopher, and Zoe with the injured soldier? I cannot get the books easily, why make such a great series and NOT FINISH IT?

This film was absolutely fabulous! A great depiction of life for a privileged family during WWII. The characters were 3 dimensional and the actors did a great job of carrying that out. I am a HUGE Stephen Dillane fan and was actually shocked that this film had gotten past me for so long! The story centers around 3 brothers and their families and the struggles each one deals with. The director did a great job with this film. However, I have only one issue-the tremendous cliffhanger the viewer is left with! I want to know what happens with Rupert. Is he rescued to reunite with his family?? And I want to know how the marriage between Michael and Edward's daughter turns out (she was warned that he was "a breaker of hearts"). I'd also like to know what ends up happening with Edward himself, does he acknowledge the illegitimate child he sired with his mistress? Does his mistress even decide to keep the baby? Does his daughter finally tell her mother (his wife) about her father's inappropriate behavior with her (I honestly feel that Edward was truly sorry and realized the error of his ways the second time he came on to his daughter)? Does a relationship finally occur for the two women who found themselves in love? So many unanswered questions. Makes you wonder if there could possibly, one day, be a sequel?? Sure would be nice!

The Cazalets is the story of a upper-class British family during WW II. I really liked it. You really get the feel that the characters are individuals and that their trials and tribulations are real. I particularly liked the stories of the young married wife Chloe and her relationship with the wounded soldier, and the friendships between the young cousins. I didn't care that much for the conscientious objector storyline that took up the third DVD. Perhaps if the character had been more endearing, but the kid was annoying, and the story took up way too much of the DVD. Overall, a good period drama. Too bad it isn't complete!

I really did enjoy "The Cazalets" -- although, as other reviews indicate, it is left unfinished. I don't believe there are any plans to complete the series, however, so one is handicapped by ridiculous cliffhangers, like the fate of Rupert.

I have not read the Elizabeth Jane Howard novels (although I would like to at some point), and due to that I found many of the characters difficult to follow -- for example, there is a distinct focus on only the eldest Cazalet grandchildren, Louise, Polly, and Clary, to the detriment of the others. I believe Edward and Villy have a son, Edward Jr., who is hardly ever in the program. Also, two of the Cazalet sons, Edward and Hugh, have younger children, who are never fully connected to their parents. For example, I believe Lydia Cazalet was the daughter of Hugh and the long-suffering Sybil, but am not positive. Also, Villy and Sybil also have infant children (who grow into toddlers as the series progresses), the names of whom I cannot even say I processed since they were so seldom seen or mentioned. While I know this setup, i.e., having very young offfspring placed in the charge of nurses, governesses, and tutors (ah, the saintly Miss Millament!) was common among the upper crust, it made the family appear disjointed. Finally, were Christopher and his mother related to the Cazalets? I had a sense Mrs. Castle (Christopher's mother) was Villy Cazalet's sister, but, ONCE AGAIN, where was the solid evidence to support this...?! N-O-W-H-E-R-E!!!

The acting was very well executed in this piece. I agree that while life in World War II England couldn't have been as rosy for most people, even the upper classes (of which the Cazalets aren't even a proper part, as they are not members of the nobility or peerage), as the Cazalets enjoyed during that period, I was willing to overlook this suspension of fact in order to better appreciate the inter-familial drama.