Customer Reviews

More Tales of the City

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A must have DVD for any fan of the "Tales of the City" books or mini-series...even if you do not have a DVD player yet! This DVD is hard to come by so grab a copy of it while you can. While some viewers might have some problems with the re-casting of some key roles from the original series (particularly Nina Siemasko replacing Chloe Webb as Mona Ramsey), Armistead Maupin's characters and twisting storylines make it a little easier to accept the new actors. "More Tales" also gives you a chance to see some current TV stars in very different roles -- Thomas Gibson from "Dharma & Greg" and Billy Campbell from "Once And Again." Key holdovers include Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis who, along with Maupin, provide insightful voice-over commentary on this 2-disc DVD set.

An important part to any DVD (or movie) purchase is whether it holds up after repeated viewing and this certainly passes the test. Unfortunately, the original PBS "Tales" is tied up in a legal mess and unavailable on DVD for the forseeable future. Looking forward to "Further Tales" set to air in Spring 2001. It is rare these days for an author to have such creative control over a movie/mini-series project. Maupin's love for these characters (and the actors who play them) is clearly evident. Hopefully, future "Tales" DVDs will have the caring treatment that was put into this set.

I thought this series was an overall improvement over the exceptional "Tales of the City", even though different actors play Mona Ramsey, Brian Hawkins, and Michael Tolliver. The change was a little hard to accept at first, particularly with Mona and Michael, as I liked the actors in the first mini-series, but as I watched all the episodes, I got used to the new actors and they did an equally fine job as the ones who originated the roles.

I'm especially glad that Laura Linney continues her role as Mary Ann Singleton, as she is one of my favorite actresses by virtue of her wise choices in picking roles in films that I happen to want to see. She's great in everything I've seen her in thus far, and she nails the character of Mary Ann Singleton in this series. Olympia Dukakis is also another hold over from the original miniseries, which wouldn't be the same without her presence. She simply is Anna Madrigal...elegant and mysterious as the landlord everyone would be lucky to have.

What makes this miniseries an improvement over the first one for me is the brilliant casting choice and performances of the lady who plays Mother Mucca, and Colin Ferguson as the oddly naive Burke Andrew. First, Mother Mucca is a pure delight to watch. She's a crusty old lady with a mouth on her and a wicked wit that just makes you laugh. She doesn't take much from anyone, and even though she's oddly moody and mouthy, you can't help but love her and want to get to know her. She is the one actor who singlehandedly make this series a must watch show. That's not to take away from the rest of the cast, because they all did exceptionally well. This is as fine acting as you'll ever see in any film...and Mother Mucca is the funniest one of the lot.

Colin Ferguson perfectly captures his character from the novel. With his facial expressions alone, he physically displays his discomfort and boyishness that seems a bit odd for a man in his late 20s, but as we see the reason why, it all makes perfect sense. Why isn't this actor in more films? Other than that over-hyped and quickly cancelled "Friends" knock-off ("Coupling"), I haven't seen him in anything else. This guy can act and casting directors should get his number and put him in their film projects! He and Laura Linney have great chemistry together, and his journey in the film represents is fun to watch to its morbidly funny conclusion.

After watching this one, I look forward to "Further Tales of the City" and hope that its just as good as the previous two miniseries. These tales are joyous to watch, and high quality acting and production values are apparent throughout. Well done!

Ok. The stories of 28 Barbary Lane continue with more laughs, more sex and more mysteries with Armistead Maupin's More Tales of the City, a six-part miniseries (COMPLETE SET OF THREE TAPES) follow-up to the highly successful Tales of the City. Picking up where the original left off, Anna Madrigal (Dukakis) is still keeping watch over her tenants Mary Ann (Linney), who finds love with the mysterious Burke (Ferguson), and Michael "Mouse" Tolliver (Hopkins, replacing Marcus D'Amico), who falls hard for the dreamy Dr. Fielding (Campbell). Meanwhile, Mona (Siemaszko replacing Chloe Webb) heads off in search of her birth mother; and Beauchamp (Gibson) deals with his wife Dede's (Garrick) impending motherhood. More Tales is just as enjoyable as the original, and since there is less time introducing the characters, there's more time spent with them and developing them. Tensions about showing nudity and depicting homosexuality, which caused a controversy with the first production, have been lessened (this was made for Showtime, not PBS as the original was), making the sequel more relaxed. As before, the series captures 1970s San Francisco in all its glory, featuring fabulous period details in the clothes, music and fads of the era. It's like reuniting with long-lost old friends!

MORE TALES fleshes out characterization, answers a few mysteries left over from the original and deepens our understanding of our beloved friends at 28 Barbary Lane as they grow and change. Most striking is Paul Hopkins creation of Mouse. The oriignal actor in the role was delightful and most appealing but Hopkins has something extra - besides his drop-dead gorgeous face - a quiet strength and sensitivity, a radiance, if you will- especially in his near deathbed monologue of a letter to his homophobic parents, proudly and eloquently stating his gay pride. His modulated and carefully controlled voice holds back strong emotion beautifully. Get out the box of kleenex! Dukakis is once again PERFECT as Anna Madrigal. Jackie Burroughs (where do these marvelous character actors come from) should have pulled off an Emmy for her original characterization of an octogenarian whorehouse madam. Warm glows, much love - God, I wish I lived with these people. Hope there are more to come!.

I was a bit leary of this "mini-series" because I loved the books so much, and this production replaced a couple of the lead stars from the first series. Any disappointment I felt, though, was quickly lost as I fell in love with the characters all over again, and soon forgot about the changes. What a great story with deliciously satisfying surprise turns and twists! The actors obviously relished these roles and put everything into them. Especially terrific about the DVD is the commentary from the author and stars of the series. I found it captivating--couldn't pull myself away from their stories, and can't wait to sit down and listen to them again. There's nothing like this out there. It should be part of your library!

"More Tales of the City" is a fictional, 6-part mini-series exploring the lives of gay and straight residents of a San Francisco apartment house at the address "28 Barbary Lane". A sequel to the original "Tales of the City" 6-part mini-series which aired several years earlier, both are based upon a newspaper serial started in 1976 by Armistead Maupin, who later coverted it into a set of novels. "Tales of the City" is based upon the first novel. "More Tales of the City" is based upon the second novel and continues the lives of the characters brought to life in the first installment.

Returning to the cast from the original "Tales of the City" mini-series are Olympia Dukakis as Anna Madrigal (the landlady of the 28 Barbary Lane apartment house), Laura Linney as Mary Ann Singleton (a career-minded secretary), Barbara Garrick as Deirdre 'DeDe' Ligon Halcyon Day, Bill Campbell as Dr. Jon Philip Fielding and Thomas Gibson as Beauchamp Talbot Day. Replacing former cast members are Nina Siemaszko as Mona Ramsey (searching for her identity), Paul Hopkins as Michael 'Mouse' Tolliver (searching for 'Mr. Right'), Diana Leblanc as Frances 'Frannie' Alicia Ligon Halcyon and Whip Hubley as Brian Hawkins. New to the cast are Colin Ferguson as Burke Christopher Andrew, Swoozie Kurtz as Betty Borg Ramsey and Jackie Burroghs as Mona 'Mother Mucca' Ramsey (a brothel owner).

In this segment, Mona Ramsey is searching for her self identity and doing everything she can to avoid her controlling mother, Betty Ramsey. She leaves San Francisco on a bus and meets 'Mother Mucca' and agrees to work at Mother Mucca's brothel in Neveda as a receptionist. There, she discovers some startling truths about herself, Mother Mucca and Anna Madrigal. In the meantime, Beauchamp is causing problems for his secretary, Mary Ann, and his wife, DeDe, who becomes impregnated by an Asian worker. DeDe's mother, Frances, ventures off to rediscover her sexuality at an exclusive club. While searching for 'Mr. Right', Michael becomes paralyzed and it rekindles his romance with Dr. Jon Philip Fielding. Several things that happen at the end of "More Tales of the City" lead into its sequel, "Further Tales of the City".

It may be true that Nina Siemaszko that Paul Hopkins don't play the roles of Mona and Michael as well as Chloe Webb and Marcus D'Amico from the original "Tales of the City", but the combination of the fun plot twists and other great acting makes "More Tales of the City" well worth watching and owning! I rate this set of DVD's 5 out of 5!

Being a gay person I love this movie. The cast including Olypia Dukakis and Laura Linney among others who I can't remember their names are excellent. I just wish I lived on Barbary Lane. I loved the closeness of the cast (which appeared to be very sincere)The acting was excellent, its a series that you wish continued on after the final scene. Its an excellent series which I would proudly recommend this movie to anyone. I truly love being gay and this series made me even prouder of my sexual orientation. This movie isn't all about the homosexual lifestyle, Laura Linney plays a straight woman who found her love in the building Olympia Dukakis's character owns. There is intrigue, scandal, love and best of all nudity. Great series I wish it was a permanent series.

A few years ago I stumbled on the Tales Of the City and fell in love with everyone. I was so disappointed when the show was over. The character development is wonderful, you start genuinely caring and "rooting" for people. The shows conclusion is perfect, and you are left to shake your head at the fact that someone can write lines so perfectly and actors can deliver them so honostly. I have missed everyone at 28 Barbary Lane, and now the fact that I can own them all, on DVD none the less, and with all these extras, all I can say is, Excellent! I recommend "Tales" to anyone who loves a great story with real characters.

This series follows the book closer than the first video, Tales of the City. The Characters match the book descriptions, and is an excellent, entertaining and fun series to watch. Now, I wish they'd produce Book 3, Further Tales of the City.

I had always heard of this series from Showtime. Then I finally got a chance to watch the series. I figured I would watch one episode a night. The first episode was so good that I watched the second, third and before I knew it I had watched both discs. This is a great value, very captivating series. I loved every episode and I could easily watch all the episodes again!