Customer Reviews

The Norman Conquests Boxed Set [VHS]

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

These three plays are among the most brilliant ever conceived by the Great Performances series on PBS. Tom Conti, Penelope Keith, Richard Briers, and the rest are amazing, as are the plays themselves. My only over-riding question is --

WHEN WILL THEY BE AVAILABLE ON DVD???

Considering all the junk that is available, it seems a shame that this extraordinary trilogy is not.

ARE YOU LISTENING??

In the late 1970s PBS presented a hilarious trilogy of plays called "The Norman Conquests." I've been trying ever since to find them again. And here they are! The production (the same as on PBS) stars Tom Conti as an unforgettable Norman. The premise of these three amazing plays: Norman is a real charmer who seduces (not necessarily sexually) everybody he meets. Each of the three programs takes place in a different room (in one case, the "room" is the garden). It's the same story and the same six characters (all beautifully performed), but each time seen from what happens only in each room. It's an amazing accomplishment for the writer, who explains in the introduction to the screenplays (also available on amazon.com) that the plays are meant to be seen in any order. These videotapes are presented in this order: "Table Manners" (in the dining room), "Round and Round the Garden," and "Living Together" (the sitting room). But I prefer "Table" first and "Garden" last. If you haven't experienced it, and you're a fan of British productions, you really won't want to miss it.

And now, to counter rumors that I may possibly be an excessively negative person, here is a review of something that I liked very much. Unlike seemingly everyone else here, I have no nostalgic attachment to these films, but I still think they're pretty great. I got the set as a gift this past xmas, and I initially greeted it with baffled incomprehension: what the hell is this, and why would I be interested? However, after my parents (god bless 'em) finally forced me to watch it earlier this Summer, all becomes clear: this is about as good as television gets.

Indeed, seeing something this good really forces you to recognize that most movies (and TV shows) are, when you come right down to it, pretty damned bad. TNC, on the other hand, is pretty damned good: the characters and their relationships are well and subtly-developed, and there are no facile, all-encompassing 'solutions' to the conflicts therein. All six characters are real, wholly believable people, with no fatuous moralizing on the part of the writer, implicit or otherwise, to be seen. They're occasionally screamingly funny, but never at the expense of character--everything flows naturally out of who they are. At the end of the third film I felt a distinct sense of melancholy that I had to leave these people--and that's about the highest praise I can give.

For years I have sought out this trilogy hoping to see it again after first viewing it on PBS. Finally, amazon.com provided me with the full set! What a delight.

My memory didn't serve me well...it was even more interesting than I recalled. The characters are rich in development...making mundane moments in life quite memorable to the viewer.

So tightly knit, the story weaves through lives (and rooms) with humor and exposes each character's frailties in a cunning fashion, yet offers an understanding of their power to cope with life.

Quite delightful...I enjoyed it thoroughly.

We saw the plays in Los Angeles twenty or more years ago and I have a copy of the scripts. I did not know these hilarious plays had been televised and bought them immediately. I will never forget my husband falling out of his seat with laughter on seeing the enactment of the chess game moves! Thank you for selling these tapes! I love amazon.com! It has really improved life quality for me in a lot of other ways as well!!

I saw this on PBS about 15-20 years ago and have never forgotten it. One day out of the blue I decided to look for it on Amazom.com and to my surprise you had it! Just watched it last night and its still as funny as ever. I recommend this highly to anyone wanting a good laugh. The cast is brilliant.

I have been searching for over two years, but I gave up a while ago. Then one Sunday evening,I went to Amazon, typed in "The Norman Conquests" for the hundreth time, and I fell out of my chair and let out a yell when I saw the three tapes for sale--I received my delivery in two days and a smile hasn't left my face.The show is brilliant--clever,witty and charming.I also enjoy watching others see it for the first time, especially people who had to listen to me over the years go on and on about"Norman" WATCH AND ENJOY!

The DVD version of the Norman Conquests trilogy has been available since Feb 6 2006 for £18.86 in the UK. All you need is a multi zone DVD player and a TV that can play PAL! If I didn't already have both I think I'd go out and buy them just to get this great series on DVD.

Yes, yes, yes! We also remember seeing this play series on PBS at least 20 years ago and remember it with great fondness.

I can't wait until our set arrives!

Ahhhhh, Norman....

I saw this presentation on PBS's Great Performances over twenty two years ago. I have longed for an encore performanc and now I have it. Tom Conti is absolutely brilliant as the devil may care character. The scene at the dinner table is one of the funniest I have ever seen.