Customer Reviews

North and South [VHS]

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Yep, you've guessed it. This is the best video of all time. I was only 9 years old when this movie was first on in 1985. Since then I have been glued to television to watch the reruns and my videos. During my 10th year of high school, I persuaded my parents to purchase this video for me. Through school, I found this video to be my comfort and relief. Today, as a school teacher, I find these videos to be not only a high light, but also an aid in the classroom. If you feel a strong attraction to the Civil War period, or even the slightest bit of interest in understanding our past history, this is the video to do all of this. I have all 3 books on video. I watch them at least once every month. So, add up all the times you are able to watch this and you'll understand the desire and interest people like me have had since the beginning of these books, miniseries, videos, etc. Once, you see these videos you will fall in love with them. They have been my companion for the past 8 years.

I recently watched North and South, and I was swept away into a time period that is such an important part of our American history. I feel that we often forget about the way our country was once torn apart. This depiction of what the North and South were like in the mid 1800's was excellent. I enjoyed it immensely and enjoyed Book II as well.

North and South by far has to be the best TV miniseries of all time. The saga of the Hazard and Main families is set against a back drop of a fairly young country about to be divided by civil war.

The series begins with Orry Main (Patrick Swayze) of Mount Royal, South Carolina setting off to go to the Military Academy at West Point. On his way he rescues the very beautiful Madeline Fabray(Leslie-Anne Down) from a buggy accident and a snake. After taking Ms. Fabray to her destination, he is back on his journey to West Point. Another character that Orry meets on his trip is George Hazard(James Read) and they soon become life long friends. North and South follows both Orry and George during their time at the Point, the Mexican War and after. There is an all-star cast too many to mention.

This first installment of the North and South Trilogy follows the lives of both Orry and George and their respective families through the period leading up to the Civil War. North and South written by John Jakes is the best historical fiction book I have read and this Miniseries has stayed true to form. Because of the historical correctness I would say that this movie has enough appeal for those men that can't get enough of Civil War history or even general war history. The main characters in this are fictional, however there are references to historical figures like Lincoln, Grant and Lee to name a few. However there is certainly plenty of appeal to women, namely Swayze and there is an excellent love story as well. That being said I definitely recommend seeing this miniseries as well as North and South Book Two: Love and War.

What a great movie. Both North and South, Books 1 & 2, are the perfect compliment to the historical setting and diverse sentiment prior to and during the American Civil War. The original television miniseries departs a little from John Jakes' published work, but overall the epic makes for good watching. A great deal of the first movie was filmed almost exclusively in and around Charleston, SC. Bill Conti's musical score fits perfectly with production. When the series first aired in Autumn 1985, I was glued to the television set and raced back from military field assignments so as not to miss an episode. At the conclusion of the first miniseries I was overjoyed that there was a second series in production, which aired early in 1986. Do yourself a favor, add both sets of videos to your collection.

Where does one begin to express the sentiment I have towards this movie? There is no doubt in my mind that this is the, for lack of better words, BEST movie even made. I'm sorry, but it puts Gone With the Wind to shame. (Not that the is any comparison.) The 1st part closely follows John Jake's book. Part two strays away a good deal, but still keeps you spell bound for days after you've seen it. The script, film locations, and score combine to produce a picture of epic proportion. I teach US History, and this is a must see every semester. I love this movie/books so much that I have made 3 trips to Natchez Mississippi to visit Stanton Hall ( interior of Mount Royal) My great great great great grandfathers home is in the movie as well... it was used as the tavern where Charles Main and Salem Jones fight. From the wretched Justin, Bent, and Ashton, the love of George and Constance, Madeline and Orry, to the pain of broken friendships, over the period of the true Golden Age of American history.... you will be spell bound once you begin your journey with North and South.

PS..... Avoid part 3 at all cost! It is a cheap slaugh-off of what could have been great drama. (The BOOK is excellent - the MOVIE should be banned.)

I agree with every review I have read of this movie on this site. The first two movies are some of my most favorite of all time. I remember watching them on television, and taping them. My friends and I used to have North and South viewings whenever we had a break from school - we would watch both movies, start to finish, straight through! I was a freshman in college when the third episode came out, and was totally annoyed by it. I have taped over that one and would not be at all tempted to watch it again. However, I do think that all three John Jakes books are well worth the read, as there are some aspects of both the movie and the book that I like. I would like to congratulate the people who did the first two movies, as I enjoy them very much, and it is obvious that a great many other people do as well! And yes, the music is wonderful!

This is one of those events which mixes great drama, sex appeal and down right fun on the small screen. After 17 years and 3 mini series with top calibre actors including James Read, Patrick Swayze, Wendy Kilbourne, Jonathan Frakes, Jimmy Stewart, Johnny Cash and Hal Holbrook, this mini-series helped bring back an interest in the Civil War. Shot on location throughout the real South, the story involves the relationship of two friends, one a Northern factory owner and the other, a Southern Plantation owner. The story has everything you want to keep you intrigued, greed, sex, action, comedy, history, friendship, deceit. Book 1 takes you through the friendship build up of Read and Swayze and the lead up to the Civil War. Book 2 takes us through the Civil War as Read and Swayze take sides against each other as opposing generals. The third book and the least entertaining was shot nearly 10 years after the second book and offers the reconstruction of the country and the expansion to the West. Most of the original cast is back minus Swayze who opted to stay away after he had a semi-successful big screen career going. Like I said, it is a great mini series and I hope that the powers that be will bring it out in a 3 volume set on DVD, it certainly deserves it.

My wife used to go on and on about how great this mini-series was. I thought she was exaggerating a little, until I saw it for myself. It was even better than she described. It is truly, head and shoulders, the best mini-series I have ever seen, and probably ever will see. The music is fabulous, too. When I first watched it, it was a pleasure to sit through the credits each time a new tape started, just to hear the opening song. Absolutely extraordinary!

I just recently watched the entire series for the second time. It was my mother who introduced me to North and South; we watched it together about two years ago. I was only 7 when it first aired in 1985, but my mother taped every episode, and she tells of an acquaintance who missed episode number 4 and offered her $1000 to watch her tape. I am thrilled that we have recently acquired the entire saga on video; Book II is somewhat expensive and difficult to find. I just purchased the book yesterday, and am already enthralled (and I am not even past the prologue). I would most definitely recommend this sweeping epic to everyone, even those who are not interested in history; I myself found history nothing more than a complete bore in all of my high school and college classes. Even the music is superbly beautiful and moving. Take the time to sit down and let yourself be swept away and into the lives of the Hazards and the Mains; I promise that you will not be disappointed.

I READ THE BOOKS, AND BOUGHT THE ENTIRE SERIES ON VIDEO. I REMEMBER SPENDING MY LAST DOLLOR TO GET HEAVEN & HELL. I SAW IT ON TV, AND HAVE SEARCHED EVERYWHERE FOR A COPY OF THE VIDEO, (HEAVEN & HELL) IS THERE A VIDEO OF THE THIRD BOOK OF THE TRILOGY? THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE BEST MINI SERIES I HAVE EVER SEEN, AND I'M 62. FINALLY GOT MY HUSBAND TO WATCH IT, AND HE AGREES. IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT IT IS CONSIDERED AN "OLD VIDEO", IT IS STILL EXCELLANT,AND WILL ALWAYS BE. DON'T MISS IT IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE IT OR READ IT.