Customer Reviews

Our Mutual Friend

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Others here have done a fine job of reviewing this excellent film, so I'll focus briefly on the DVD from BBC/Warner. The video and audio transfers of Our Mutual Friend are quite good. Although there are no subtitles, this DVD is closed-captioned. In general, this DVD is of similar quality to other BBC Dickens adaptations that have been released on DVD (e.g., Oliver Twist (1999) and David Copperfield (1999)).

One reviewer below complained that 45 minutes or more of the original film are missing from this DVD. I have no idea where he got that idea. It must be some kind of misunderstanding or perhaps a defective copy because my copy clearly has the entire film (divided into four episodes, two on each side of a two-sided disc). The all-important climax and ending scenes of this 351-minute production are all there to enjoy. Highly recommended for Dickens fans and fans of period dramas in general.

"Our Mutual Friend" finds Charles Dickens at his very darkest and most intense providing many unforgettable characters ranging from the very rich to the very poor. Retched and vile, noble and good occupying all social structures with the desire and acquisition of money along with the ramifications thereof being a recurring theme

This BBC production is superb. The acting is splendid. This production keeps this rather complex story moving along splendidly.

Sit down and enjoy a "really good show". You'll need some patience because the story is very involved; however, trust me; your patience will be rewarded! As a previous reviewer stated, if you can devote 6 hours in one viewing, its best viewed that way. However, anyway you can see this presentation it is well worth your time. Trust me, it is worth every second that you spend!

I vaguely remember seeing a dramatization of Our Mutual Friend on PBS in the 1980s, but the only character I remembered was the dollmaker. This 1999 production is outstanding. Great cast - especially Paul McGann - lots of twists, and kept me glued to it for all 5 1/2 hours. I'm so glad that Amazon has included this gem in it's growing selection of British films and adaptions for television. Simply brilliant.

This is one of my family's favorite films, bar none. We've watched it every year since it was broadcast in 1998 on PBS and each time is a special occasion. It's a beautiful, complex story, beautifully done! Everyone, down to the most minor character, has their own story to tell. How well they are told, indeed, and what a tapestry is made when all the stories are put together! It's exciting, moving, full of horror, romance and nobility, not to mention DARN good acting. So far, it's our favorite BBC/Masterpiece Theater drama besides Pride and Prejudice (and for some of us, we like it even better).

Wow! this has got to be one of the best period dramas ever. If you like to see a taste of the reality of what times were like for the poor versus the rich, I recommend this one. It is a little slow to start off with and have to tell my friends that, but it really does take a whole hour to set the scene.

After watching the 30 minute documentary on Victorian Society included on this DVD version of "Our Mutual Friend", the movie made much more sense to me. I would recommend watching the commentary before the movie to have an idea of what some of the movie themes are. (Such as the origin and definition of "Dust Mines" ) Also included is a commentary on how Charles Dickens gained his inspiration for his novels. This is important also in how the movie presents itself.

This movie was fascinating to me. The intricacies of the characters and the interwoven plot lines were very interesting and kept me involved until the end!

Victorian life in the 1800's was portrayed very well in this film adaptation of Dicken's Classic "Our Mutual Friend."

I would highly recommend this DVD version for any Period Movie Lovers' DVD library, as it is one that I will enjoy again, and share with friends.

A wonderfully made program, one of the best adaptations from a book I've seen yet. So appreciated that there is excellently made programming still available. Thank you BBC for your hard work and continued tenacity to deliver wonderful interpretations of the classics.

"Our Mutual Friend" affords the viewer with a panoramic view of a cultured and tortured society seen through the eyes of various people who dwell in the stratas of the class system. This is a fresh exquisitely masterful telling of yet another Dickens tale. It's all there: high drama, comedy, pathos; in short, the screenwriter does not dilute the Dickens effect.....Lord, don't we cherish him(or her) for that! If you hate period pieces, are not impressed by grandiose sets and billowing costumes, see this for the acting alone, which is impeccable. Need I say more?

Wow that movie came closer to making me cry than any other i have ever seen :) I watched it like 3times in one week. I feel like a girl saying that, but oh well. BBC OWNS american movies.

The adaptation, scripting, casting and acting are all extraordinary. BUY IT!! I only wish I had seen it when it first came out, along with alot of other BBC old-english adaptations, somehow it's kind of sad to be watching stuff that came out several years ago... but it is a classic. I highly recommend this and all other BBC old-english novel adaptations on this site.

I started watching, and kept watching, and watching, and watching.... I loved this movie! I'll 'fess up and say I never read the book, but this was a wonderful viewing experience. Since it's based on Dickens, I was prepared to get somewhat depressed by depictions of poverty and the miserable down-trodden part of society, but this movie doesn't dwell too much on that. The story masterfully weaves together the rich, poor, and in between, with criss-crossing storylines that get all wrapped up together at the end. Wonderful!! I loved Robert Hardy's character especially - I've never seen him in a role like this. Hard to say much more without putting in spoilers, so I'll just say that I cared about what happened to all the characters, found the acting and directing great, and this goes down as one of my favorite movies. Just be prepared to spend several hours with it. I'll definitely be re-watching this every year or so.