Product Details

• Actors: Janet McTeer, David Haig, Cathryn Harrison, Diana Fairfax, Peter Birch
• Directors: Stephen Whittaker
• Writers: Nigel Nicolson, Penelope Mortimer, Victoria Glendinning
• Producers: Anna Kalnars, Colin Rogers, Colin Tucker, Rebecca Eaton
• Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Acorn Media
• DVD Release Date: May 30, 2006
• Run Time: 219 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000F4RHBQ
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,293 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Portrait of a Marriage" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

From the BBC, Janet McTeer stars as Vita Sackville-West in the classic Masterpiece Theatre drama

British aristocrat and writer Vita Sackville-West and diplomat Harold Nicolson married in 1913, and their love endured and deepened over the course of their 50 years together. Each, however, was knowingly and repeatedly unfaithful to the other, Vita most famously with fellow writer Virginia Woolf. But only one affair threatened their union: Vita’s tempestuous liaison with her childhood friend Violet Keppel. This BBC drama is the story of that affair based on the extraordinary literary biography by Nigel Nicolson, Vita and Harold’s son.

Award-winning actress Janet McTeer (Tumbleweeds, Carrington) stars as Vita with David Haig (Two Weeks Notice) as Harold, and Cathryn Harrison (Clarissa) as Violet.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent!, June 3, 2006

By 

J. H. Stewart "jayesse" (New England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Portrait of a Marriage (DVD)

I watched this in 1992 when it was shown on PBS's "Masterpiece Theatre", introduced each Sunday night by the late, great Alistair Cooke. The very tall Janet McTeer (all 6' of her!) and Cathryn Harrison are superb in their roles. Other stand-outs are David Haig and Diana Fairfax. At the time it was shown on American TV, there were at least 30 minutes cut from what the Brits saw in the BBC version. I am delighted to finally get my hands on the unedited version of this extremely well-done slice of obscure history.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the agony of longing, August 6, 2006

By 

Roger W. Davenport "neurologyroger" (Brooklyn, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Portrait of a Marriage (DVD)

I first watched this series when it came out in much anticipated weekly installments on Masterpiece Theater in 1992. My rapture lasted from Sunday to Sunday and having now the full serving at one sitting allows me to recapture small nuances that had fallen into the abyss of forgetfulness (it was fourteen years ago!) The story of the Nicolsons and of Vita and Violet is the story of a longing that exhilarates and crushes, as Janet McTeer's face and actions vividly capture. Her longing for Violet, as compared to her true longing for her husband, makes one believe that loving only one person is perhaps unnatural and unhealthy. Harold comes across as truly "male" in that he expects Vita to return to him even though he continues to pursue his same-sex relationships. One sometimes wonders if his love for her is truly deep or whether his awareness of social convention is stronger than Vita's, as she continuously lives on the edges of her passions. Vita is striking as portrayed by Ms McTeer, both as a woman and disguised as a man. Violet is a striking beauty but comes off as more needy and less insightful. Mr. Trefusis is portrayed as a prig, lost in a vortex of passion that he cannot feel, much less comprehend. This is a most thoughtful and detailed "portrait" of relationships--male/female and female/female--without condescension or judgment. Watch it carefully and come to your own conclusion to be sure: I suspect your thoughts about sexual relations will be profoundly shaken.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tugs at your heart strings, June 14, 2006

By 

Harukanoten - See all my reviews

This review is from: Portrait of a Marriage (DVD)

I've only seen the edited version on the US LOGO network and I'm in the process of reading the book right now, but let me tell you, this story is gripping and really pulls you in emotionally. The adaptation from book, which is part autobiographical by Vita Sackville-West (written only days after the climax of her relationship with Violet Trefusis) and part biographical by Vita and Harold's son Nigel, is simply wonderful. Janet McTeer who captivated me in films like "Songcatcher" and "Tumbleweeds" is stunning as Vita. Her ability to shift from Vita's fierce desire for Violet to Harold's gentle wife is amazing. I know I'm ignoring the other actors in the film, not to say that they weren't wonderful as well(particulary David Haig as Harold) but the reason watch this film really is Janet McTeer.

Very seldom do I see films that grip me emotionally as much as this one has. The fact that this film as well as the book were ever made fulfills a prophecy of Vita's which she expresses so heartfeltly in the book. Which (to summerize)is that society will one day progress enough that stories like her's, Harold's and Violet's can be told and not looked upon with disgust and shame but rather by that of an open mind and perhaps educate others.