Product Details

• Actors: John Gielgud, Michael Clark, Michel Blanc, Erland Josephson, Isabelle Pasco
• Directors: Peter Greenaway
• Writers: Peter Greenaway, William Shakespeare
• Producers: Denis Wigman, Kees Kasander, Masato Hara, Michel Seydoux, Philippe Carcassonne
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Media / Video Treasures
• VHS Release Date: April 15, 1996
• Run Time: 126 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304076517
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #210,319 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

127 of 127 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A complete rip off, January 12, 2009

By 

Cha siu baau (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Prospero's Books (DVD)

First, I love this movie. It's five stars in my book.

The $50 version being offered here by 'classics_vhs_dvd' is a complete rip off. It's not a proper DVD-Video, it's a DVD-R that's been made from a VHS tape and one of those cheap home recording boxes. It's shame this movie isn't available in a better format.

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gielgud At The Top Of His Craft, July 15, 2000

By 

Mark Valentine (Port Angeles, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prospero's Books (VHS Tape)

I remember reading John Gielgud's obit in the New York Times this spring, and near the end, he is quoted saying that among all of his roles, his Prospero in Prospero's Books was his most satisfying. Since I've always liked his acting, that sent me on the trail of this film.

Wow! What a film! First, I highly recommend that you read The Tempest just prior to viewing this film, or at least be familiar with it--find a plot summary in a Shakespeare book. It will help in carrying you through the transitions, of which there are none in this film.

Second, if you are the least bit squeamish about nudity, male and female, in films, pass over this one. You won't enjoy it for watching all the bodies.

With that said, enjoy. What I found fascinating about the entire film is Greenaway's interpretation. I really don't agree with it all (three Ariel's, in different ages, play the sprite of fire and air), but he still pulls it off so that it works, and I credit him for that. Who knows? Maybe it was all a part of Prospero's imagination and infatuation with books.

Further, it is a cinematic smorgasbord. The camera just cannot contain all the visuals.

And then there's Gielgud, he really is smooth, polished, and enjoying himself. I loved watching his performance because he was putting in all the nuance, innuendo, and shades of meaning in the language, while presenting Prospero with all dignity.

98 of 109 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars GReat film, skip this VHS, May 27, 2005

By 

g "g" (dc) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prospero's Books [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This VHS version of the film for sale here is eight minutes short (118 vs 126) and pan and scan.

IE it is the "Blockbuster" video store version of a film, hacked to pieces in content, and 1/2 the picture lopped off the sides.

Boycott this version. get the DVD just released in Europe. A few minutes of research will tell you haow to play it just fine in the US