Product Details

• Actors: Kathleen Beller, Dennis Boutsikaris, Leo Cimino, Michael Egan, Henry Fonda
• Directors: Dezso Magyar
• Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Monterey Video
• DVD Release Date: May 3, 2005
• Run Time: 57 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00082ZR3A
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #104,311 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Seen on PBS

Written By: Teleplay writer Herbert Hartig, based on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic

Starring:Kathleen Beller, Kristoffer Tabori

Directed By:Dezso Magyar

Description:Set in 18th Century Italy, RAPPACCINI'S DAUGHTER is the tale of a young scholar named Giovanni (Kristoffer Tabori) who falls in love with a beautiful, yet forbidden, girl who tends her father's poison garden.

However, the strange and unearthly beauty of Beatrice (Kathleen Beller) masks a terrifying curse which Giovanni must tragically discover. Her father, the mysterious Dr. Rappaccini, has made her the subject of a diabolical experiment. In Giovanni's attempt to free Beatrice from the control of her father and to escape the poisonous effect she begins to have on him, he unwittingly destroys her.

From the short story of master American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne, two quintessential Hawthorne themes are explored: the sins of interfering with another's soul and the futility of trying to tamper with nature.

DVD Features:Author Bio, Actor Bios, Printable Study Guide, About the American Short Story Collection, Audio Interview – Robert Geller, Henry Fonda Intro, Trailer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never A Flower So Lovely, May 25, 2005

By 

Brian E. Erland "Rainbow Sphinx" (Brea, CA - USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rappaccini's Daughter (DVD)

From a rented apartment overlooking an enchanting botanical garden young Giovanni (Kristoffer Tabori) observes a beautiful girl (Kathleen Beller) walking alone talking to the flowers. There is a reason why she is alone but by the time he learns the dark secret for her isolation he has fallen in love.

This 57 minute PBS Presentation was quite a pleasant surprise. Some may find it a little slow, but I found it absolutely hypnotic. Like a prolonged dream sequence, you are drawn against your will towards the enigmatic Beatrice. I've been an admirer of Kathleen Beller for quite sometime and I must say they couldn't have found a more beautiful woman for this role. She has never looked lovelier than she does here.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is a must-have for English teachers!, May 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Rappaccini's Daughter [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I fell in love with this story in college, so I was thrilled to find out there was a movie version. It follows the story perfectly, and the setting and costumes are terrific! The acting is the only reason this one gets four stars instead of five (it's a little on the cheesey side). I was able to hook many of my high schoolers -- despite the difficult language and complex story-line. I highly recommend this video.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worked for my seventh grade class, October 10, 2007

By 

B. BARTHOLOMEW - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rappaccini's Daughter (DVD)

I used this to prepare seventh graders to tackle the short story in English class. While the movie feels a little dated, it isn't a big deal because it is supposed to be set in the past. The students were appropriately creeped out and engaged and were really able to understand the challenging writing because they have something to make connections. The accuracy of the movie was nice. Any changes were minor and something that we could discuss, but weren't overly distracting. At least they didn't give it a happy ending!!