Product Details

• Actors: Jenny Seagrove, Barry Bostwick, Deborah Kerr, Diane Baker, Peter Chelsom
• Writers: Tom Blomquist
• Producers: Victor Glynn
• Format: Box set, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 3
• Studio: Acorn Media
• VHS Release Date: September 11, 1999
• Run Time: 300 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00000INCI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #116,129 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Determined to ruin the upper-class Fairley family who wronged her, Emma Harte (Jenny Seagrove) aims to become one of the richest women in the world. Although anachronistic for a woman born around 1890, it is exhilarating to watch her think and act like a contemporary woman with the benefits of late-20th-century feminism. In just over five hours, this Emmy-nominated version of Barbara Taylor Bradford's bestselling novel A Woman of Substance traces Emma's life from overworked Yorkshire maid to the triumphant 79-year-old matriarch (Deborah Kerr) of a vast business empire.

Married twice, but only truly loving a man she could never marry, Emma devotes herself to building her business empire. Surrounded by a loyal few, including Irishman Blackie O'Neill (Liam Neeson), Emma lives her life as a strong, uncompromising protagonist similar to Gone with the Wind's Scarlett O'Hara in a social environment reminiscent of Upstairs, Downstairs. Her life is a sort of feminist retrospective on the social issues of 1890s-to-1930s England--poverty, illegitimate children, illness, anti-Semitism, World War I, whether to marry for security or passion, the role of women in the workplace, and such--making A Woman of Substance a historical and inspiring film to watch. --Tara Chace

From the Back Cover

Barbara Taylor Bradford's bestselling novel comes dramatically to life in this Emmy-nominated miniseries. It's the story of Emma Harte, a bright and ambitious servant girl who overcomes her impoverished Yorkshire beginnings in her quest to become an international retailing magnate and one of the richest women in the world. Propelled by a star-studded cast and dressed in rich period detail, A Woman of Substance is an unforgettable masterpiece of storytelling. Stars Jenny Seagrove (Sherlock Holmes Mysteries), Liam Neeson (Schindler's List), Deborah Kerr (An Affair to Remember, From Here to Eternity), Barry Bostwick (Spin City), and Diane Baker (The Silence of the Lambs). "Sex, money, power, revenge and corruption - an entertaining tale of a woman imbued with drive and a will to succeed." - Los Angeles Magazine. "It's a winner!" - Variety.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love this miniseries- cheesy, but engaging, April 19, 2001

By 

Shaz "oi-you!" (Naples, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Woman of Substance (Boxed Set) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Everybody has some miniseries they have to watch every now and then. "The Thornbirds" maybe? Or perhaps it's "The Manions of America". For me and my sister, it's Barbara Taylor Bradford's "A Woman of Substance". Emma Harte (the older version played by "The King and I"'s Deborah Kerr)is a multimillionare and head of her own corporation. Four of her 5 children are greedy little buggers, and Emma becomes aware of a plot they've hatched to render her incompitent and declare themselves the legal heirs of her massive fortune. As Emma contemplates this, she falls asleep in her armchair, and through her dreams, we're transported back in time when young Emma (Jenny Seagrove) is a scullery maid for the Fairley family in their posh mansion. Emma meets Blackie O'Neal (played by the yummy Liam Neeson, who alone is worth watching this)and strikes up a lifelong friendship with him. Blackie is the first person to help Emma see that she, too, can be the head of her own fortune with careful planning and saving. Meanwhile, Emma falls in love with Edwin, the youngest Fairely son, and he loves her as well. When Emma becomes pregnant with Edwin's child, however, he withdraws and offers no support. So, Emma packs her bags and, with Blackie's help, finds a woman to stay with until her baby is born. This is just the first in a series of difficult events that begin to shape the woman Emma is to become. Her hatred for the Fairley family evolves into a lifelong goal to ruin them. She eventually marries a man named Joe and opens her first store (in which she is confronted by Adam Fairley, Edwins bully older brother, who, unsuccessfully, attempts to rape her. It is here that we first hear Emma's designs: "Here this now", she says to Adam, "I mean to ruin you...the whole Fairley family."). When Joe is killed in the war, Emma plunges herself in her stores, now a successful chain, but tends to neglect her children. Through it all, Emma survives- from losing her parents, to watching her brother have his leg amputated after a war injury, to meeting and losing the love of her life, Paul McGill (played by a very tan Barry Bostwick of "Spin City", who is meant to be Australian, but could have used some help w/ that poor on again/off again accent). Through it all, Emma conquers her enemies and her demons, sometimes at the expense of others. But, as she says, the secret of life is "to endure", and she does. It's a bit cheesy, but I fall for it every time. The book is wonderful, too, but VERY LONG. This miniseries is a decent adaptation from novel to screenplay. Also check out the sequel "Hold the Dream".

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book=Excellent Miniseries, August 15, 2004

By 

K. Morgan (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Barbara Taylor Bradford's A Woman of Substance (DVD)

A Woman of Substance is an excellent miniseries. The actors are great: Jenny Seagrove as young Emma and Deborah Kerr as the older Emma were wonderful. Liam Neeson as Blackie O'Neill was excellent as well. The location in which the miniseries was shot was great. It provided a great picture of the areas in which Emma lived throughout her life.

What I found most entertaining and just absolutely wonderful was the fact that this movie followed the book! I was completely thrilled while watching this movie that it so closely followed the book. I dislike watching a movie based on a book only to have things happen differently than the book. That is clearly not the case in this movie.

This DVD has a few extra features including an interview with Barbara Taylor Bradford and the filmographies of the actors. It also has an interview with Diane Baker who played Laura and was also the producer of the film. I found the interview with Barbara Taylor Bradford to be entertaining and informative. She seems to be a wonderful lady and it was great to hear her story and her writing history.

A Woman of Substance is an excellent movie based on an excellent book. Anyone who has read the book would love this movie. I think anyone who wants to read the book would just as well love the movie. It is a great movie to watch again and again!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Woman of Substance, March 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Woman of Substance (Boxed Set) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A Woman of Substance is an excellent story about the trials and triumphs of Emma Harte. I would highly recommend to anyone seeing this video and read the novels. I also enjoyed the sequel to the Woman of Substance saga ( Hold the Dream)in which the saga of Emma Harte continues through the live of her grandaughter Paula. I've seen this movie and I am going to purchase this video as soon as it becomes available.