Product Details

• Actors: Richard Johnson, Elizabeth Spriggs, Dorothy Tutin, Douglas Hodge, Tara Fitzgerald
• Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Acorn Media
• DVD Release Date: July 1, 2008
• Run Time: 229 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B00180IPPI
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #78,429 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

DVD Talk
A wonderfully unique piece that defies categorization

Product Description
A biting satire based on Angus Wilson’s acclaimed novel

A darkly comic, take-no-prisoners satire, Anglo-Saxon Attitudes skewers British social and academic hypocrisy to the very core. Richard Johnson (The Camomile Lawn) stars as Gerald Middleton, a distinguished, retired historian coming to terms with his life’s folly. As a student, Middleton witnessed the unearthing of the Melpham idol, a pagan fertility figure that electrified modern medieval scholarship by turning up in the grave of a 7th-century bishop. He also began an affair with Dollie (Tara Fitzgerald) -- the fiancée of his best friend, the man who had privately confessed to planting the idol as a hoax. While trying to reveal the truth, Middleton wrestles with his monstrously overbearing wife and their three emotionally dysfunctional children.

Based on the novel by Angus Wilson, the story teems with outlandish characters engaged in all manner of deceit, especially the most damning of all: self-deception.

Also featuring Douglas Hodge, Elizabeth Spriggs, Daniel Craig, and Kate Winslet in one of her first screen roles.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE biography of screenwriter Andrew Davies, program previews, and cast filmographies.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A VERY GOOD, BUT FAR FROM TYPICAL BRITISH DRAMA, June 21, 2008

By	Harold Wolf "Doc" (Wells, IN United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

The "Anglo Saxon Attitudes" story is told through the eyes and memory of Gerald Middleton, played by Richard Johnson, who is a retired historian with little to show for his working life. He struggles with a new job offer also along the historical mode. He's mentally pained from love choices made during his earlier life. Gerald seems to be about the only sane character in the story. He is a person everyone can relate to, especially older generations with a few miles and mistakes under their own belt. Gerald also knows a secret about the Melpham phallic idol found in 1912 inside a religious tomb. Should he tell after all these years?

Middleton thinks through many film flashbacks about love and marriage choices that currently seem quite unsatisfactory. His wife, Inge, played by Elizabeth Spriggs (Sense & Sensibility among others) is disgustingly overbearing to the entire family which includes 3 adult children. The children each have their own secret problems making this family situation so quirky that OUR own normal/dysfunctional (there's an oxymoron) families seem quite acceptable.

Even Kate Winslet (Sense & Sensibility; The Holiday; etc.) makes an early screen role appearance, in this case as Caroline Jevington during episode 3.

Reoccurring young love images in the form of Dollie is a constant frustration to Gerald's attempt to accept his current wife and life. There is plenty to be physically seen of Dollie (Tara Fitzgerald-"Jane Eyre") so this is not 3 episodes for the kids. Fitzgerald also played in the British comedy "Five Children and It". That one is also recommended AND one for the children.

This is a much different British story compared to most of the available series presented by BBC and other books turned into miniseries. As a warning for those potentially offended: it contains nudity, sexual situations, and a gay out-of-the-closet affair all blended together with mystery, love, odd-odd family life, and some occasional laugh-out-loud moments. Quite a combination that tallies to five stars. There are no subtitles to help with the British accents but they are seldom needed in this set of DVDs. 229 minutes worth the time for British DVD fans.