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By the Sword Divided: The Classic Drama Series

Sharon Maughan (Actor), Andrew MacLachlan (Actor) Rated:

Unrated

Format: DVD

24 ratings

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$249.99

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$249.99

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Playback Region 2 :This will not play on most DVD players sold in the U.S., U.S. Territories, Canada, and Bermuda. See other DVD options under “Other Formats & Versions”. Learn more about DVD region specifications here

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Product details

Aspect Ratio : 1.33:1
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
MPAA rating : s_medNotRated Unrated (Not Rated)
Package Dimensions : 7.1 x 5.42 x 0.58 inches; 2.93 Ounces
Media Format : PAL
Run time : 8 hours and 50 minutes
Actors : Sharon Maughan, Andrew MacLachlan, Lucy Aston, Tim Bentinck, Rob Edwards
Language : Unqualified (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
Studio : Acorn
ASIN : B0002MGZ1O
Writers : John Hawkesworth
Number of discs : 4

Best Sellers Rank: #210,433 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #4,826 in Military & War (Movies & TV)
- #41,701 in Drama DVDs

Customer Reviews:
24 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		55%
4 star		26%
3 star 0% (0%)		0%
2 star		11%
1 star		8%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Thomas J. Hakala

Excellent Historical Drama

Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2018

Verified Purchase

I originally watched Season 1 on TV back in the 1980s and thought it was excellent. I just managed to acquire the Season 1 DVDs in non-U.S. format - I have a multi-format DVD player - for a reasonable price through Amazon. The production qualities, writing, and acting are outstanding. For American audiences (except history majors, history buffs, and lovers of historical fiction) it might be a bit difficult to get into the zeitgeist of the English Civil War, so reading a brief synopsis of that conflict (like the Wikipedia article) might be helpful. If you are a history fan or you are studying that period, chances are you will find it to be excellent. The BBC should definitely consider putting out a U.S. format version at a reasonable cost. If so, I would suggest putting a brief, say 15 minute, prologue on the first DVD outlining the issues in the English Civil War and illustrating how many of them foreshadowed the American Revolution. I am still trying to obtain the Season 2 DVDs (in any format) as I have never viewed them. I am not aware that they were ever shown on U.S. TV. If you know of a source of Season 2, at a reasonable cost, please make it known. To the BBC: Please consider a U.S. release of this excellent and historically significant series.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Raisuli the Magnificent

This series is a lot slower than what I remember ...

Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2017

Verified Purchase

This series is a lot slower than what I remember. When I first glimpsed it all those years ago on PBS as a Brit-TV import, I managed to catch an episode where there was a little action. Having seeing the historically questionable "Cromwell" starring Richard Harris, I thought this series might be a toned down version of the English Civil war movie epic, but never had a chance to catch much of it when it was airing.

I therefore took a chance and splurged on the DVDs, and instead of a drama punctuated by moments of action, I got a soap opera. I don't mind dramatic British television that's more oriented towards personal conflicts in period settings, and where I think the overall production values are quite exceptional, I just couldn't get into the whole thing about dowries, marriages, estates and what not during the time Cromwell.

A historical drama it may be, but I also found myself fending off sleep as I tried to watch it.

If you're into historical drama presented by the BBC, then this might tickle your fancy (to borrow from the language of the time), but otherwise there're other series out there.

Helpful

Unsardonic

Unprecedented Historical Accuracy

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2014

There is a good set of reviews concerning this series (whether it's this particular release or some other version) but I wanted to add a new point of "value" to this. First off, I have not seen it since it was released, as also had many reviewers here and, along with them, I remember it with great fondness & wish to add my voice to those hoping for a decent American release. Also... I'm inserting this review into the chain for a product of the Series One of this title, BUT... I've only seen Series Two and my discussions below are for the first two episodes of Series Two... I'm just doing it for the entirety of these titles, Series One & Two.

BUT(!) here is the point that is most important for me: B.T.S.D. stands out by Head-n-Shoulders from other similar titles for historical accuracy beCAUSE... in the teensiest fine print at the end of the (Season 2) first episode's credits' crawl - that is, the episode that deals with the trial & execution of Charles I - is the statement that the script for this episode is a VERBATIM recreation of the actual trial transcription of Charles I's witchcraft trial.

Then, the second episode details the spread of Oliver Cromwell's terrorizing of the countryside & it's citizens by the use of (trumped-up) witchcraft trials of typical local citizens, in this case, that of a local teenage girl who had not placated Cromwell's emissaries with her sexual favors so, they put her on trial as a witch. Again, the final line - extreme fine print - of the Credits' Crawl says, this script was a VERBATIM recreation of this country girl's ACTUAL trial for witchcraft 350 years ago. Apparently the English were absolute sticklers for detail and recorded all these trials & preserved the transcripts. If I, as a would-be film producer of this sort had, some how, encountered these trial transcripts, I'd have been equally obSESSED(!) with seeing to it that they were realized on film. The legacy of these unjustly executed individuals demands nothing less; we today are desperately in need of reviewing the past - so as not to repeat its mistakes :-) The official English government of the time conspired to try AND EXECUTE... an innocent country girl on witchcraft charges because she would not have sex with one of that government's officials... !!! ...if that isn't a SCANDAL(!!)... what could possibly be?

It is for points such as these that EVERY historian ought to be interested in acquiring these videos, among many other points of authenticity... not to mention the fact that it's VERY entertaining. I often find that actual history is much more interesting than anything any novelist can concoct so... I've been DYIN' to get my hands on a nice copy of The Lot that I can play :-)

3 people found this helpful

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Sharon A. Hutchinson

Wonderful For History Buffs

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2006

I have always been fascinated by the English Civil War (which was a TRUE Civil War, unlike our own War for Southern Independence) and the series enthralled me from the first. I have never forgotten it, and have waited for it to come out in a DVD format that could be played in the US.

Alas, as I notice, the price is exceptionally high :( and out of reach at the moment. But if you have the cash and are an English History buff, as I am, don't hesitate to buy this wonderful and historically accurate (for the most part) look at both sides of this important conflict.

True to the high standards that most British series adhered to, I remember the wonderful costumes and attention to the most minute aspects of the time and its people made by all involved in this production. One truly is looking through a time capsule at one of the most important periods of British history. The acting, as usual, is superb. It is hard to pick a favorite character, since all draw you into the life of each individual and the sometimes heartwrenching loyalties that divided brother from brother, father from son, etc.

Meanwhile, I'll wait for someone, somewhere to offer it for a bit less, and continue to dream....

10 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

JayWelf23

An Underrated Classic

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 26, 2018

Verified Purchase

Like other reviewers here, I recall watching this programme back in the 1980s; I was already interested in history back then as a schoolboy, but this sweeping drama helped turn that interest into something of a passion. Several decades later, and it still doesn't disappoint. Yes, some of the battle scenes (where shown!) are more than a little unconvincing, but By the Sword Divided was never about the 'action'; it was about a family, and how that family was torn asunder by the tumultuous events of the mid seventeenth century, events which still cast shadows across some parts of our country. It may not be a totally reliable account of historic events, but it paints the lead characters as human beings, whichever side they happen to be on. As such I believe, in my humble opinion, it is something of an underrated BBC classic. Highly recommended.

2 people found this helpful

Mr Tim Cole

Great offer on By The Sword Divided

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2013

Verified Purchase

I have always considerd this landmark historical drama series to have been one of the best ever to have been broadcast by the BBC. To acquire the whole of series one on dvd has been a log-held ambition of mine.
It arrived in a perfect condition-unused as stated on Amazon.
The boxset was a fair price and it arrriced quicker then i had anticipated.
I would not hesitate too use this seller and Amazon again. All in all I was extremely impressed with the transaction.
keep up the good work-Amazon

Amazon Customer

BY THE SWORD DIVIDED

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 4, 2005

Verified Purchase

Since I first watched this series in the 80s. I have eagerly awaited an opportunity to see it again. The possibility of buying a copy has prompted me to ask frequently at outlets only to be disappointed. I ordered this DVD before release and have watched it several times since receiving it.
The series is a pure joy. My memories of the sets, acting, costumes etc.,. had not deceived me. The quality of all is second to none. This is a DVD well worth investing in.

33 people found this helpful

Jay

Very well done.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 27, 2010

Verified Purchase

Like many other reviewers, I had initially watched this on television some 20+ years ago and had unsuccessfully tried to purchase it online in the U.S.

The 1980s quality was not as bad as I had feared from reading some of the reviews and was certainly compensated by the overall quality of the production--the scripts, acting, sets, and costumes were all superb with very few exceptions.

The subject matter was also most interesting. In the U.S. we have our War Between the States--not technically a civil war as was the English conflict as the object was not control of government. I knew very little of the English Civil war beyond basic information about Charles I, Parliament, and Cromwell.

In subsequent reading--in large measure stimulated by viewing By The Sword--I was surprised to learn of the scope of the conflict, with more casualties as a percentage of the population as a whole than WWI.

By The Sword, apart from its entertainment value, gives a good feel for the tensions--societal, familial, and national--brought about by the English Civil War.

3 people found this helpful

dee

Golden age of classic BBC drama

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2018

Verified Purchase

The BBC used to produce first rate drama and here is an example of such

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