Charles Dickens Collection (Repackaged) [DVD]

I have just received this product and so have not viewed every production (and don't plan on rushing through it), although I have recently seen both Great Expectations and Our Mutual Friend and can vouch for the wonderful quality of those productions. The only real shame is that the 1985 version of Bleak House, by all accounts a wonderful production, is not included, presumably because this set was released just before the (also wonderful) 2005 version was broadcast on TV. My purpose in this review, however, is to talk about the packaging. The BBC have re-packaged this set for Dickens' bicentenary, with the new version ( Charles Dickens Collection (Repackaged) [DVD ]) now available at a slightly higher price than this one. So which is better? The answer is, quite simply, this one (especially at the cheaper price). The new version is packaged in a cardboard slip-case, which I believe contains the 12 discs in a convential format in the same way as the newly box set-ed Bleak House, Little Dorrit, Oliver Twist and Great Expectations set that was released on the same day (well worth a look too, by the way), with a seperate booklet providing information on each production. That's all well and good, and I'd have no complaints with that set on its own, but the presentation of this original version is exemplary. As another reviewer has mentioned, it is presented in a book format sealed with a magnet (a magnet!), and within each "leaf" of DVD is backed with an information card on the production, with some very well-chosen pictures on the DVD side. It is a joy even to flick through, and that's not something you can often say for a DVD release. Unfortunately, I can only assume that with the new version having been released this edition will sooner or later run out of stock for good. So don't risk it is my advice, and get this copy even if it's only going to sit on your shelf for the time being. Besides, it will look lovely while it's there. (EDIT 23/04/2012: The repackaged version of this product, linked to above, has now been reduced in price and now stands at just a few pounds more expensive than this edition, so bear that in mind when choosing.)

I purchased this box set last Christmas and it contains some of the best adaptations of Charles Dickens that the BBC have put out. The Dutch subtitles vanish at the push of a button and the details of the various productions are easily found online. Oliver Twist follows the book and is 6 hours long with Eric Porter excellent as Fagin but the rest of the cast equally good. You will know the story - or think you did until you watched this - and realise what has been cut out. Bleak House, David Copperfield, Nicholas Nickleby and Martin Chuzzlewit are also great productions and the Pickwick Papers with Nigel Stock is very good. Some of the reviews seem to relate to other box sets as they mention items not in this box and there are certainly others to choose from but if you like good drama, with casts of great British actors and actresses and hardly any background music then get this. The price is astoundingly low and I note that the product is currently out of stock - I hope Amazon get some more as at £1 per disc this is a bargain, particularly as some of the versions are not available elsewhere.

Ich war von den neueren BBC-Verfilmungen LITTLE DORRIT und BLEAK HOUSE hin und weg. Da dachte ich mir, dass diese tolle Collection mir weitere Freude und Kurzweil bereiten würde. "Weit gefehlt!", zu sagen, wäre nun übertrieben, jedoch von Kurzweil und große Freude will ich auch nicht sprechen, zumal die Anschaffung ja kein Klacks ist. (Tipp dazu gebe ich bei den Kommentaren.) Die hier enthaltenen Verfilmungen können mit meinen beiden genannten Lieblingen ( Little Dorrit [UK Import ] und Bleak House [UK Import ) von Qualität, Ausstattung und Atmosphäre auf den Sets nicht mithalten. Es gibt jedoch Ausnahmen. So hatte ich den "MUTUAL FRIEND" und die GREAT EXPECTATIONS bereits lange auf dem Wunschzettel - und bin druchaus angetan von den toll gezeichneten Charakteren und den spitzfindigen Dialogen. Ebenso von der optischen Qualität der Bilder. Bei den älteren Verfilmungen muss man da schon Abstiche machen. In dieser Box eenthalten sind folgende Miniserien: 1) The Pickwick Papers: --- Erstausstrahlung 1985 - 5h50min = 350 Minuten The Pickwick Papers- BBC 1985-3DVDs- Charles Dickens 2) Oliver Twist: Erstausstrahlung 1985 - 5h31min - 331 Minuten Als DVD hier im Sortiment nicht gefunden, nur als VHS: Oliver Twist [VHS] [UK Import ] 3) A CHRISTMAS CAROL [1977]: Erstausstrahlung 1977 - 58 Minuten (sehr kurze Verfilmung) A CHRISTMAS CAROL [1977 ] 4) Martin Chuzzlewit: Erstausstrahlung 1994 - 5h37min = 337 Minuten Als DVD hier im Sortiment nicht gefunden, nur als VHS: Martin Chuzzlewit [VHS] [UK Import ] 5) David Copperfield: Erstausstrahlung 1999 - 2h59min = 179 Minuten + Making Of + 30 min Filmmusik David Copperfield [UK Import 6) BBC A Tale of Two Cities: Erstausstrahlung 1980 - 3h10min =190Minuten BBC A Tale of Two Cities- Charles Dickens- EU Import english 7) Great Expectations: Erstausstrahlung 1999 - 3h2min = 182 Minuten Als DVD hier im Sortiment nicht gefunden, nur als VHS: Great Expectation [UK-Import] [VHS ] 8) Our Mutual Friend: Erstausstrahlung 1998 - 5h 50min = 350 Minute +Special Feature + 30 min Filmmusik [ Our Mutual Friend [UK Import ]] Die Aufmachung der Box ist richtig nett gemacht. In Buchform "blättere" ich mich durch die enthaltenen DVDs. Macht sich schick im Regal, ist praktisch in der Handhabung. Gesmaturteil: Lohnenswerte Anschaffung (gegenüber Einzelkauf auf jeden Fall!), wenn man bereit ist sich auf NUR englische Versionen einzulassen. Prima Period-Drama-Futter für lange Herbst- oder Winter-Abende! Untertitel in ENGLISCHER Sprache kann man einblenden. Subtitles in English available.

Im super pleased with this box set. No-one could ask for more except maybe some more stories like Nicholas Nickleby and others. I thoroughly enjoyed watching every single one of the 8 stories although Pickwick Papers did take a while to really get going, it was, as expected, worth the wait. The only one I'd seen before was David Copperfield but it was good to see it again. This version of Oliver was a joy to see and is way better than the musical version which I hated and have never been able to stand watching for more than a few minutes. If I had to choose a favourite it would have to be Martin Chuzzlewit, I Loved it, Loved them all, worth every last penny. I only wish that the BBC would take all of Shakespeares works and do the same, I'd be first in the queue to purchase. I Very highly recommend this Charles Dickens box set, it's a MUST BUY without doubt.

This box set is a marvelous introduction to the works of Charles Dickens with superb acting from the cream of British actors. The characterisation is superb and truly brings to life the tragedy and comedy of Dickens's genius. Just watching Martin Chuzzlewit at the moment and revelling in the richness of the performances. Every actor is really "living" the part and I suspect that these productions were greatly enjoyed by the actors who performed them. An overwhelming feeling of immense satisfaction and contentment with an art form so perfectly British. Wonderful Viewing!

I must admit I've never really been a fan of Dickens or period dramas. I imagined that this would be value for money and to be honest it is. However it shows the mixtures of well scripted, and exciting portrayals of Dicken's now famous characters, with some very awful or dull presentations. Great Expectations and Our Mutual Friend both vere on the side of being two modern bbc dramas having the ability to put even the strongest of fans into a coma. Also David Copperfield featuring the very young Daniel Radcliffe is a usual porduction laden with 'the pick and flower' of BBC talent is short and a disappointment. It is interesting that the earlier one goes back in bbc productions in this collection the better they are, Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, Tale of Two Cities and A Christmas Carol (unfortunately appears to be made on shoe string of a budget) are the pick of the crop, with Martin Chuzzlewit being the only really enjoyable modern drama. Instead with such classics like Expectations we see great actors being put to waste and stories being almost butchered for time constraints, the ending in Expectations being the one serious let down. Our Mutual Friend which has an air of New Labours attack on class at the time is both dull and let down by the over acting of Paul McGann although boyed by the amazing talents of David Morrissey, Keeley Hawes and Anna Friel. The story stumbles across almost 6 hours of one of the weakest of Dicken's stories (in my very limited opinion). Although I would never normally admit to such a thing I think the Davies' production of Bleak House was one of the best presentations of a Dicken's story. Beleive me I'm not totally against it but not all productions give Dickens justice especially for a person who has only started reading all his books.

A collection of Dickens made by the BBC. This is what the BBC used to do so well, and now does everything so badly. It includes the David Copperfield with the young Daniel Radcliff as the boy David, and the Christmas Carol, with the great Michael Hordern as the definitive Ebenezer Scrooge. The review could go on and on...but I won't bore you! Suffice to say, this is a superb collection of Dicken's adaptations, and worth every penny. The audio visual quality is variable, with some of the older adaptions in 4:3 aspect ratio, and in standard definition, but all are perfectly acceptable.

The series of stories on the video are ones originally produced by the BBC and are very well acted. Some of the stories require more than one disc, this avoids excessive editing in order to fit on one disc. A very enjoyable video.

It’s convenient ti have so many Dickens videos together. Well done.

'Martin Chuzzlewit' (1994),'Oliver Twist' (1985), 'A Christmas Carol' (1977), 'A Tale of Two Cities' (1980), 'Great Expectations' (1999), 'David Copperfield' (1999), 'The Pickwick Papers' (1985), 'Our Mutual Friend' (1998), の8作品が収録されてます。 70年代、80年代の作品は流石に映像に古さを感じますが、 どれも良かったです。 特に 'The Pickwick Papers' (1985), 'Martin Chuzzlewit' (1994)が 映像化されるのも珍しく、面白かったです。 200th Anniversary Collectionとは 'Oliver Twist' (2007) ,'Great Expectations' (2011) が 被ってますが、解釈が違うのでどちらも面白かったです。 バラで買うよりもセットで揃えるのが配送料も安くなるのでオススメです。

...not for me. I watched a couple of the Dickens episodes, found them all far too dark and gloomy. The best was David Copperfield but mainly because of the actors. I mean, Maggie Smith in there, holy, so terrific! and other great actors too such as Bob Hoskins! Also the lighting was happier, not so intense grey and arrgghhhh depressing. Have tried to watch Oliver Twist but couldnt handle it...such a very sad story, so dark, just unpalatable. have just now ordered the Oliver musical, I remember seeing that as a child with my parents and it still resonates with me..such an uplifting and colorful movie, I know, the story not entirely as in Dickens book, but I can live with that. I wont watch the BBC Oliver Twist for one second longer. So as said, the Dickens DVD collection is probably very amazingly good and completely as told in Dickens books, but for me (and also my husband ), not of any further interest.

Seeing as neither amazon nor indeed the BBC saw fit to bother to tell us WHICH versions these are, I will do so myself (it is precisely THIS sort of information which should be written in big letters on the DVD set and in the product description!!!): Pickwick Papers: 1985 Oliver Twist: 1985 A Christmas Carol: 1977 Martin Chuzzlewit: 1994 David Copperfield: 1999 A Tale of Two Cities: 1989 Great Expectations: 1999 Our Mutual Friend: 1998 So fortunately nothing from this millenium : ) The BBC were actually capable of making a few good programmes in the long-lost 20th century....

Esta edición de la BBC es de buena calidad y sirve estupendamente para practicar idiomas. Siempre hacen buenos recopilatorios. Lastima que muchos de ellos no se hagan también en otros idiomas como español.