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Category:    Home > Reviews > Drama > British TV > Mini-Series > Cranford (2007/BBC DVD Set)

Cranford (2007/BBC DVD Set)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Episodes: B-

 

 

Usually, the episodic, melodramatic, British “stuffy” TV productions are just that and do not go anywhere much, but they occasionally are done well enough that they become at least somewhat compelling viewing and Simon Curtis’ Cranford (2007) with a cast that includes Judi Dench, Michael Gambon, Francesca Annis and Eileen Atkins is one of the better of its kind in a while.

 

Now a two-DVD set from BBC DVD, the secret as and gossip of an entire small town start to catch up with it circa 1842 and throws polite society for a loop or two.  There is some comedy, but I was surprised how smart this was, how dark it got, how consistently good it was and how believable it was for a change.  Yes, there is melodrama, but the production is not co-dependent on that and as a result, it is one of the best British TV productions of its kind in a while.  You would almost think this came from the last Golden Age of such productions, but it is new and is recommended, especially if you are interested and like this kind of storytelling.  No wonder they got the cast they got!

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 is soft, but consistent, partly from being styled and partly from the means in which it was shot.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has no surrounds, but is a clean recording.  A Blu-ray to compare should be interesting.  The only extra is a making of featurette if all these hours are not enough for you.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo


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