North and South (DVD)

Note: spoilers ahead. This is one of my favorite movies. It is based on Elizabeth Gaskell's book of the same name, abd stays (relatively) true to the 1850s book. It follows Margaret Hale, a genteel young woman raised in the South, as she adapts to life in a cold, polluted mill town of the industrial north (Manchester, renamed to Milton). Margaret has strong disilke at first sight to a mill owner, who vecomes her fathers pupil. The two are diametrically opposed in their points of view about all major aspects of life. However, both soften their views and fall in love over time. There are some changes compared to the novel. First, the screenwriters needed a reason for Margaret's dislike of the mill owner, John Thorton, which would resonate with contemporary viewers. In the novel her reason for dislike is her own cladsism and snobbery. He is not "from money" or from a genteel but impoverished family like herself. He us "in trade", that is he has earned his money through business, not inherited it. In the 1850s people who made their own fortune were looked down upon by the upper classes. That's funny, because today, most of us admire those who have earned their way. In the film, Margaret's initial dislike of John is because he beats a millworker who us smoking in the mill, and who is putting the mill in grave danger of fire. Margaret is shocked and appalled at John's behavior. The other way the adaptation differs from the book is that the adaptation has been sanitized of almost all references to religion, or God. Elizabeth Gaskell was the daughter of a unitarian minister, and thought that any worship of God was a good thing. Several characters in the book bring up religious themes. Not so for the adaptatiom. The father is a former minister of Church of England, but the adaptation doesn't really get into the doubts about church doctrine that cause him to leave his position and uproot his family. Nor does the adaptation discuss the ruminations of Margaret's dying friend on heaven. I guess the screenwriters thought that would make a contemporary audience uncomfortable. Nonetheless the adaptation is lovely and is one of my three favorite historical dramas. I highly recommend it.

Fantastic series. I enjoyed every episode and I’m very happy with this DVD collection

Bought this to replace my copy that is scratched because I have watched it so many times.

I had seen the first few minutes of "North and South" and set the movie aside as a little fluffy. The frenetic wedding scene is very different from the rest. But I had time one day to watch more - and finished the whole series in one sitting. My view changed as Margaret Hale's vision of Milton and Mr. Thornton changed. Then I read the book - and it's my favorite period romance, with everything from social commentary to romance. After writing "Mary Barton," and hearing flack from the leaders of trade, I think author Elizabeth Gaskell sat down and said, "Okay, how do I present a mill owner who is positive? Who would be an ideal master?" And there she went. And the female saves the day - she doesn't sit pining for her love (though there is painful pining on both sides); she keeps moving and doing. I can't emphasize this enough - these are two characters we would like to be like. We would like to have Margaret's bravery, responsibility, and generosity, and John's determination, passion, and morality. We can look up to both of these people. The primary setting is Milton (Manchester). Margaret moves from a place of golden beauty to one of gray industry. Her entrance into the cotton factory never happened in the book, but it's a gorgeous Narnian opening of a heavy door into another world. The introduction of Thornton (he beats a smoking worker) was not in the book other than the phrase "it's a word and a blow with Thornton," but I think the filmmakers would have a hard time conveying the different classes and divide of gentry and trade workers. Margaret is horrified and takes sides. She adjusts and finds ways she can help others - from a mill worker with cotton in her lungs and Bessie's union-leader father. Through the book and movie, she grows into a person who can finally embrace the true worth of a person, as Thornton grows toward becoming a better master from his experience with the Hales - Margaret removing her former ideas of "shoppy," "trade," and "gentleman"; and Mr. Thornton replacing "hands" with "men." In the end, each character exchanges best pieces of each other. The acting is excellent. Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe make the film. Armitage is simultaneously and believably the controlled and principled master, and also the kneeling son and vulnerable lover. All of the minor characters are wonderful: Mr. Bell, with his gloss and dancing moves; Bessie, who is funny and not so woeful as in the book; Higgins, who is humorous and helpful; Mr. Hale, with his faults of cloudiness but his love for Margaret; Mrs. Thornton, with her rigid love for a good son...just on and on. I would encourage anyone to read the book; there is such gorgeous pathos - I've never felt my heart actually hurt when reading something, but it did during the prolonged period of longing. In both book and film, I came away with the satisfaction of love realized, more awareness of the changes the industrial revolution wrought, and aspiration to hold similar values to those of Margaret Hale and John Thornton. I highly recommend this film.

Great DVD...great price

When the first episode of this series came out on television, the website crashed from all the fans trying to get more information. Great ensemble cast, led by Richard Armitage. Seeing it once isn't enough, and the UK version has several scenes absent from the slightly shorter episodes released in the US.

This is an excellent adaptation of Gaskell's novel, "North and South". Richard Armitage has made the role of John Thornton his own, and any future portrayals of the character will be compared to him. While the plot is similar to that of "Pride and Prejudice" with a little of Dickens tossed in for good measure this story keeps us mesmerised. This is a love story between two seemingly very different individuals from different classes in society during the turmoil of the Industrial Revolution Margaret and John are complex characters and as they interact with other we see how each changes the other. Both Daniela and Richard have fantastic screen chemistry which makes their story believable to the viewer. Sinead Cusack as Mrs. Thornton was an excellent casting choice as she reveals with just a glance or a slight movement of her hand what Mrs. Thornton is thinking or feeling. While some may criticise the ending is very abrupt compared to many other period dramas such as "Pride and Prejudice" that is the way Gaskell wrote the ending to her story. . While I have mixed feelings about the ending in this series compared to the book I can understand why the film makers chose to film this ending. I won't give away any spoilers but the last five minutes of "North and South" has got to be one of the five best film endings of all time. In the Special Features section the BBC quite rightly has an extensive interview with Richard Armitage because it is he who makes "North and South" the classic period drama that it is. The interview with Armitage is worth the price for this particular DVD release version. This version of "North and South" is the BBC at its best. I would definitely recommend this version of "North and South" and the viewer won't be disappointed.

Es la segunda vez que lo pido porque el primero no llego ya que me notificaron que en el camino se golpeó el paquete, en esta ocasión me llego sin ningún problema y en excelentes condiciones. No tuve ningún problema para reproducirlo aquí por quienes tengan duda de eso por la zona (México). Se los recomiendo demasiado es una excelente historia.

O filme é maravilhoso. Retrata muito bem a diferença entre a vida no campo e a vida na cidade, no começo da revolução industrial na Inglaterra. Dentro desse cenário uma história de amor se desenvolve. Ótima versão da obra de Jane Austen. Com o fantástico Richard Armitage.

Loved the movie