A Theater Lovers Dream--Archived Performances Of Nine Classic Television Productions
Admittedly Terence Rattigan might not be a household name with contemporary film audiences, but a number of his works (most noticeably, perhaps, Separate Tables and The Browning Version) were adapted into successful screen translations and are considered true classics. One of England's most popular playwrights for four decades (mid-1930s to mid-1970s) , there is no denying the impact of Rattigan's legacy. He often produced understated dramas boiling with emotional subtext. His characters tended to be damaged souls seeking solace and comfort--sometimes not even recognizing the yearnings within. Many have opined that his major works had an element of autobiography. As a homosexual man, he dealt with this theme explicitly in several significant pieces--but the underlying subject of emotional repression is threaded throughout even his most conventional narratives.
BBC has brought together nine of Rattigan's plays for this 5 disc set and what a treat for theater lovers! As of...
High quality
This is a collection of Rattigan plays featuring the very finest of British actors and directors. It is indeed first rate and worth the high price. Warning: This is serious theater, and not something designed to attract most American movie-goers.
There are two slight problems. The packaging is cheap, and the discs will not stay in place. I heard one of our discs rattling around before I opened the package. Fortunately, there was no damage. Secondly, each disc contains five minutes of commercials, which you cannot accelerate out of or click off. I've never seen this before, and don't care if I never see it again. BBCA is to blame, and if you watch that channel frequently you won't mind the stupid commercials. In any case, buy this collection, as it is marvelous.
A Treasury of Great Acting
I am a fan of Terence Rattigan so I was already familiar with most of the plays. However I was not prepared for the high quality of the acting. Most of the actors are simply superb. The BBC commercials are indeed intrusive, but the rest is definitely worth experiencing.
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