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Cranford  Hot
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Written by Ranielle Gray   
Sunday, 03 August 2008


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Cranford

Grade

Content Grade: A-
Sound Grade: B
Extras Grade: B-
Picture Grade: B

Specs

Studio/Label: BBC Video
Studio/Label Website: http://www.bbcamericashop.com
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Disc Length: 291 minutes

Review

To visit “CRANFORD” for a year from the summer of 1842 to the summer of 1843 is to become privy to all manner of customs and secrets that are overseen by the town’s intricate network of ladies.  The women of Cranford talk, and are talked about, as they find love, lose love, discover hidden strengths, and prepare themselves for the changes the world has in store for them and their hidden hamlet of a village.


The scope of the 5-hour mini-series is rather massive, combining stories from three separate novellas by Mrs. (Elizabeth) Gaskell into one intricate and over-crowded tale.  But if the series suffers from anything, it suffers from boasting a cast that is too wonderful portraying a numerous roster of characters that are each too unique and too deserving of more of the audience’s attention than they can possibly be given.

The outrageously talented cast includes Judi Dench (PRIDE & PREJUDICE), Eileen Atkins (VANITY FAIR), Simon Woods (PRIDE & PREJUDICE), Lisa Dillon (BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS), Imelda Staunton (HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX), Julia McKenzie (BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS), Alex Etel (MILLIONS), Philip Glenister (“VANITY FAIR”), Julia Sawalha (“PRIDE AND PREJUDICE”), Jim Carter (“THE WAY WE LIVE NOW”), Greg Wise (SENSE AND SENSIBILITY), and Michael Gambon (HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX).

“CRANFORD” is as rich in its costumes and art direction as it is in its characters, and although it can be troublesome during the first two episodes to distinguish which story belongs to whom and how they intersect with all of the others, the fifth episode brings all loose ends brilliantly together with a demanding emotional investment that leaves the audience wishing it didn’t have to end.

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Picture and Sound

The picture is more movie quality than your typical “MASTERPIECE” television mini-series and is sharp despite having a number of scenes lit purely by candlelight or gaslight. The sound is clear.

Extras

* The Making of Cranford. Cast and crew discuss the writing of Mrs. Gaskell, combining 3 novellas into a single mini-series, the liberties taken with the story, the challenge of the scope of stories and characters, the flexibility of a digital shoot, art direction and costumes, who the characters are, and the possibilities of revisiting these characters in a follow-up series. (30:00)
* Disc 1 opens with previews for BBC Drama on DVD (“WIVES & DAUGHTERS”, “THE WAY WE LIVE NOW”, “DANIEL DERONDA”, and “HE KNEW HE WAS RIGHT”).
* Disc 2 opens with previews for “SENSE AND SENSIBILITY” and “BLEAK HOUSE”.
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