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Well first of all l am no expert, but do like the Bards poems and sonnets. This DVR is a bit mixed up starting off with a simple boreing drama of Wills humble struggles it goes on and on with a dark, basic plot that a third grade student can follow. Lots of bleak dirty sets ment to convay slum life. God spare me this moody stuff!. The best was Not Tim Curry (liked him more in the film, "The Hunt for Red October".. Of course the parts played by Will Shakespeare's friends is better. Some of the English TV Miniseries casting is uneven. However if you did not know Will's early years here is a good guide if a bit over-dramatised. So the first part is background fill. Not really important rendition in the overall production. For those of you who know of the Bards early life -fast forward. All rather dull. Plus I'm not a real big fan of Tim Curry the lead, always thought of him as a Hammy comedy actor. His mood changes from time to time with slight British humor. Not my cup of tea "old boy" but having said that I rather liked Tim's cheeky fun asid comments and think he was at his best here. Liked Ms.Jan Micshane very much, some of her fantastick moments. So "my tongue thy seweet beloved name no more shall dwell, Least I, too much profane, should do this comment wrong.. taken a bit out of contex & ad libbed by me here. Take it with a grain of salt you poor reader. We already know the Bard started out from poor bankrupt times then surmounted the handicap of "humble beginnings" to become our Lordship English Apollo. . Nice shots of the earlbits of acting in the first part of Shakespeare as an actor-shareholder in the Lord Chamberlaon"s company of start up players. This DVR presentaion skips a bit and the dates on screen are also somewhat mixed to real evewnts but sort of going along in a general way to tell )show) the buding the Bards presence in London as a damatist abut the year one or two years off in 1592. Some nice directing and camera shots but the setrs are so poor one wonders what kind of a budget they had to work with, the dress and the shirts, pants and coats are made to look shabby. In fact these actors paid out of thier own pockets.Some do dress in elegant style. I will say in all the costumes were fine and very well shown as an example of the time. I liked the DVR once it finished the background and gets into the meat of part II. Shakespeare's growing popularity is now shining the poet named Sis Field used praise for Shakespeare's ,"honey-flowing vein", declaring :"well may the body die, but fame dies never." this quote is not in the DVR but you get the idea of this acclaimed British Miniseries which showed some good and bad directors depending who (a total of three) was directing different years of the Bards life. To sum up quickly do yourself a favor and just skip Part I- and be rewarded. Won't gaive away the nice twists of some of the hammy actors, also some very great ones. I will not comment who is who. But while over all it is entertaining. As overall history not exactly true but good watching. Will close with this exhortation; from a quote by Tucker Brooke (Author of 'the Yale Shakespeare from 1926'. Read or Watch him, and if then you do not likek him, surely you are in some manifest danger not to understand him.. by Mel Faber,Ph. But then what do I know except from my Hollywood Hi School Acting/ Drama class ( LA. CA.1954) G.Stoner. *FINI*Read full review
A fan of Shakespeare, Tim Curry, Ian McShane, and John Mortimer, I was not disappointed in this six part British miniseries. Mortimer's imaginings on Will's relationship with Marlowe, the dark lady and others is entertaining if you are willing to accept them at that, as they are intended. I was particularly entertained by the musings on Anne, Southampton and the boy player, Jack Rice. The production values are high, but dated. Daily Elizabethan life is a very strong element in the show--fashion and disease--in particluar. The DVD is adequate, but includes only bios, no special scenes, no directors notes, rudimentary scrolling.
Soapy but entertaining bio-fiction series. Highlights of Will Shakespeare’s London showbiz career in a turn-of-the-16th-century costume melodrama. No DVD extras, so-so transfer.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Great acting and feature. History lesson.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Just found this on the A&E website for $14.99. This is a great movie for Tim Curry fans. Written by the prolific John Mortimer, the British drama series Will Shakespeare focused on the Bard of Avon's formative years. Deftly mixing fact with fancy, the story concentrates on such elements as the marriage of young Will (played by Tim Curry, no less) to the older and more affluent Anne Hathaway (Meg Wynn Owen) and his hot-and-cold relationship with rival playwright Christopher Marlowe (Ian McShane). Andre Morell provided an amusing turn as Shakespearean actor Edward Alleyn, while Patience Collier was seen as the playwright's erstwhile patron Queen Elizabeth.