... George is a "Yankee" and from the North. His family are industrialists and employ many people fairly and do not believe in slavery and the ways of the South. His brother Stanley (Jonathan Frakes, AKA Will Riker in Star Trek The Next Generation) is a money-grabbing selfish member of the family, ... Read review
One is from a Northern industrial family, one from a Southern plantation family. They're ... more
West Point graduates whose tried-and-true loyalty helps them survive the Mexican-American War. But their bond faces sterner tests. The issues dividing North and So...
One is from a Northern industrial family one from a Southern plantation family. They're ... more
West Point graduates whose tried-and-true loyalty helps them survive the Mexican-American War. But their bond faces sterner tests. The issues dividing North and So...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Production Year: 1998 - Drama - Director: Carl Franklyn, Carl Franklin - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Meryl Streep, William Hurt, Renee Zellweger, Tom Everett Scott, Nicky Katt, Lauren Graham
Drama - Director: Chazz Palminteri - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Susan Sarandon, Penelope Cruz, Paul Walker, Alan Arkin, Marcus Thomas, Donna Hanover, Robin Williams
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 2007 - Drama - Director: Mike Binder - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jada Pinkett, Liv Tyler, Saffron Burrows, Donald Sutherland, Mike Binder
Advantages: Patrick Swayze in an early role Disadvantages: Not completely historically correct
...war breaks out between the North and South (hence the title!) Will they remain friends, or will the war tear them apart? Will Orry and Madeline marry or will her father Nicholas Fabray (Lee Bergere) get his way and marry Madeline off to Justin? What will happen to the friendship of the families, and how will the younger members fare as war breaks out?
Ha ha - not telling!
Book 1 really follows the lives of the two families ... ...get an insight into the lives of the two families and how they intertwine following the friendship of the two main characters.
***My Opinion***
As period dramas go, this has to rank up with the best of them. The costumes are really authentic and the attitudes are portrayed brilliantly, even down to the fervour with which the anti-slavery abolitionists consider the people from the South, who own slaves and fully believe ... more
I was lucky enough to get this box-set in my local supermarket for the princely sum of £7 (reduced from £25!). Boy was I chuffed at getting a blooming good bargain! It is on sale on Amazon for prices in the region of £14.99 but my advice is to shop around as there are always bargains to be had.
Based on the book Love and War by John Jakes, this mini-series was first seen on television in 1985 and was split into "Book 1" and "Book 2". This review is about Book 1, as a separate review on Book 2 will follow! (just giving you all fair warning!).
***The DVD***
Here we have 3 discs in this box-set of Book 1. The basic storyline is that Orry Main (Swayze) is off to the famous West Point Military Academy and is leaving his home in the plantation for the first time. Orry is from the Deep South area of the US, and his father has slaves that work the plantation for him. His family are sorry to see him go but his father and mother (Lewis Smith & Jean Simmons) understand his desire to see life before he comes back to take charge of the plantation. His young sisters Ashton (Terri Garber) and Brett (Genie Francis) will miss him the most, as both of them vie for his attention. Brett being a sweet girl and Ashton being the manipulator of the two.
On his journey he meets up with Madeline Fabray (Lesley-Ann Down), whom he helps after she encounters difficulties on her journey. Orry and Madeline fall deeply in love and promise to stay in touch by letter after Orry arrives in West Point. Madeline arrives at her destination which is to meet her father at the plantation next to Orry's, his neighbour Justin LaMotte (David Carradine, Kill Bill & Kung Fu). Justin is a ruthless man and will do anything to get what he wants.
Along the way, Orry also meets up with George Hazard (played by James Read, otherwise known as the Halliwell's father in Charmed!). George is a "Yankee" and from the North. His family are industrialists and employ many people fairly and do not believe in slavery and the ways of the South. His brother Stanley (Jonathan Frakes, AKA Will Riker in Star Trek The Next Generation) is a money-grabbing selfish member of the family, while sister Virgilia (Kirstie Alley, Cheers) is a fervent member of the anti-slavery league of the northern states. George's youngest brother Billy (John Stockwell) seems to be as level-headed as George, and his mother Maud (Inga Swenson) is just a lovely mother figure that I think we all would like if we had lived in that time.
Orry and George become firm friends but all of this is set to change when civil war breaks out between the North and South (hence the title!) Will they remain friends, or will the war tear them apart? Will Orry and Madeline marry or will her father Nicholas Fabray (Lee Bergere) get his way and marry Madeline off to Justin? What will happen to the friendship of the families, and how will the younger members fare as war breaks out?
Ha ha - not telling!
Book 1 really follows the lives of the two families up till the start of the war. We really get an insight into the lives of the two families and how they intertwine following the friendship of the two main characters.
***My Opinion***
As period dramas go, this has to rank up with the best of them. The costumes are really authentic and the attitudes are portrayed brilliantly, even down to the fervour with which the anti-slavery abolitionists consider the people from the South, who own slaves and fully believe in slavery.
Well, if you haven't guessed it by now - I loved this and have watched it several times since buying it in September of last year. I wouldn't say the acting is great - it can seem wooden at times, especially from Kirstie Alley and at times from Lesley-Ann Down, but then again I am not a great fan of these two actresses in particular. Swayze and Read really make the screen come alive when they act together and separately they are just as good. I really believed in their friendship and believe that after filming, they remained good friends.
We also have outstanding performances from the likes of Forrest Whittaker (the Last King of Scotland, Good Morning Vietnam) who puts in a classic performance as the hard done by slave Cuffey (you will be surprised to see what his character gets up to!), and also from Carradine. I remember Carradine vividly from my youth in the series King Fu and really believed that he could not deliver lines as he didn't speak much then, but here he is fantastic as the evil and manipulating Justin. Just watching him on screen made me hate his character and I believe that this is what he really wanted to portray.
***DVD Info***
Region - 2 (PAL)
Languages - English & German
Subtitles - English & German
Run Time - approximately 538 minutes (over 3 discs)
Classification - PG (I would certainly let my 10 year old step-daughter watch this, although my 5 year old and 2 year old wouldn't get near the television when this is on!).
Cast - Patrick Swayze, James Read, Lesley-Ann Down, David Carradine, Jonathan Frakes, Forrest Whittaker, Robert Mitchum, Johnny Cash, Michael Dudikoff, Olivia De Havilland, Lloyd Bridges, Parker Stevenson, Kirstie Alley, Linda Evans, Morgan Fairchild, etc.
This set has no extras and, although these would have been nice, the set is by no means less for this.
Further info from www.warnerbros.com
***Final Word***
Notwithstanding the rather wooden performance of Kirstie Alley, I have to give this boxset a full 5 star rating! There is nothing less that I could give it. I love this series and could happily watch it again and again. In fact I have watched it several times since buying it last year and can well imagine watching it several more!
It certainly takes you away from the dull reality of the here and now and transports you into a romantic time gone by, but does not pussy-foot around the more sinster aspects of life in those times.
If you can get your paws on this, please do so, it really is a pleasure to watch, although I certainly needed to have loads of free time, as it took me a few days to watch (no way could I have watched it in one go with the kids running around!).
Advantages: A Young Patrick Swayze Disadvantages: Could Be Too Long For Some...
North and South has been a favourite show of mine since it was on ITV in the late 1980's. I recently picked up a copy on DVD at a bargain price, so was happily reminded of how much I'd enjoyed it. Also, having a young and gorgeous Patrick Swayze in it wasn't to its discredit!
The Plot
North and South is based on a novel by John Jakes (king of the southern USA family saga), the first in a trilogy of which all have been made into mini-series. The ... ...hot these days, but in North and South he was in his sexy prime! He portrays Orry as a flawed hero, whose one regret in life is that he is in love with a married woman. Previously to this, Swayze's career had mostly been in movies like Road House and tough guy stuff, but he does show himself here to be an actor of much more depth and he plays that character well.
James Read as George Hazard
Unfortunately for James, he has not become a household ...
staceyvm 06.11.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of North And South - Series 1 (DVD)
...story is based around the North and the South and two friends who meet at West Point (army). Orry Main - Patrick Swayze and George Hazzard (James Read.) Over the years they become very close friends, but unfortunately George does not agree with slavery which, and Orry's family have slaves. George's sister Vergina is totally against it, and unfortunately it tears a wedge between them, although he doesn't agree with what Orry's family does, he has ... ...story line is and the North and South, and friends one lives in the North and one lives in the South.
It is also a love story to it.
I would recommend this book one I have not yet watched book 11 but as soon as I do I will let you no what I think. If you are a Patrick Swayze Fan I recommended even more he looks really nice, in this and he is only young. ...
KIWIMULLAN03 21.01.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of North And South - Series 1 (DVD)
Advantages: Nice American period piece Disadvantages: Cheesy
...slavery in the US but North and South does not cover it up nor does it condemn it outright. It just portrays how slavery was without modern retrospect. Like a primary source would and I would hope this is what the writer was aiming for. However, this issue is but a subplot overall.
The series focuses on two main characters and their families living in a turbulant time in american history- Orry Main, a southern farm owners son and George Hazard - ... ...the characters at the brink of the American Civil War to be continued in series 2 of North and South. (Altogether there are 3 series - all based on the books by John Jakes).
I found it enjoyable, something good to watch whilst doing something else on a lazy day. ...
jillburke 29.09.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of North And South - Series 1 (DVD)
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