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Product Description Noel Coward Collection, The (DVD)Noël Coward was a master playwright whose prodigious talent dominated the theatre of the 1920s & 30s. "The Vortex" made him an immediate hit and controversial sensation. "Hay Fever," "Private Lives," and "Design for Living" are as popular today as when they were first performed. His series of one-acts "Tonight at 8:30" which he performed with Gertrude Lawrence have become a treasure trove for modern theater companies. This collection features star-studded BBC productions of Coward's full-length plays, one-acts and short stories plus bonus features including several radio plays, interviews and profiles of Coward. It's a must own collection for lovers of great theatre!]]> .com Are you a bust at parties? Dull? Can never think of just the thing to say until everyone has gone home? Watch any of these classic Noel Coward plays, one-act playlets, or dramatized short stories, and soon you'll be regaling your guests with such ripping bon mots as, "She's one of the few actresses living who can be dressed by Schiaparelli and looks as if she had been upholstered by Maples." Okay, we may not get it, but doesn't it just fizz with sophistication? Noel Coward was a true Renaissance man, a celebrated, playwright, composer, author, and actor. To quote the title of one of his biographies, he had A Talent to Amuse. But in his most enduring works, he found "genuine emotion under the gloss." This gala, more than 19-hour, seven-disc box set (plus more than 12 hours of bonus audio interviews, musical performances, speeches, and radio plays) immerses viewers in Coward's vanished urbane world, where formidable and fascinating characters are often caught between their natural instincts and the laws of society. Take Gilda, Otto, and Leo, who, flout convention by living as three in the quintessential Coward play, Design for Living (1979). Or the bohemian Bliss family, whose members each, independently, invite a guest up for a very chaotic weekend in Hay Fever (1984). Or monstrously self-absorbed actor Garry Essendine, who frantically keeps dewy-eyed admirers, an ex-wife, and a persistent playwright at bay in Present Laughter (1981). Or Amanda and Elyot, a divorced couple reunited on their respective honeymoons in Private Lives (1976). These farcical comedies of bad manners, all among Coward's most popular, are "jagged with sophistication" and effervescent with "easy, swift dialogue." But it's not all gay banter and cocktails. The Vortex (1969), the once-controversial play that put Coward on the map, is anything but a laughing matter. The Noel Coward Collection is rich with "small and large enchantments." The productions, originally broadcast on the BBC, cannot be said to be definitive, but they are each tastefully mounted (only Present Laughter is marred by intrusive shots of a live theatre audience), and for the most part, superbly acted. Penelope Keith (To the Manor Born) is splendid as the tempestuous Amanda in Private Lives and the theatrical Judith Bliss in Hay Fever. Joan Collins acquits herself admirably in Tonight at 8:30 (1991), a series of eight one-act plays that range from light comedy to tragedy. Other casting coups include Paul Scofield and Deborah Kerr in A Song at Twilight (1982) about a successful writer, his former lover, and a secret she threatens to reveal, and Judi Dench and Ian Holm as Mr. and Mrs. Edgehill (1985), a wartime drama. This marvelously entertaining anthology is an embarrassment of riches and essential for theatre buffs or anyone looking for an oasis of smart and cultured entertainment in a Superbad world. --Donald Liebenson
H**E
Most of the DVDs did not work
Bought this in 2016. Tried the disks on multi-region dvd player and on my PC. Very few items can be watched. A pity.
J**E
Absolutely Indispensible
If you ever doubted that Noel Coward was a great writer, then buy this collection and be persuaded. Glittering productions of most of his masterpieces, with splendid casts. I missed BLITHE SPIRIT, but I guess you can't have everything (it is represented, however, in a radio production).The collection as a whole is a rave, but I do want to single out a few of my personal favorites: Penelope Keith, who stars in both HAY FEVER and PRIVATE LIVES, is a particular standout; she has the Coward style absolutely to a "T." Rula Lenska (who achieved fame here in the 1970s when she did a series of commercials for Alberto VO5 hairspray) is lusciously luminous in DESIGN FOR LIVING. Joan Collins's anthology series TONIGHT AT 8:30 presents eight of Coward's famous (and not-so-famous but still worthy) one-acts, in perfect productions -- including fine, vanity-free performances from Collins herself that will give you a new respect for her. I could go on an on; suffice to say every item in this 7-disc collection is worth seeing, and many of them are unforgettable.The package isn't flawless; some of the (audio only) radio productions are difficult to access, and the radio PRIVATE LIVES doesn't play in the proper order -- if you don't know the play you'll be awfully confused listening to it (better watch the superb production with Ms. Keith and Alec McCowen first, just to familiarize yourself).All of these productions are British TV productions from the 1970s and '80s that, as far as I know, were never broadcast in the U.S., so every disc is a revelation. If you are a fan of Noel Coward, or theater, or great sophisticated comedy, you absolutely cannot be without this superb collection. It's an embarrassment of riches.And best of all, as great as this set is, enough of Coward's career is left untouched to supply an equally lavish Volume Two. So how about it, BBC...?
O**O
MARVELLOUS PLAYING!
I HAVE NOT YET ENJOYED THE WHOLE SET BUT WHAT I'VE SEEN IS EXTRAORDINARILY NICE. I SUGGEST YOU IMMEDIATELY GO TO "HANDS ACROSS THE SEA": A LITTLE PLAY BUT THE FUN IS BIG BIG BIG. THE PLAYS (EVEN IF I DON'T LOVE "DESIGN FOR LIVING") ARE MARVELLOUSLY ACTED. FIVE STARS OUGHT TO BE GIVEN TO THIS SET, BUT I GIVE FOUR, OWING TO THE RADIO PLAYS WHICH ARE TAPED WITHOUT CHAPTERS AND YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE A PAUSE TO YOUR LISTENING! WHAT A PITY.E. G. OPPICELLI / GENOVA CERTOSA, ITALY
S**N
The Noel Coward Collection (BBC Video)
The plays and radio plays chosen were generally interesting -- even if more variety rather than sometimes the play and radio version of the same thing on the same disk. But the engineering and production was an abomination. The acts of "Private Lives" on radio were out of order, and the third act of "Blithe Spirit" was left out entirely. In addition, the disks were frequently flawed enough so that they stopped and skipped. It was a nice idea, but the production is bad enough to make us wary of purchasing any BBC Video productions.
B**S
Six Stars on a Five Star Rating
Oh if Life could imitate Art then I would live in the world of Noel Coward. Reading his short stories is what spurred me on to order this fantastic collection of a portion of his work. My husband and I and our 13 year old daughter are quiet as mice as we watch these shows. In fact, my daughter is the one that requests we sit down and watch another show of "Uncle Noels". The acting is spellbinding and the Best of British Best are in these shows. Not to diminish their ability, but really, even a rank actor could pull off Coward's work. You can't do much wrong with his writings. It is just that remarkable. It plays itself. I imagine it is like being inhabited by the playwright himself: follow his lead and go. I find myself startled at the genius of Coward. The examination of the human condition, profound. And with this, his work will be timeless and never dated. The era seems almost irrelevant, it is the full understanding of the actions of people and the decisions they make that is compelling and I believe spans to people today in our mad society. Watching these collective disks made me smile with tears in my eyes. I wish I could have met Coward....and I do miss him all the same.
R**Y
Bad buy
Most of the DVDs had either been used or simply would not play ..I tried on 3 different machines ,,what I saw I liked but very frustrating that on most DVDs I could only see the first 60%
F**Y
Defective Printing
I've purchased this item several times from various sources and all of them have been defective in the same places on the disks. Badly made.
M**.
The Best a Coward devotee can have
When I bought it I thought it was a little pricey. I was so wrong. It is priceless. It is beautifully packaged and the best thing a Coward fan can possess. It has marvelously filmed, beautifully acted versions of The Vortex and Hayfever on the first dvd (There are seven) and a 40 minute fascinating interview of a mature Coward. Having never seen any of these, I settled down to a fabulous experience. The Vortex is wonderful, intense and was so shocking when it was written Coward had a hard time getting it past the censors.The biggest surprise in all of the presentations, none can be called dated. The clothes and settings are knock-outs. Hay Fever is absolutely riotous. I have watched it 4 times and howled with glee each time. Private Lives, which I have heard of all my life but never seen is wonderful and again, it isn't dated at all.So, bottom line. The $60+ this album costs is a huge bargain. I just cannot praise it highly enough. If you are a Noel Coward fan, this is the first must-have on your list. Do whatever you need to do to get it legally. Amazon is the best place to start. Do not deprive yourself of the treat of a life time.
P**C
Wonderful material, but won't play through
This set is plagued with bad discs that freeze and won't play through to the conclusion.
J**N
If you love Noel Coward plays this is for you
This is a terrific collection of Noel Coward plays acted in by many of your favourite actors from the BBC. In one play Hugh Laurie (House) stars. The DVD set contains radio plays as well as an interview with Mr. Coward his fabulous self. I highly recommend this for several nights of thoroughly enjoyable entertainment when you cant get to the theater. Terrific.
A**Y
Coward failed by Beeb.
Nothing wrong with the production, as far as we could run it. But Disc 1 failed after 39 minutes and wouldn't re-start following specialist cleaning. Life's too short to clown around with other disks, so returned all for refund.
Trustpilot
5 days ago
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