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Poldark [1996]

Starring: John Bowe, Mel Martin, Michael Attwell, Ioan Gruffudd, Kelly Reilly
Director: Richard Laxton
Format: PAL
RRP: £10.99
Average Rating:

Customer Reviews

Poldark - "the follow up" - By: , 16 Aug 2005
I was brought up on the Poldark books & the BBC TV series, & Robin Ellis & Angharad Rees quite simply WERE Cap'n Poldark & Demelza. In comparison this ITV adaptation was a huge disappointment. Generallly I'm a big fan of Mel Martin & John Bowe, but even they could not pull this off. I also got the impression that this was a 'Pilot' for further adaptations of the later Poldark books, which were never made. Having said alll that, I've still bought the DVD version to replace my old VHS copy, so it can't be that bad!
Don't bother! - By: SarahJCT, 27 Jun 2005
I was told not to buy this dvd but I couldn't ignore anything with the word Poldark in the title. However, despite knowing of its dubious reputation I was even more horrified by this than I expected!

The Stranger from the Sea is not a standalone book, rather part of Winston Graham's 12 part series & so the story makes no sense to new viewers. Having read the books I knew exactly what was supposed to be happening but if I hadn't known, there were no clues in the production to help me & the film would have left the new viewer confused & dissatisfied.

None of the casting department appeared to have even the slightest knowledge of the books. So, the cast bears no resemblance to Winston Graham's originals. They look more like outcasts from the Thorn Birds & sound even worse. I felt desperately sorry for John Bowe throughout, who is a worthy actor in other productions but could do nothing with the terrible screenplay given to him. It was nice to see Fiona Victory but it would have been nicer to see her in something else. Overalll there was a feeling that the actors, through no fault of their own, were on a hiding to nothing from the start.

While being reluctant to cling onto the original BBC series (which was spectacular), I sorely missed the presence of Judy Geeson, Michael Cadman (or Richard Morant, I'm not fussy!), Robin Ellis & Angahard Rees, not to mention the late great Ralph Bates. So my advice is to read the books & invest in the wonderful BBC series. Then let your imagination do the rest with the latter 5 books that were never televised.

A mistake - By: K. A. Engel, 23 Apr 2005
This is lese majesty on a grand scale. Roundly condemned in the UK for not featuring the original actors from the incomparable 70s series, who had made the roles their own. John Bowe looks embarassed throughout & it bombed over here & was shuffled into a slot where it went out with minimum fanfare. Do yourself a favour & watch the original & ignore this ill conceived attempt to cash in.