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List Price: $49.98 | | Label: BBC Warner
Salesrank: 11695
Released: March 31, 2009 |
| Our Price: $28.52 |
| Used Price: $28.52 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
In this fifteen-part inventive series based on William Shakespeare's history plays, the turmoil, power, mystery and frailty of the English crown in the medieval ages is laid bare in epic style. This series originally aired as live broadcasts and was recorded on film. Starring Sean Connery, Julian Glover, Eileen Atkins, Robert Hardy, Angela Baddeley, Judi Dench and John Warner.
Shakespeare's An Age of Kings (Richard II / Henry IV / Henry V / Henry VI / Richard III) Reviews:
Shakespears's An Age of Kings 
2009-11-03 - I was delighted that this was now available on DVD. Alas, I was bitterly disappointed by the product. The discs start and stop or stop altogether. Two messages to Amazon have failed to elicit a reply. I am thoroughly disgusted and would obviously warn against buying it.
classic but boring
2009-10-06 - While this collection may be a classic it has not withstood time's test. Unlike the author, these performances are hopelessly dated. I purchased the set for my British Lit. class; however my students would bolt for the door within minutes. I hoped the plays would be like those operas they filmed on stage in the late 50's and 60's. Unfortunately they are not. Also, the dialogue is, surprisingly, difficult to understand. I just attended a performance of Richard III at Shakespeare in Chicago. Every line bright and clear. Two of our guests who are not fans of Elizabethan English had no difficulty understanding. Not so with this DVD. All in all, a HUGE mistake purchasing the set.
As an aside, it's about time that Amazon came up with a system of identifying whether or not the reviewer has actually purchased the item being reviewed. Thank you Amazon.
Shakespeare at its best 
2009-09-24 - I saw An Age of Kings back on Australian TV in 1960 or 1961 and have never forgotten it. The performance of Richard II is the best I've seen (including the RSC at Stratford-on-Avon). Terry Scully gave a great performance as King Henry VI -- not the easiest or most sympathetic character to play. He awoke in me an interest in the historical King Henry VI that has lasted now some 50 years. I was sorry to learn that he had died of a stroke in 2001. I have often sought in vain for a video of this great BBC series -- succeeding versions have all tended to be too "contemporary" and "avant garde" for my taste. I am delighted with this DVD and can recommend it wholeheartedly to all lovers of Shakespeare and those interested in the drama of the Wars of the Roses. (Don't expect Shakespeare to deliver accurate history, however!)
Picture quality 1930's, sets 1880's, otherwise magnificent. 
2009-07-15 - I've only seen Richard II, Henry IV, and parts of Henry V so far. I just compared parts of 1HenryIV from this black-and-white production (ca. 1960) and the more recent BBC production of 1HIV (an unexpected "pun", what?) from the complete set done a few decades later. The later was quite good, with Anthony Quale a wonderful Falstaff and decent color photography. The Falstaff in this set is just as good. The Prince Hal in the later set has an annoying Beatles haircut, the one in this set has more classical command of his character; pity he wears ballet tights. This Richard II is wonderful, you will feel for this pitiful lead character (historically he was not so pitiful, of course, but that's another story).
While the newer BBC set looks somewhat higher budget, this older one generally displays more gravitas. Perhaps I'm a tad antiquarian, but classical music buffs will understand the difference between a terrific modern recording vs. some of the better older recordings when conductors could put the fear of G-d into the players to deliver an extra "sweep" that is not possible today. In this "Age of Kings" set, the actors convey a long familiarity with their roles and deliver a dramatic "sweep." Here is old-school, flamboyant confidence.
It's a shame the recording technology used was so unnecessarily primitive, but had they done it right you wouldn't be getting 16 hours of fine Bard for $35.
The cuts are well planned, so the stories unfolds quite gracefully.
Most of the plays are presented in two 65 minute segments, rather than act-by-act. The sub-titles are very helpful for modern viewers.
This set is well worth it even if you never get to the Henry VI plays.
Right on time.
2009-07-04 - I had just recently read Henry VI--not Shakespeare's best work--and had wondered about the availability of a production on DVD. Lo and behold, I check Amazon and find Age of Kings. What a delight! Hardy as Henry V is not to be missed. And Daneman as Richard III is clearly relishing the role. You can see it in his eyes. He's having a ball.
