“A
compelling and captivating saga
of the secrets, fortunes, troubles and
tragedies of three generations of a
wealthy family whose lives are disrupted
by World War II, the highly-acclaimed
drama The Cazalets was first shown
on BBC television in 2001...”
A CLASSIC BBC ADAPTATION, THE CAZALETS is based on the best-selling novels
by Elizabeth Jane Howard and features a cast led by fine British actors. Three
generations of a privileged family seek to escape the terrors of the war at
their country estate but find that they are not immune to the repercussions
of the hostilities.
Beginning in 1937 the scene is set as the family, headed by Kitty "Duchy" Cazalet
(Ursula Howells) and her husband William "The Brig" (Frederick Treves), gather
for the summer at Home Place in Sussex.
“The
Cazalets
is a captivating costume
drama,
convincingly portrayed
with superb
character
development...”
They
have three sons: Edward (Stephen Dillane: Game Of Thrones; The Tunnel)
is married to the long-suffering Viola, known as Villy (Lesley Manville: Maleficent;
Mayday); Hugh (Hugh Bonneville: Downtown Abbey; Paddington), married
to Sybil (Anastasia Hille); and Rupert (Paul Rhys), an aspiring artist, whose
wife Zoë (Joanna Page: Gavin And Stacey; Love, Actually) is despised
by his daughter Clarissa, known as Clary (Florence Hoath), a budding talented
writer.
Their sister Rachel (Catherine Russell) has never married but has a 'very close'
girlfriend known as Sid (Penny Downey). Philanderer Edward has a roving eye
and in a drunken frenzy even gets too familiar with his own daughter, Louise
(Emma Griffiths Malin), who has an ambition to be an actress. Later he is to
meet the married Diana Mackintosh (Anna Chancellor: Downtown Abbey; Four
Weddings and a Funeral) and the two embark upon a lengthy and passionate
affair.
Hugh and Edward work at the family timber merchants and their father is keen
to persuade Rupert to join them. Rupert, however, and much to Zoë's chagrin,
has other ideas. On a visit to help her sick mother Zoë commits an indiscretion
with Dr Philip Sherlock (Tom Mannion) which leaves her plagued by guilt and
with tragic consequences.
Against the background of a country hovering on the brink of war, an empty promise
is made by the well-meaning Neville Chamberlain of "peace in our time" but he
has not anticipated Germany ignoring the deadline to withdraw its troops from
Poland. As
the pre-war years pass and war becomes a reality, babies are born, unions forged
and lives ended, while scandals lurk among the many secrets of the privileged
Cazalets — and even their chauffeur Frank Tonbridge (John MacArdle) is
to make a shocking discovery about his own family.
Rupert has enlisted against his family's wishes. The Cazalet family face a testing
time, but will their stoic British stiff upper lip see them through the coming
uncertainties, family issues and tragedies that are to befall them? The Nazis,
led by Adolph Hitler, have their sights on Europe and the British Expeditionary
Forces have retreated to Dunkirk. As the horrors of the escalating conflict
hit home, no family in the country can remain untouched.
First shown on BBC Television in 2001, The Cazalets is a captivating
costume drama, convincingly portrayed with superb character development.
The Cazalets also features: Patsy Rowlands as private tutor Miss Millament;
Jacqueline Tong as cook Mrs Cripps; Claudia Renkin as Polly Cazalet; Ben Simpson
as Teddy Cazalet; Alexander Pownall as Neville Cazalet; James Aubrey as Raymond
Castle; Gemma Craven as Mrs Headford; Katya Harvey as Louise's friend Stella
Rose; Claire Hackett as Mrs Tonbridge; and Gregg Prentice as young Harry Tonbridge.
Soundtrack Written by Ray Noble; Composer is Julian Knott; Series Cinematography
by Robin Vidgeon BSC; Costumes by Frances Tempest; Series Writing Credits are
Elizabeth Jane Howard and Douglas Livingstone; Producer is Verity Lambert; and
Series Directed by Suri Krishnamma.
*
A
compelling saga of upper class family life during the Second World War, the
complete series of the poignant BBC adaptation of Elizabeth Jane Howard's The
Cazalets is released in the UK by Second Sight on DVD on 23 March 2015.
Running Time: 324 Minutes Approximately | 2 Discs | Catalogue No: 2NDVD3272
| RRP: £19.99.
"The Cazalets is a captivating costume drama, convincingly portrayed
with superb character development"
—Maggie Woods, Motorbar
“A
compelling and captivating saga