Edward the Seventh

This 4-disc set contains all 13, 50-minute episodes from the British TV miniseries "Edward the King" which was first aired back in 1975.

This TV presentation covers the period of time in history just after Queen Victoria dies (1901) and Edward (Victoria's eldest son) ascends the throne, reigning for only 9 years (until his death at age 69 from cancer).

Unfortunately, I found this costume/period production to be much too stuffy and dry. It was a lot like watching a very stodgy stage play.

And, as a result - My attention tended to wander far too much while watching this soap opera about the royals.

Being fans or admirers of a lot of the actors here and being drawn to such an interesting subject, I loved Edward the Seventh. It is a visually sumptuous affair with beautiful costumes, locations and photography. The music is likewise gorgeous. The story is highly absorbing, well paced and very accurate, and the writing is intelligent even in the wordier parts.

Edward the Seventh has a superb cast. Not only is it great on paper, but it is so much fun seeing so many familiar faces and all of them give great performances. Timothy West is marvellous in the titular character role, and of the cast the standouts were Helen Ryan as a tolerant and sympathetic Alexandra and especially Annette Crosbie's nuanced turn as the definitive Victoria.

That is not to dispute the other performances either. Robert Hardy is suitably rigid and determined as Albert, John Gielgud is a wonderful Disraeli, Christopher Neame is a wonderfully wicked Kaiser and Francessca Annis is also very good as Lillie. All in all, a really well done series, very absorbing with not a dull moment with great production values and you couldn't have asked for a more better cast too. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Timothy West was excellent in the role of a king who had a short but very successful reign. The man was King Edward VII, formerly the playboy Prince of Wales, who became the grandfather of Europe. He was a sophisticated man who enjoyed wine, women and a good cigar. West gives him that gravitas that he must have nurtured offstage until the death of his mother Queen Victoria, when he was 61. Monarchy seemed to fit him like a glove and so it seems with West. Although his domineering mother kept him off centre stage as Prince of Wales, he did blossom as king. Victoria, as a charming monarch with a cold determination, is played superbly by a Annette Crosbie and the Princess of Wales/Queen Alexandra is Helen Ryan, who had a copyright on roles as the elegant consort representing the best of Edwardian England. There are excellent actors appearing in the movie: Michael Hordern (Willam Gladstone), John Gielgud (Benjamin Disraeli), Felicity Kendall (the Princess Royal), Charles Dance (Prince Edward), Francesca Annis (Lilly Langtry), etc. I was greatly impressed with this series. Movies like this fine one are a great way to stimulate interest in history. It is one of many home-grown, British television shows that have done just that for me.

Long before "Margaret Meldrew", Annette Crosbie was quite an accomplished actress and she shows that off well here as Queen Victoria - the matriarch of a family of 9 children with her Consort Prince Albert (Robert Hardy). Their heir was "Bertie" (Charles Sturridge and Timothy West span his 68 year lifetime) and this lengthy, detailed and stylish 13-parter traces the life (and plentiful loves) of this Prince through from boyhood until the end of his 10-year reign as King and Emperor when the British Empire was still pretty much at it's zenith. The first few episodes focus more on his temperamental mother; of her relationship with her husband; her indifferent relationship with her "ugly" children and the politics of the time - her favouritism of Lord Melbourne over Sir Robert Peel; expansionism of the Empire and the addressing of the many social privations of many of her subjects. As the chronology progresses, we are introduced to the decent, but somewhat wayward young man whom, from the outset, instinctively rebels against the constrictions of his parents causing arguments and conceivably, even, the premature death of his father. His affairs de coeur cause his mother, his wife Princess Alexandra (Helen Ryan), and frequently the government no end of hassle as he bulldozes his way through life waiting - for 60 years - to ascend to the throne. Once there, however, he proves to be a popular, considered individual with an adeptness on a particularly tricky international stage that proves useful in preventing conflict between the great powers of the time. It's got an excellent cast supporting along the way - Richard Vernon, a very young Charles Dance, Francesca Annis, Felicity Kendal, André Morell, Jane Lapotaire, Michael Hordern and Sir John Gielgud and the writing gives ample opportunity for the them to create characterful performances and the attention to the detail of costumes is first class. West comes into his own as the King, his performance as the rakish but intelligent man evolves well, demonstrating the frustrations of someone who has waited a very long time for his job to become vacant. Of course, virtually all of it is speculation, but what this series offers is a plausible critique of life at the top of the British Empire and also of a vulnerable, flawed collection of human beings who were at the apex of every ruling family in Europe by the end of the 19th century. Well worth sitting through; makes for a great binge-watch!

I had no idea how fantastic or informative or entertaining this miniseries is! It was so great I watched the whole thing in just two days! (On Netflix Instant streaming.)

Wow, not only was it fascinating and vastly entertaining (not to mention superbly cast and acted), it also was so very informative. It really filled in a lot of blanks in my knowledge and awareness. I really had no idea how Bertie was treated by his parents throughout his life. I had erroneously thought he was a mere hedonistic playboy, by his own choice and inclination. Boy, did this series set me straight!

The series also cleared up the puzzles in my mind about the origins of WWI. Nowhere in the vast amount of ink spilled on the subject have I been given as clear a picture of the cause and build-up as in this miniseries. Invaluable. Also, I had no idea that "Willi" was such a psychotic madman, or that he was controlled by Bismark from early childhood, or that he turned away from his mother and ancestry. Absolutely fascinating.

I must commend the filmmakers and writers on doing an excellent job all around in making a delightful yet informative miniseries which is as gripping as any fictional period miniseries to come out of the UK. This is easily now one of my top miniseries of all time.

By the way, the acting is superb. It includes Annette Crosby as Victoria, Timothy West as Bertie (Edward VII), Robert Hardy as Prince Albert, Helen Ryan as Princess Alexandra, Michael Hordern as Gladstone, and John Gielgud as Disreali, just for starters. Also included are Charles Sturridge (writer and director of Brideshead Revisited) as young Bertie, Nigel Havers as Bertie's friend, and Felicity Kendal as Victoria's firstborn child. And on and on, including a gorgeous young Charles Dance as young Prince Eddy (Bertie and Alix's first child), and Lillie Langtry portrayed by Francesca Annis, who on the strength of this portrayed her again three years later in an entire miniseries of her own, "Lillie".

Trust me on this, if you love period British miniseries (or films), you're going to love this. Particularly if you love, for instance, any of the Victoria dramatizations such as Her Majesty Mrs Brown, or Young Victoria; or Victoria & Albert; or The Lost Prince; or Lillie; etc. It's addicting.

For American viewers, check it out on Netflix Instant, or purchase the box set on Amazon.

Enjoy!