The Cazalets

Why did it stop when US got into it?? The books go all the way till the end of the war! This show won awards! How about making it again, the whole series!! It could be another Downton Abby! Perfect timing! It'll remind people what these countries went through to defend freedom! We need this type of programming to wake people up, especially in US! Make sure it shows in US! PBS could bring a lot of funding your way! We know the Republicans put you in a terrible bind concerning your Government Funding!! I thought they'd say this review was too long! Come to find out when you're done saying something you're not really done. Maybe now!

Beware if you hope for all four volumes (never mind the later fifth that Elizabeth Jane Howard wrote much later). This adaptation breaks off abruptly. Did they plan more episodes? Did the money run out? Were some of the cast engaged elsewhere?

That said, it's well done, though lacks so much of the detail of the books, and Elizabeth Jane Howard had a gift for detail. There are some fine performances by actors destined for greater things. There is a BBC radio dramatisation which is said to be fuller, though curiously only episodes 3-10 are available through the BBC iPlayer, which is just as unsatisfactory.

Cazalets is a sensitive portrait of complicated people. The fact that all the main characters belong to the same wealthy family makes their portrayed individuality even more unique. Historically there are some minor blurbs. But love, jealousy, sex, suffering, sorrow, death are unique to all times. Money and name cannot insulate us from the human condition, as the movie thoughtfully expounds. Five Stars !!!!! in my estimation.

This started off slow, then picked a bit in the middle, but the last episode just fizzled out altogether.

The storylines, such as they were, were just left hanging with no conclusions to any of them.

So, all rather pointless.

At least, compared with 2022, there were not profanities. A pleasant change.

The show was slow, but enjoyable, but absolutely no ending. It was almost like they just stopped writing, and that was that.