We almost gave up at the end of the first episode, which is slow moving and frivolous -- endless scenes of giggling young ladies behaving like thirteen year old girls. But by the end of the second episode we were glad we persisted. In the context of the full story, the carefree lives of the American girls before they get to England, although overdone, is a necessary contrast. This five episode mini-series is a watchable adaptation of Edith Wharton's last (and unfinished) novel. The characters are well drawn, the settings are sumptuous, and the depiction of upper-class English life in the late nineteenth century is believable and illuminating.
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NicOldert25 January 2016
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davemerino10 February 2021I'll make it short & sweet. The ending makes you feel as if they ran out of money to finish filming.
She should have fought in court, now she will live in disgrace. He should be disgraced. -
Dan1863Sickles31 October 2018Everything about this lush mini-series is wrong, oversimplified, anachronistic, and just plain dishonest. Yet the results are strangely irresistible. The cast is what makes the difference. Mira Sorvino, Carla Gugino, Alison Eliot, and Rya Kihlstedt -- four utterly gorgeous young starlets, all of whom showed enormous promise, none of whom really topped their mid Nineties peak.
Imagine Charlie's Angels in corsets and lace, running here and there with fluttering lashes and heaving bosoms, determined to marry well or bust a bodice. And boy, do they ever! You will not believe the amount of leering sexuality in every scene, like a bad Seventies late night soap. Yet it's all so touchingly innocent, as if in every scene you can here the young actresses telling themselves, "This is culture! This is culture! Oscars await! It's CULTURE!"
To balance out the titillating sleaze, of course, the writers are very careful to make every last eligible bachelor an utter bucket of manure. Such a bold choice! Such intellectual daring it must have taken, to cop a fashionable feminist attitude and just slap it right down in the middle of the soft-core porn worship of all those country houses and heaving bosoms and bursting bodices and corsets laced tight. This is a story that preaches with shrill insistence while undercutting its own supposedly egalitarian message with childlike worship of money and social class.
Now when you read an actual, completed Edith Wharton novel, like THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY, you will notice some interesting differences between the actual Wharton genius and the goofiness of this guilty pleasure. Undine Spragg is a pretty girl, and she wants a rich husband. But Undine is never any better than the people around her. In a lot of ways she is worse! When Edith Wharton sends her to Europe the whole point is that she really is a menace to the civilization she wants to conquer. "You want the things we want but you don't understand why we want them," says an exasperated French count.
That kind of complexity is completely absent from THE BUCCANEERS. The girls are awesome just because, hey, they're GIRLS!!! -
Thornfield26 September 2001This film was magnificent and nothing short of breath taking. You know when you've got the talents of Mira Sorvino and Alison Elliot (Spitfire Grill) you can't go wrong. Not only were these actresses brilliant and believable, in their wretched marital situations, but I was also able to discover the talents of Cherie Lunghi and Carla Gugino. Gugino, especially shined as the philosophical and impetuous, Nan. Lush settings and beautiful costumes were just the crowing touches to this film that illustrated, wonderfully and very accurately, the foreign social customs of England and the USA in the 1870's. It also showed me how cruel it can sometimes be when the most crucial decisions in life are given to the young and innocent. Splendid entertainment and with all confidence I can truly say that this film is one of closest films to reach to perfection that I have ever seen.
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MPRucker3 January 1999Wonderful adaptation of Edith Wharton's last novel. If you enjoyed films like Sense and Sensibility or Age of Innocence, you will enjoy this as well. This film is beautiful to look at, lush production values, a strong cast.
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bjarias24 November 2023... Wharton died before finishing-writing The Buccaneers, Wadey finishing her story for this screenplay, many viewers and Wharton fans thought her version too "Hollywood," too unrealistic, as ALL of Wharton's previous novels, have markedly realistic & distinctly solemn endings for all their characters & plot lines
... finding the ending suitable or not, it's a decent adaptation for TV, and the cast does good work bringing it to the screen... set in a time one-hundred-fifty-years ago, it's a timeless work that would hold up whenever viewed
... if viewers and fans didn't like the '95 version, can't imagine they'll be viewing the 2023 one any better at all, as they are night-n-day-different... better-or-worse, ur-call. -
Backdrop: In the latter half of the 1800's, America's New York was a rising industrial and financial giant. Many "old money" families like the Vanderbilt's and Astor's began to look to England to secure English titles to add to their prestige. Whereas, the "new moneyed" Americans denied admittance into New York society, also looked to England for a title and acceptance. On the other hand, where England was still a colonial power with extreme amounts of wealth in the hands of a few landed gentry, many of these landed English families were cash poor; thus paving the way for marriage alliances to be formed across the Atlantic.
The Story: Edith Wharton's unfinished novel, The Buccaneers takes place within these historical times, and portrays the hazards that develop when socially driven families manipulate and connive young minds through the use of duty, honor, title and wealth.
This BBC production is splendidly done, with grand costumes of the day, beautiful locations, and strong performances by the cast. One slight drawback is that several key characters seem to simply fade away within the story, so that the emotional investment is oddly lost and dismissed for three of the four girls halfway through the series.
The ending developed from Wharton's notes is satisfying, at the same time that it is unsettling. For true to the time, women's choices were difficult, and often crushing. Surprisingly, you may find that you'll think on this story long afterwards. -
pontmarie11 April 2000The miniseries really belongs to Carla Gugino (Nan) whose story we follow and who grown from childish dreamer to a woman who can weigh the consequences of her actions. Mira Sorvino's accent is impeccable, and both Alison Elliot and Rya Kihlstedt are great. The tale of four American heiresses who trade themselves for a place in English society is bittersweet, but has the most upbeat ending of all of Wharton's works. Don't miss it.
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crazy_smilers27 June 2016Overall I felt rather bored. I did not care for any of the characters. I had read it was to get better as you go but I did not overly feel it. Sure there was some interesting aspects but I believe if I had cared more for the characters perhaps then the situations would have effected me more. Though I have not read the book myself, I am certain that those who had read the novel should enjoy the show better being that they should have much more insight into the characters. Although they may not actually like the show if it does not accurately portray the novel. All in all it may just depend on your taste. It was much too bland for me.
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bjrw21 August 2006This movie, The Buccaneers, is one of my all-time favorite movies ever! I love everything about it. The lush, beautiful English homes and countryside. The amazing characters and awesome acting. The authenticity of the period (everything from costumes, hairstyles, sets, etc. - wonderful). The score is so beautiful. I could watch this movie over and over and over and love it each and every time.
The plot moves at just the right pace throughout the entire movie. Never too slow or dragging - but not to fast either - allows you to absorb the richness and beauty of the aristocratic homes (oh, they are so amazing!) and all that surrounds the story. I found myself totally drawn in to these characters in a way I rarely have in any other movie.
Do yourself a favor and watch this enchanting movie! -
philmphile-111 August 2012I read THE BUCCANEERS first and found this production irritating: no Kentucky Derby race, for one; Greg Wise has political dialogue nowhere in the book; and, to refrain from spoiling anything, I'll just say the depiction of the Julius character completely jars with my perception. I wrote a literary analysis of Wharton's work while in grad school and, sadly, I've yet to see a film or television production that does much justice to her. My least favorite book, ETHAN FROME, at least had Liam Neesom as the title character in the adaptation. In the great novel THE HOUSE OF MIRTH, truly an American masterpiece, paragraphs weave with wit and irony. In the disappointing film, parts were greatly miscast. As soon as I heard who was playing Selden, I knew disappointment lay ahead. (I usually like Eric Stoltz, too.) And since when is Bertha more attractive than Lily? (Well, when Laura Linney is in one role and Gillian Armstrong the other.) So many possibilities, so many erroneous turns, but still the film surpassed the tacky American Playhouse version. Unfortunately, THE AGE OF INNOCENCE miscast the lead character, a bland milquetoast, with Daniel Day-Lewis, a man who always seems seething with desire. The whole point is that the guy never felt passion until meeting the Countess, and she's not beautiful! She has an earthy sensuality; Wharton understood about pheromones before the science. Once I found a book-on-tape called THE BRIDGE, a superb Wharton-on-film candidate.
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teri_213 May 2002I paid almost 40 buckaroos for this PBS/BBC collaboration...and it was worth every red cent. What a treat...what a wonderful story...what amazing characters...and what a fantastic cast! Mira, Carla, James Frain, and Greg Wise are absolutely AWESOME. I love them all for making this mini such a delight. It's absorbing to the point that I was glued to my TV set till the very end. Mira's character (Conchita) is full of fire and has an amazingly kind heart...and her Brazilian accent is perfect. Carla wins your heart as the head-strong, and independent Nan (Annabelle). Greg Wise is great as the romantic and determined Guy Twaite. But, the best--to me--is James Frain's Julius, Duke of Trevenick. Julius is one of the most complex characters I've seen on a small or large screen in a very long time. He's a young man who feels immense love but is unable to express it adequately...and when frustrated by his emotions or by his young wife (Nan), he is prone to abusive behavior...that he later regrets. He is a product and victim of his times...a prisoner of his title and what is expected of him as a Duke. Carla's and James' chemistry was so wonderful that some how you hope they will be able to work things out in their difficult marriage. You see all the missed opportunities on the part of both Nan and Julius...opportunities that probably would have made their union a success. So, it's sad and rather tragic to see it all fall apart, when it really didn't have to. But, Julius and Nan are both VERY young...and ill equiped to overcome outside influences, or to fully realize the duties of their positions as Duke and Duchess of Trevenick. Julius is guilty of bad actions and heartless decisions, yet, at the same time, he is capable of sincere kindness and gentle-ness. He is a man torn between the past and it's restraints upon him and the present with it's promise of love and happiness if he would but only allow himself to feel and express it. Julius Trevenick is someone you love and hate at the same time.
All the characters are well drawn. All the cast is first-rate..and the story is extremely compelling. I believe Edith Wharton would be very proud. -
Seez, you seem to be very confused.
Edith Wharton and Jane Austen are two totally different authors. They both were women and both wrote socially-oriented novels, but that's about all they have in common.
Jane Austen was English. She lived from 1775 to 1817 and published only six books, two posthumously. The major theme of her books is genteel but impoverished young women trying to make advantageous marriages. She had nothing whatsoever to do with the story of The Buccaneers; she died 120 years before the book was written.
Edith Wharton was an American. A member of New York's old Society, she was born Edith Jones in 1862. She was married at age 23 to Teddy Wharton, a socially acceptable young man, but the union was not happy. She published her first book in 1900 and soon moved to France when she began to experience commercial success. She would spend much of the rest of her life in Europe, divorcing Teddy when he threatened to spend all her money, for as a best-selling author her income was large. Wharton's books center around the American social scene and the socially constricting expectations of that world; she usually portrays marriage as a sort of prison, as she herself experienced it. The Buccaneers (1937) was her last novel. She died before it was finished, but left an outline; it has actually been finished by several authors in several different versions based upon her notes.
And finally, it is not set in "the Regency period of English history" (that term refers specifically to the years 1811-1820). It is set in the 1870s. -
historicalevidence27 December 2006(Disclaimer: Please forgive all abusive language that puts to shame the English language and culture.)
Reasons for Watching...or not:
1) Wharton {an American} wrote in the Victorian era (ended roughly in 1901). A totally different era, mind you, than the Georgian era (the era that Jane Austen }a Briton} wrote in). However, between the Georgian era and Victorian era one thing remained constant: women's rights (namely, they didn't have any). No property, no money, no suffrage...tough love, kid. It was the era of "repressment". If you enjoy seeing four American kids fighting their way out of the noose of Victorian restraint (for example, to say "leg" in society was shameful, shame shame-- "limb" is preferred), you'll love the movie.
2) You could choke on the melodrama in this movie, it's so thick. However painful, if you have ever read or watched Tess of the D'Ubervilles, then you are fully prepared for the Buccaneers. Tess of the D'Ubervilles makes "melodrama" look like a fruitcake. If you liked Tess of the D'Ubervilles, you might be disappointed in the movie, it hasn't got quite as much angst and drama as Tess. Then again, this could be a nice break from Tess. Point? Love melodrama = love this movie.
3) The costumes are always just fun to watch.
4) James Frain is amazing as Julius (Duke of Trevenick). Both Julius and Nan are two young and very innocent characters who are trying to fit into the mold that society gives them. I absolutely love Julius, he is just a sweet character. Although somewhat of a antagonist, I thought he was portrayed more as a victim. Julius' foibles are 1) his minor obsession with clocks and 2) his failure to communicate (although Nan suffers the same foibles...minus the clocks). Despite both Nan's and Julius' foibles, I had hoped that they would mend all wrongs and tug in a spur-of-the-moment Austen ending. I'd watch the movie for the part of Julius alone. Guy Twaite is a prick. xD -
Jane Austen writes long (and sometimes boring) novels of the social mores of another time . . . if you don't like period pieces that dwell on how society worked way back then, and it's effect on interpersonal relationships, you're probably NOT going to like most adaptations of Jane Austen's work. I, personally, LIKE Jane Austen's work, and most adaptations of it, tho I'd be the first to admit I have NOT seen them all.
Some I'd highly recommend The Age of Innocence (1993), Ethan Frome (1993), Sense and Sensibility (1995), Mansfield Park (1999), The House of Mirth (2000) and Pride and Prejudice (both the 1980 and 1995 versions), I even liked the Gurinder Chadha's Indian version, Bride and Prejudice (2004), tho I did NOT like the 1940 version with Greer Garson and to be honest, I didn't much care for The Reef, aka Passion's Way, (1999) in spite of liking many of the actor other works.
I would recommend this mini-series. It had almost all of Austen's great characterization, brought to life by quite a talented list of actors. Absolutely gorgeous cinematography with beautiful shots of England. And a depressing, if realistic view of life in the Regency period of English history.
One interesting fact I found was that "The Buccaneers" was Edith Wharton's last novel, and she never finished writing it. It was finished (and published) by another author.
All in all, I think that this was a splendid adaption of The Buccaneers. -
Steph-173 December 1998I love this movie...I've not read the book, so I can make no comparison...the movie was well cast and well worth watching..I was glued to the TV set.