Tipping the Velvet : The Complete BBC Series [2002]

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Screenwriter Andrew Davies describes Tipping the Velvet, his adaptation of Sarah Waters's acclaimed novel of lesbian love, betrayal and redemption in Victorian England, as "Pride and Prejudice with dirty bits". This three-part BBC production chronicles with relish the story of Nan Astley (Rachael Stirling, the ravishing image of her mother, Diana Rigg), barely 18, and certain that life holds more for her than her oyster girl's existence. "You'll meet someone who'll have your head spinning and your legs turning to jelly", her sister promises. That someone surprisingly turns out to be "gay and bold" Kitty Butler (Keeley Hawes), a music-hall entertainer with whom Nan falls instantly, and swooningly, in love. Nan follows her to London, where, as a double act, they become the toast of London, until Kitty's "marriage of convenience" breaks up the act and Nan's heart. The outcast Nan, decked out in Victor/Victoria duds, becomes a streetwalker, and then "tart" to the aptly named Diana Leatherby (Anna Chancellor). This affair, too, comes to "a bad end" as a destitute Nan is deposited back on the streets, where she insinuates herself into the lives of Florence (Jodhi May), a social worker, and her socialist brother.

Is Nan "too spoiled and stained for love"? Will she risk her blossoming relationship with Florence when Kitty inevitably returns to rekindle their affair? Nan's couplings, while tastefully done, do carry what Waters calls "a queer erotic charge". They are graphic by BBC standards. But the sterling writing and performances will captivate even the most sensitive viewers, making this groundbreaking mini-series, to quote one character, "a delightful evening... a rare treat". --Donald Liebenson

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Customer reviews

review by: Maya date: 2008-05-10 rating:
i first watched it on TV
When it aired in my country in the summer of 2002 and i loved it. it was one of the best mini series i have ever watched. i don't know if it was the subject, gay romance in 19 century England, but this is to this day still in my top 5 of most see mini series.
the plot, the script, the character and the acting are amazing. you can tell it is BBC made due to it's quality.
i highly recommend it and If you don't want to buy try and rent it from somewhere I promise it be worth it.

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review by: date: 2008-03-07 rating:
Vapid and Shallow
This is tv at its worst! A vapid story with shallow characters, I can only imagine that it was designed as titillation for the unsophisticated. And, by the way, isn't the story stolen from a Penthouse comic circa 1972? Shame on you BBC.

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review by: carole_bristol date: 2008-02-11 rating:
A brilliant adaptation
Sarah Waters is one of my favourite novelists and "Tipping the Velvet" was the first of her books I read. I love the book and I have to admit that I was both excited by the idea of the TV adaptation but also worried that it might be done in a sensationalist way.

I was wrong. The adaptation was pretty good and I was glued to the TV when it was first shown. Rachael Stirling is brilliant as Nan and the rest of the cast are good too. Nan's affair with Florence is handled so well and with great sensitivity, it is really touching to see it and it made me cry. I must also mention Anna Chancellor too. She is perfectly cast as the imperious Diana Leatherby.

This DVD is an essential for any collection in my opinion, not only for those of us with a personal interest in the subject but also for anyone who likes period drama away from the "crinolines and bonnets" genre.

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review by: date: 2007-08-06 rating:
Bland Velvet
It is difficult to have compassion with Nan, she seems to be portrayed as either very naive or very calculating; a clingy and creepy woman who skips from one lover to the next pinning all her hopes and dreams on her. So I wasn't really routing for her success.

There seems to be a lot of padding out with previous footage of flashbacks. The music is hauntingly creepy and soppy all topped off with Nans droning monotone narration. It is also a little patronising as it is predictable and has this underlined with flashbacks and slow motion. Had these elements been taken out it would have taken up the pace a notch and could have been condensed into a couple of hours, however I did watch all three episodes back to back, which is not the idea of a running drama.

I'm not sure who this programme is aimed at. It is a mushy romantic novel for the screen with lesbian sex scenes; this would alienate a lot of viewers whilst some views would find it not passionate enough. On a positive I really enjoyed the historical side of old London and the insight into the attitudes and living at that time but while it would whittle away the hours on a winters night, I was disappointed with it on the whole.


review by: MR , M , W , BERNS,,,,, date: 2007-07-15 rating:
The B.B.C at It`s Best
A SENSITIVE & PASSIONATE PORTRAYAL OF A YOUNG LADY`S LIFE.LIVING IN A SMALL SEASIDE TOWN BUT WANTING MORE,(IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE)IT FOLLOWS HER GROWTH INTO WOMANHOOD.WITH SUPERB PHOTOGRAPHY AND DIRECTION YOU WOULD ONLY EXPECT FROM THE BBC.`RACHAEL STIRLING`(DAUGHTER OF DIANA RIGG) PLAYS NAN ASTLEY WHO GOES OFF IN SEARCH TO FIND BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS IN THE BRIGHT LIGHTS.THE FULL THREE EPISODES ARE INCLUDED. 180 MINUTES OF PURE PERFECTION.THE MUSIC, THE SETTINGS, THE COSTUMES,THE ACTING I COULD GO ON FOR EVER.YOUR`LL FIND YOURSELF WATCHING THIS D.V.D OVER & OVER AGAIN,AND FINDING NEW THINGS IN IT EACH TIME.THE EXTRA FEATURES ON THE D.V.D ARE INTERVIEWS AND AN EXTENSIVE PHOTO GALLERY. A TRUE MASTERPIECE.IT`S THE B.B.C AT IT`S BEST.

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