jennylafleur | on the subject of costume flicks

I feel bad - I've been so on the go this week I have not been commenting on your posts lately. Do forgive me, I'll try to play catch up soon...

I just finished watching the BBC North & South - oh wow! I totally should not have spent my evening watching tv but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in one of England's cotton mill cities of the 1850s it was interesting to see the industrial revolution in the UK (compared to the reading and traveling I've done on the US version). I even started to think I might need an 1850s frock one day, something I've sworn i would never want. I'm sorry it took me so long to see this now as I foresee it becoming a favorite. If you loved the 1995 A&E Pride and Prejudice make it a point to watch North & South, you'll love it too! (yes B this means you!)

I finally got around to watching The Buccaneers the other day too. There was some pretty heavy bustle-frock drooling involved but overall I hated it. I don't enjoy stories that center around unhappy marriages, adultery, VDs and other sorted plot lines. Why to most Victorian novels/dramas have to be so depressing? Anyway, lovely to watch but not one I'll be renting again in the future (except to watch a particular frock perhaps).

Oh for those acquainted with but not friended with my sis

cracked_code - let the celebrating begin!!!!!

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North and South is one one of my most favorite costume flicks ever!!! That and Jane Eyre are what pulled me into mid 19th century clothing. (I said I would never make it either.)
And yay for your sister! That is very good news indeed!

Well I can understand the pull. I felt it myself. Luckly I have 50 more projects than I can finish this year already. I think I'm safe... for now! :>

Thanks! We are all so proud! (and relived)

Man I love North and South so much! It's one of my favorite costume movies ever.

I totally agree with you on Buccaneers! I didn't even watch the second half because I disliked the storyline so much. Edith Wharton really knew how to address subjects that make me squirm...

I'm almost ashamed to admit I did watch the whole thing. It was a bit of a trian wreck at the end. *sigh* N&S has made me hope again for better in 19th century plots though!

I have heard so many rave reviews about North and South I just don't know why I haven't watched it yet, I will be definately putting it on the top of the list.

And I agree with you about the Buccaneers, the ABC here showed it not long after P&P and I watched it with enthusiasm (plus I also love Age of Innocence), but it was shorted lived. Loved the costuming (so georgous) but the story line I didn't like esp towards the end. I have read the book, Edith Wharton died before it was finished however it was completed by Marion Mainwaring and very differently from the miniseries (from what I can remember as it was quite a while ago). I guess the script writers wanted their own ending - quite '20th C' I thought.

Yes do watch it - it's well worth the effort. Yes that is my understanding of the screenplay vs. book as well. Makes me want to read the orginial now...

I seem to be the opposite of everyone on The Buccaneers. I liked the story, but think it's possibly the worst costumed movie ever made. If I ever feel the need to feel good about my costuming because it's not going well, it's definitely the movie to watch! What can I say though, I like depressing Victorian stuff :)

North and South though? All around excellence :)

Well no one ever said you weren't weird dear Katherine. *hee hee* To be honest I thought the majority of the costuming was so-so but what I liked, I REALLY liked. The hair was fun too but I have a soft spot for long ringlets. :>

As a bustle/Victorian newbie, what specifically did you not like or think not well done?

I wrote a post about how much it annoyed me. I wonder if I could find it?

Anyway, one thing is in general I'm not a square neckline fan, and every dress seemed to have one. Also, nothing fit. And weird fabrics. And no chemises (although not unique to this movie, I felt a lot of the dresses suffered for it). Corset covers would've improved a lot too. Overall, there were just a lot of things that were for some reason off.

I appear to have two posts, not that I say as much as I remember saying. But since I found them :)

http://koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com/435159.html

http://koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com/435511.html

So yeah, basically an "offness" :)

I loved North and South, something so sweet and genuine about the characters and the end was just so wonderfully romantic.

I admit I own the buccaneers but I have to say I'm mostly fast forwarding thru to the good costume scenes. Nan's storyline in particular is soooo depresssing. Too bad they couldn't concentrate on Lizzy who not only has some of the nicest frocks but has a happy marriage!

Dittos. I adored Lizzie's black and white stripe (or was it navy blue). Stripes and bustles are such a wonderful combination! :>

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