Tipping the Velvet : The Complete BBC Series [2002] [DVD] | ![Tipping the Velvet : The Complete BBC Series [2002] [DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JG93PNZXL._SL160_.jpg) | Director: Geoffrey Sax
Actors: Keeley Hawes, Bernice Stegers, Rachael Stirling, Anna Chancellor, Jodhi May
Studio: E1 Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: £5.99 (USD11.86)
Buy New: £2.75 (USD5.45)
as of 4/9/2010 01:52 PDT details
You Save: £3.24 (USD6.42) (54%)
New (29) Used (17) Collectible (1) from £2.09 (USD4.14)
Seller: MOO SALES
Rating:  34 reviews
Sales Rank: 1445
Format: Anamorphic, Colour, PAL, Widescreen
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region: 2
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 185 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6
UPC: 503030510117
EAN: 0503030510117
ASIN: B00007DL9J
Theatrical Release Date: 2002
Release Date: October 28, 2002
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
| |
| Similar Items:
| |
| 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
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 34
 Rachel Stirling Offers a Star Turn in a Good Victorian Lesbian Soap Opera August 17, 2010
L. E. Cantrell (Vancouver, British Columbia Canada)
One of the little things to which we must all accommodate ourselves is the endlessly exasperating nuisance of being forced to watch and listen to the BBC proclaiming its virtues and products at the beginning of each show it issues on disk. Endless repetition, it seems, finally drove home the notion that a mini-series called "Tipping the Velvet" might possibly be worth a look.
I looked.
And I was impressed.
"Tipping the Velvet" is a successful bit of soft-core lesbian pornography cast in the form of a soap opera set in Victorian times. To any who would deny or debate the validity of that description, I advise that you turn to the featured joint-interview with the (female) author of the original book and the (male) author of the screenplay. Those two are in no doubt whatsoever about the point.
The story of "Tipping the Velvet" focuses on a small town girl who becomes infatuated with a stage performer working in male drag. The girl, Nan, falls deeply in love with her stage idol, joining her in a male drag double act, and a different kind of double act in private, only to receive a harsh kick in the emotional teeth. The stunned Nan quits the act, hits rock bottom hard in various ways, unexpectedly finds herself a warm and comfortable birth as the gilded girl-toy of an older, wealthier woman, and then manages to blow that gig. Rock bottom again. Pondering life at the bottom of the heap, Nan backs up, seeks out a young woman to whom she had been attracted before, worms her way into that woman's household, and before you can say Bob's your uncle, she's a socialist-oriented, proto-suffragette, making a comeback on the London stage and about to give the hairy eyeball to an offered reconciliation with her first lover.
Soap opera of the soapiest sort, of course, but skillfully done.
If that were all, I'd stop at this point, give "Tipping the Velvet" four slightly weak stars and move on. I am glad to say, however, that there is something more, specifically Rachel Stirling as Nan. If ever a star turn were captured on a DVD, Ms. Stirling's Nan is it. Just consider those scenes in which she is supposed to be a popular stage performer: she really can't sing and she doesn't move especially well--but I can't imagine that anyone would care, because you can't take your eyes away from her. Now, that's a star!
Stirling looks great, whether her boyish form is wrapped in plain country clothes, male drag of sundry types, completely starkers, or ninety percent undressed with ... ahem, attachments.
When she is at bottom and busily engaged in the grungiest of pursuits, she somehow contrives to be both winsome and--dare I say it?--adorable.
All through the three episodes of the series, I found myself thinking that there was something oddly familiar about this performer who was otherwise unknown to me. I was sufficiently puzzled to look her up on the Net. She turned out to be the daughter of that delightful actress [aka "actor" for those among you of strong PC persuasion], Diana Rigg. Of course! The resemblance, once perceived, is obvious, down to body language and facial expressions. I would even go so far as to say that she is Emma Peel's daughter more than Diana Rigg's.
(While looking up Ms. Stirling on the Net, I stumbled across an article that stated that the "boyfriend"--their term--of Ms. Stirling at the time of "Tipping the Velvet" had broken up with her because he could not stand the lesbian associations from her role in the series. On the off-chance that there might be some truth in that report, I can only shake my head in dismay and say in the words of that great philosopher, B. Bunny, "What a maroon!")
"Tipping the Velvet" is a soap opera in which the heroine rises to the heights and falls to the depths with the regularity of a sine wave. It is also the vehicle for a fine piece of star acting. On the basis of the latter, it fully deserves five demimondaine stars.
 Great series, good DVD July 11, 2010
Denni Elizabeth
Great series, beautifully shot & peopled by a talented cast.
The quality of the DVD is good, the picture quality is very nice for a standard definition release, though the extras are fairly sparse, consisting of just a picture gallery & a short interview with the writers.
It would have been nice to have at least audio commentaries on each of the three episodes.
Maybe if they ever do a blu ray version, they can heap on the extra content.
Reliving my youth May 7, 2010
S. Davenport (Bournemouth GB)
When this series was first shown on tv I only managed to catch bits and have waited for it to be reshown but it never has,now I've seen it I'm glad I bought it.this is a great dvd a good story line hooks you in the first 10mins and reels you in right to the end.9
Grate movie for adults January 2, 2010
Ally Janeway (Mt Barker, SA, AUS)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you are into raunchyy period dramas this movie is for you. It is a movie ste in england depicting the life of young Nan Asley, the story begins when she is barley 18 working as an oyster girl in her fathers oyster palor. She attends a show at the palace of varieties and is mezmorized by Kitty Butler and her act where she dresses and acts as a man. She begins attending the show every night and soon is summoned to Kitty's dressing room where the relationship grows. Nan goes with Kitty to pursue the London stage and soon becomes part of the act.
 Doesn't even begin to compare to the book September 2, 2009
A. Mosley
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
If you are thinking about getting this because you loved the book then I would have to say don't bother. It's 'OK'- that's as far as I am prepared to go. The book- for me- was brilliant.
I really felt that there were times when the story and characters had changed too much for it to resemble the original and that was a true shame.
That said there were moments when I enjoyed it and if you haven't read the book- and have no intention of reading it- then knock yourself out! It's still a good story and fits cleverly- and dramatically- in to the 3 episodes.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 34
|
|
|
![FingerSmith : The Complete BBC Series [2005] [DVD]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0009AMA8G.01._AA75_PU_PU-5_.jpg)
![Affinity [DVD] [2008]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000XJF080.01._AA75_PU_PU-5_.jpg)
![Fanny Hill [BBC] [DVD] [2007]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00112GCBC.01._AA75_PU_PU-5_.jpg)
![Better Than Chocolate [1999] [DVD]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005UJAO.01._AA75_PU_PU-5_.jpg)
![Lost And Delirious [2008] [DVD] [2001]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B001E25MD8.01._AA75_PU_PU-5_.jpg)