Regency House Party
by Tim Carter
(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Chris Gorell Barnes, Elizabeth Devonport, Hayley Conick, Lisa Braund, Richard E. GrantDirector: Tim Carter
Brand: PBS
Producer: Caroline Ross-Pirie
Producer: Emma Willis
Producer: Helen Hawken
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Unknown
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 360 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-11-23
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: PBS (Direct)
DVD Reviews of Regency House Party
DVD Review: Give me a Jane Austen movie (any one!) over this painful series!
Summary: 3 Stars
I asked for this series for my birthday present because I'm a huge fan of works by Jane Austen and thought it would be a dream come true to take part in this experiment, so viewing it would be fun, too. But I was wrong. Perhaps it was enjoyable for the players, but it was totally disappointing for this viewer. I suppose I shouldn't have expected a bunch of modern folks, old or young, male or female, to be as witty as the great Miss Jane and her delightful band of fictional characters, but unfortunately I did. Hence the disappointment. I give it a three, but the only real joy in the series for me was watching the various period entertainments go on - like when Sir Jeremy takes the other participants through a mock Battle of Trafalgar on a pond. It was interesting to see how people spent their time back when there was no TV. But there were also few sparks, and little wit, so I'm back to watching "Persuasion" for the umpteenth time. SAVE YOUR MONEY. This provides none of what you're looking for, Austen fans! Final thought - I agree with another reviewer who panned this - too much time was spent on Victoria and her inability to decide between suitors. Should have been called the LIBRA house party. YUCH.DVD Review: Laugh-out-loud funny, best "reality TV" show I've ever seen
Summary: 5 Stars
I first watched part of Regency House Party on PBS (I think) over New Year's several years ago. It was pure luck that I came upon it again and was able to watch the whole series through Netflix.
It's certainly the best reality TV show I've ever seen. I know that's a dubious honor, but I usually hate reality TV. What's so refreshing about this miniseries is that there are no prizes for which the individuals are competing, and no silly challenges or eliminations. It works as an interesting study into the social dynamics of the past, because although the main participants are all thoroughly modern and not, for the most part, very excited about following the social mores of the Regency period, the conduct of the chaperones (who are meant to, and usually do, uphold the social structure of the period) and the house servants is enough to change the behavior of the main players.
I haven't seen any of the other "House" series, but I'm eager to, and I've watched this series more than once. I even purchased it as a gift for a family member a week or so ago.
While it might not suit everyone, I found it funny, interesting, and beautiful to watch.
DVD Review: missed opportunity
Summary: 3 Stars
Excellent for information on period detail and life in the Regency tidbits, marred by a boring cast who seemed unable to get into the spirit of things and kept comparing Regency life to the 21st century. Barring the Countess, few others seemed to want to play along with the game. Wish they'd chosen more interesting, intelligent, charismatic, creative and dramatic people who were knowledgeable about the time period, instead of merely good-looking ones.DVD Review: Could have been excellent with better editing and follow up
Summary: 4 Stars
I recently discovered the PBS House series and watched all of them. Regency House Party was very good compared to most drivel on television, but was only moderately entertaining for a House show. I agree with the earlier reviewer in that they focused much too much on the "romance" between the participants (which all seemed very forced and completely chemistry-free)and not enough on the period details. I also missed the preparations for the show that were so prominent in the 1900 house. And why on earth is there no follow-up on the participants and how they felt about the experience after returning to their modern life?
It was still a very enjoyable show, I really thought it was quite funny how the men embraced their lifestyle of leisure, and how bored out of their minds the women are. I would recommend particularly to anyone who enjoys Regency history.
DVD Review: Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Frankenstein all in one!
Summary: 5 Stars
If after watching the first few minutes of this series you find yourself having flashes of Pride and Prejudice, do not be alarmed. This era in time was very similar. Chaperones were in charge of young girls of marrying age; their job was to ensure a good financial match for their charges. This house recreates that time with four (and later five) girls and an equal amount of elligible bachelors for them to choose from. It is all about finding a suitable match while living under the code of the regency house days. Modesty is of the utmost importance here and status is everything. The guests include women with titles to men with the means to buy theirs all the way down to a hermit who lives on the grounds. The limits on the behavior of the couples might give the false impression that this series will be boring, but it is anything but. The slow dance is fascinating to see and educational as well.
Although it is obvious that a full re-encarnation of the regency period could not be put into effect because the guests are aware that they will return to their normal lives, it is interesting to see them coupling off anyway. The same rules of the 1810s do not apply to these relationships after the two months is over, so the women do not take status or the need to find a husband as seriously as they would if they did. However, the isolation of the day and the drastically different moral code does affect the matchmaking.
This series makes an excellent companion to Manor House. Both are set in England, though they are certainly a length of time apart, but this series focuses on the lives of the elite while Manor House delves into a life of servitude.
Unfortunately, the ending is somewhat abrupt and despite the six hour length of the series, it seems rather short. However, that is the mark of a quality program: leaving the viewer wanting more.
Description of Regency House Party
Does the rigid and confined world of the early nineteenth century have something to teach the young of today who are looking for love? Following the success of Manor House and Colonial House, Regency House Party gives 10 men and women - all genuinely looking for love - the chance to go back to the England of the early 1800s and live in the age of romance. The ten singles all spend nine weeks living together as they would have 200 years ago.House Party DVDs
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Bestsellers in House Party DVDs
The Little Miss Madison Etiquette Series Volume 1: Lets Have a Tea Party At My HouseRelease date: 2006-06-01; DVD
Best price: $81.00
House Party 3-PackRelease date: 2000-09-05; DVD
Best price: $17.74
Price in other shops:
House Party 1, 2 & 3 (3 Pack)DVD
Best price: $38.97
House Party 4 - Down to the LastWarner Brothers; Release date: 2004-06-01; DVD
Best price: $3.37
Price in other shops:
That's So Raven - Raven's House PartyDisney; Release date: 2005-12-06; DVD
Best price: $3.08
Price in other shops:
Regency House PartyPBS; Release date: 2004-11-23; DVD
Best price: $29.53
Price in other shops:
House Party 2NEW LINE HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2000-06-13; DVD
Best price: $1.79
Price in other shops:
House Party 3NEW LINE HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2000-06-13; DVD
Best price: $2.49
Price in other shops:
House Party Collection: 4 Film FavoritesWarner Brothers; Release date: 2009-09-29; DVD
Best price: $10.23
Price in other shops:
House PartyNEW LINE HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2000-06-06; DVD
Best price: $4.33
Price in other shops:
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
What Would Jane Austen Do?by Laurie Brown
Sourcebooks Casablanca; Published: 2009-05-05; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.16
Price in other shops:
Berkeley SquareRelease date: 2000-12-12; DVD
Best price: $25.42
Price in other shops:
Jane Austen's Guide to Good Manners: Compliments, Charades & Horrible Blundersby Josephine Ross, Henrietta Webb
Bloomsbury USA; Published: 2006-10-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.77
Price in other shops:
Texas Ranch HousePBS; Release date: 2006-06-13; DVD
Best price: $22.32
Price in other shops:
Regency House Party: Companion to the PBS Series (TV Tie in)by Lucy Jago
Little, Brown Book Group; Published: 2004-01-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.20
Price in other shops:
Colonial HousePBS; Release date: 2004-06-29; DVD
Best price: $29.52
Price in other shops:
1940s HousePBS; Release date: 2003-08-05; DVD
Best price: $19.64
Price in other shops:
The 1900 HousePBS; Release date: 2003-08-05; DVD
Best price: $19.41
Price in other shops:
Frontier HousePBS; Release date: 2002-07-02; DVD
Best price: $22.31
Price in other shops:
Manor HousePBS; Release date: 2003-05-27; DVD
Best price: $22.31
Price in other shops: