Be prepared to hate yourself
Added 11/14/2009
Be prepared to hate yourself for two reasons: if you watched all 13 episodes to their completion, there's the first reason. If you found yourself wishing ill on nearly every character, there's the second.
The first disc, 4 entire episodes, moved so sloooowly that it was painful. It's rare, however, that I give up on a series; I'll watch it to the bitter end and bitter it was indeed. The excruciatingly long closeups were maddening; I timed one at 15 seconds and counting. Paired w/the long silences it was just too much. No, not every second needs to be filled w/dialogue; there are times when silence speaks much more loudly but it felt as though none of the actors could remember their lines so the camera just panned from one to the other in hopes that someone would speak up.
The story itself was good although there wasn't a likable character in the bunch, most especially Lydia and Richardson. She was referred to several times in the series as the one who "made" the players turn against each other but, obviously, each already had that in them. Richardson was just as selfish as Lydia but in a different way; he whined and if that didn't work, he stalked off. Lydia would say "I shall hate you if you don't" do whatever she wanted you to do. Richardson's best friends, rich playboy Alex and clumsy farmer Tom shamelessly flirted with and later pursued Lydia in full view of Richardson, resulting in the deaths of both. I couldn't have cared less and found myself wishing that the same eventuality would come to Lydia and Richardson. So you can imagine the truly unlikability of the characters.
Lydia's uncle Rollo, an alcoholic parasite on the family's riches, was the insightful one in spite of it all. During Lydia's 21st birthday party, a fire broke out in the garage of the local mechanic, Blackie, who later became devoted to Lydia. When Lydia actually became annoyed about the fire, Rollo commented that it was because all the attention was taken away from her, that people stopped looking at her. One of the aunts even said something to the effect that the fire was damned inconsiderate of somebody. This should give you some idea of the self absorbed and narcissistic character of Lydia. She was disappointed and bored w/life and she was determined to squeeze every last drop of attention from everyone around her, a vampire at its worst. No one was spared.
Obviously, the acting was good enough to evoke such emotion in me and had they picked up the pace and not wasted so much time on closeups and dead silence, I might have rated this series w/more stars even though the ending made me want to tear my hair out. As it is, though, the series was painful to watch and it isn't one that I'll revisit. Ever.
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GREAT NOVELIST (Bates) STORY TURNED INTO A GREAT MASTERPIECE THEATRE
Added 1/25/2009
This "Love for Lydia", book turned film, is done as masterfully as H. E. Bates wrote the novel. Bates was a master at depicting life in the country and this film, all 13 episodes takes one on a pleasant trip through the countryside of England, with occasional jaunts into London. The scenery is beautiful.
H.E. Bates is also well known for "My Uncle Silas" and "The Darling Buds of May" which also have been converted to video versions. This indeed has become a Masterpiece Theatre classic.
Lydia is masterfully played by Mel Martin ("The Pallisers" & "Persuasion") giving such a performance that you can't quite decide if you love her or hate her. She seeks love, not found in her youth, after 2 decades. In the late 1920s, near her 21st birthday, she begins to become interested in men and love. She struggles with what it is to be and how it is to be shown. Her wealth seems of little consequence.
Young newspaperman, Edward Richardson (Christopher Blake)also a want-to-be writer, helps bashful Lydia, through the insistence of her aunts, get her skates wet and enter society of other young adults. He falls in love with Lydia, but will Lydia respond fully? Must it be unrequited love? Richardson's friend, Alex (Jeremy Irons also of "Brideshead Revisited"), rich and always drinking, encourages Edward. To a point!
Other friends join the trio and create a flapper-era dance group racing from one party to the next enjoyable outing. Till their worlds begin to crash, one at a time. In the end, who can survive the life-style and who will find love? There seems to be a lot of love and lovers to pass around.
Is it drama or romance? Is it historical or period? Perhaps all of the above. It is an enjoyable 650 minutes done in 13 episodes that will delight any British literature fan as well as those who have come to expect excellence from Masterpiece Theatre.
Captioning would have been nice, but is not completely necessary. Make sure you buy the complete set, you will want to see the total once you get episode one started. It's so nice having this on DVD and not being expected to wait a week between episodes.
I have read the book and watched the DVDs. I heartily recommend both.
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PBS Masterpiece Theatre Classic
Added 2/9/2008
The love of Lydia is the story of an heiress who grows up amid aristocratic society of the 1920s to 1930s England. Lydia is beautiful and lives life through a self-centered personality that makes men fall passionately in love with her while she simply toys with their emotions, not caring a bit for the pain and suffering she causes to others wherever she goes.
The story is filmed with the exquisite care of every detail that PBS Masterpiece Theatre provides. The development of the characters is so magnificent that we found ourselves discussing the exchanges that take place as Lydia demands that all men she meets cater to her wishes. Lydia is selfish, arrogant, and egotistical. Her ways bring up consequences that put an end to the life of one of her suitors and put her own health in jeopardy.
If you have teenagers around, this is a great series of episodes to watch and discuss to ensure personal growth and understanding of human nature, choice and the consequences of living life without a care for others.
We highly recommend purchasing the set and watching these episodes with your friends if you want the lively discussions that will make this a memorable experience.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Disappointing
Added 3/24/2007
I was hoping for something on a par with "Pride and Prejudice" or "Upstairs Downstairs"; this doesn't approach that. The production quality may be okay, but I don't consider the story itself to be worth the time.
2 out of 6 people found this helpful.
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Love for Lydia Revisited
Added 3/10/2007
My wife and I just finished watching the 13 episodes of one of our favorite Masterpiece Theater offerings as the DVD version. It has been nearly 30 years since it appeared on PBS, thus we saw it from a different perspective than our initial viewing. It was still a compelling experience, and particularly interesting to see the early performances by Jeremy Irons, Peter Davison, Christopher Blake and Mel Martin. We continue to associate them with the roles they played in this production. Rachel Kempson, Beatrix Lehman and Michael Aldridge were delightful in their roles as Lydia's aunts and uncle.
Like so many of the Masterpiece productions of that time, the actors and actresses in this presentation are so convincing that we felt like a flies-on-the-wall observing life in a small village in England in the 1920's. Also like other PBS Masterpiece productions of this period, the attention to detail with automobiles, costumes and settings is very impressive, but a subtle backdrop for the story.
We highly recommend this for any one who enjoyed the original TV version as well as for those who would be viewing it for the first time.
4 out of 4 people found this helpful.
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Still a classic
Added 8/30/2008
Saw it many years ago on Masterpiece Theatre and loved it. Still enjoy it! Must love all things British. Jeremy Irons was and still is a hottie!
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If you like Agatha and Jane Austen, don't waste your time here
Added 8/29/2007
One of the bad apples in British programming that I encounter sometimes when I buy something I haven't seen... like "Portrait of a Marriage" as one other example...
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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