Penmarric: The Complete Series [DVD]

I am awarding Penmarric 5 stars as it fulfilled all my expectations. It is a sprawling. epic family saga full of drama and intrigue. It spans over 50 years from the late 19th Century to the second World War. The story involves the wealthy and privileged Penmar dynasty and their Gothic mansion Penmarric, which towers imperiously on the rugged majestic coast of Cornwall. It follows the life of Mark Castellack, whose lifelong ambition is to inherit the estate and it's surrounding lands. We meet Jenna, the woman whom he loves as obsessively and passionately as Penmarric itself. This dvd set comprises four discs, each with three episodes. At over 600 minutes, it may appear overly long but the story is so interesting and enjoyable that I found it difficult to limit my viewing to just one episode per night. There is an excellent cast who bring all the various characters to life, which enhances the entire production. I would highly recommend Penmarric to anyone who enjoys a good family drama.

This was Howatch's first major novel and despite her later writings, Cashelmara and Wheel of Fortune etc, it still remains her best. Fans of Howatch will know that her trademark is the first-person narrator as well as having several different characters narrate. Her gift as a storyteller lies in the identifying with each narrator. Just as you feel disappointed that one character's narration has ended, you find that the next character's narration is just as good. Basically you can identify with several disparate characters with various motivations. Another trademark is the parallels between the lives of her characters and famous historical personages, specifically British royalty. To those who have yet to discover Susan Howatch, I envy you!

Penmarric is a family saga set in Cornwall. The filming is good for it's era. (Originally broadcast more than 30 years ago) The setting is atmospheric with beautiful views of Cornwall. This saga covers more than 60 years but regrettably the principal male characters were not aged in a way commensurate with their supposed age. The female characters were aged more by costume than by make-up. However , that said it is an enjoyable light drama which has many dramatic and sad as well as happy moments.

This was a compelling drama I could not have a break from the story for refreshments it was so good. The whole plot had me riveted to the seat wondering what could happen next a really good DVD for the forthcoming cold winter nights when the need to snuggle up under the blankets to relieve the oncoming chills reflects the need to switch on the TV/DVD Player and concentrate on a good storyline in order to relieve boredom!

I was so cross will this series I wanted to bin it many times. However it compelled me to sit and watch in right through, without pressing the fast forward button, that I so ached to do. The scenery was fantastic and the costumes correct to the era, leaving nothing but the acting to get the viewers through the hesitant and very dragged out adaptation of the story, into a script. To chop the end off just at that moment was ridiculous. It achieved nothing. It was like "Oh heck we have come to the end of the twelve episode and Im sick of writing, lets cut it there." Jan-Eves, just had to die, if only to complete the end to the appaulingly disfunctional Castallack family saga. To have him leave to fight in the war, while refusing to make a will, is just so fitting of the stupid family from go to woe. He was more like his father, Mark Castallack than any of the others. Dying with no will, would create such a predicament. Penmarric would go to his heir, but with his wife not pregnant, fittingly things would no doubt fall in line with father's will, and the estate would be passed to the ridiculously spoilt Jonas Castallack, Hugh's son, who would wreck it.

The Castallack family - many decades of its life up to World War Two. Dominant throughout is Penmarric, Cornish ancestral home so many seem keen to inherit - although little happiness awaits those who do. A drama covering three generations needs a firm hand. There is otherwise confusion as a family tree spreads its branches with inevitable changes of cast. Pacing is also important to ensure emphasis falls firmly on key characters and pivotal events. Unfortunately this production is fatally flawed. Throughout that pacing is wrong, never more so than in the creaky opening episodes. Then there is the casting of philandering Mark Castallack. The man should dominate, his self-centred actions the cause of so much anguish and turmoil. Sadly the actor has inadequate screen presence to make the role work. Mark dies in episode nine. No impact has been made, so no loss is felt. This simply is not as it should be. Similarly some of the other parts are filled by people too stage bound and actory to cause one to care what happens to them. The main reason to watch is Annabel Leventon as Janna, fisherman's daughter destined for so much hardship. She is a survivor -in due course to become the Castallacks' matriach, their rock, forever turned to by those in need. If only there were others one could feel for as much! Normally I relish television costume dramas, and have shelves full of them. Here is one of the rare disappointments. Far more is needed than one outstanding performance and glorious scenery.

Reading some of the reviews here I didn't think I would enjoy this saga as much as I did. The twists and turns in it keeps you interested and that leading man, his attitude towards women was an eye opener! Give it a chance if you don't get into at the first disc and stick with it. I went out and bought the book I was so impressed, and the series was word for word virtually with the book.

I expected a lot more from this series. I found the acting very wooden and the series limped along barely breaking into a sweat throughout the whole thing. The cover gives the impression of spectacular scenery - after all it is set in Cornwall - but apart from the odd episode I don't know where it was. It could have been filmed anywhere. It became an ordeal to watch it and my fingers itched to press the FF button on the remote but I knew that as soon as I did that, something exciting would happen - it always does - but sadly not in this case.