Totally engrossing series. Excellent cast, with a young Tom Conti particularly outstanding. Many mini-series have since come and gone, but very few match it in quality or in hauntingly evoking an era. A masterpiece.
13 Reviews
Intriguing drama for gown ups
ferdinand19323 January 2012
Having watched this through on three occasions, at various times of life and separated by many years, The Glittering Prize does not become stale. It is a rich and fulfilling drama, with humor and the disappointment of maturing lives. It does some things very well and returns to them over the span of the years covered in the series: Jewishness after the Holocaust, living and true life being two stand out themes.
But there are also aspects that pall: for instance, it is too discursive at times, the scenes drag on too long as if the point of discussion had already been covered well enough but the flying jests and insults of the dialog are too great to edit. The other thing is that the chief protagonist (Adam) is allowed too much time to show off, to use word play and therefore to inhibit the action around him. For this reason the first play is the best, in balance and through action. The last play is weak as Adam is allowed too much time, too many Groucho moments and everyone else, his wife included – is an acolyte.
If an editor had insisted on changes it might have rectified these gnawing problems. It may also that almost 40 years later we are impatient for the flow of drama to move on once things have been done. In any case it is a weakness and the wish to hit fast forward is difficult to stop.
A greater and deeper weakness is the writing of the women characters and of women in general. This is a masculine view of life and of the heroes through life: the women are supporters, adjuncts, mistresses, and sometimes difficult burdens. But they are not well developed on their own. But again that may be an aspect of life that has changed much since the series was made.
All in all it is engaging and witty but have new batteries in the remote to speed past the sluggish sections.
But there are also aspects that pall: for instance, it is too discursive at times, the scenes drag on too long as if the point of discussion had already been covered well enough but the flying jests and insults of the dialog are too great to edit. The other thing is that the chief protagonist (Adam) is allowed too much time to show off, to use word play and therefore to inhibit the action around him. For this reason the first play is the best, in balance and through action. The last play is weak as Adam is allowed too much time, too many Groucho moments and everyone else, his wife included – is an acolyte.
If an editor had insisted on changes it might have rectified these gnawing problems. It may also that almost 40 years later we are impatient for the flow of drama to move on once things have been done. In any case it is a weakness and the wish to hit fast forward is difficult to stop.
A greater and deeper weakness is the writing of the women characters and of women in general. This is a masculine view of life and of the heroes through life: the women are supporters, adjuncts, mistresses, and sometimes difficult burdens. But they are not well developed on their own. But again that may be an aspect of life that has changed much since the series was made.
All in all it is engaging and witty but have new batteries in the remote to speed past the sluggish sections.
Period piece, lives of Cambridge University graduates
ynewman311 January 2011
I found it interesting; particularly as in the 70s when it was made, the Women's movement was just gaining momentum yet the women feature as full participants facing the choices women had to make - career vs marriage, abortion, being sexually active, wanting an active life wanting a quiet life and working. The gowns were compulsory in Cambridge for undergraduates living in digs. My parents ran a University boarding house and the young men in our house wore the gowns constantly and needed to get them laundered and ironed and so on. The discussions about religion and politics then as now were full bodied and challenging. One of our students listened to recordings of Hitler for his degree in History, the students argued fiercely about social class and politics and helped me with my homework.
Absolutely brilliant - need this on DVD!
shezan19 December 2006
This series was the kind of thing that made TV worth it a quarter century ago. Written by the English novelist Frederick Raphael from his book, it was more than a little autobiographic, and carried the flavour of the 50s and 60s, while avoiding many of the clichés this period evokes.
The TV series was Intelligent, wry, literate, subtle, with brilliant acting.
In post-war England, it followed a group of students at Cambridge, with their hopes, affairs, confrontations with life, and, later, disillusionments and achievements. It's impossible to explain how truly intelligent the writing is; this has to be experienced.
We NEED it on DVD!
The TV series was Intelligent, wry, literate, subtle, with brilliant acting.
In post-war England, it followed a group of students at Cambridge, with their hopes, affairs, confrontations with life, and, later, disillusionments and achievements. It's impossible to explain how truly intelligent the writing is; this has to be experienced.
We NEED it on DVD!
Another Enthusiastic Vote for DVD release!
tonstant viewer23 April 2008
None of the British mini-series that found their way across the Atlantic stand as a greater achievement than "The Glittering Prizes." Not "I: Claudius," not "Brideshead Revisited," none of them.
Frederic Raphael's script strikes just the right combination of warmth and acidity with a note of genuineness that we don't always associate with this writer. The performances are uniformly apt. Many of the young cast would go on to solid careers, yet few of them would ever give greater performances than they do here.
Undoubtedly the TV technology of the period may appear quaint, but that certainly hasn't held back "I, Claudius." I have seen this series again since the first American run in 1977, so I'm not relying only on dim memory. The writing and acting still hold up.
So many of these mini-series are really second-rate, sometimes dreary, but that's what average means, average. "The Glittering Prizes" is among a handful of really great pieces of television, and we are waiting impatiently for the BBC to complete excavation of the archives and place this wondrous series before a new generation of viewers.
Frederic Raphael's script strikes just the right combination of warmth and acidity with a note of genuineness that we don't always associate with this writer. The performances are uniformly apt. Many of the young cast would go on to solid careers, yet few of them would ever give greater performances than they do here.
Undoubtedly the TV technology of the period may appear quaint, but that certainly hasn't held back "I, Claudius." I have seen this series again since the first American run in 1977, so I'm not relying only on dim memory. The writing and acting still hold up.
So many of these mini-series are really second-rate, sometimes dreary, but that's what average means, average. "The Glittering Prizes" is among a handful of really great pieces of television, and we are waiting impatiently for the BBC to complete excavation of the archives and place this wondrous series before a new generation of viewers.
Why can't I buy this!!!
Dash-46 May 2002
This series, which ran on PBS in the '70s, was written by award-winning screenwriter and novelist Frederic Raphael. It follows a group of Cambridge students from the 50's through to the 70's. Several of them are thinly-disguised versions of their real-life counterparts. For example, Tom Conti plays Adam Morris, an aspiring Jewish novelist (presumably Raphael himself) and Mark Wing-Davey (of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy) plays Mike Clode (obviously David Frost.) A wonderful analysis of life in England from the post-war period through to the Swinging '70s. Shamefully, this series has never been released on video.
One of the best
emuir-115 October 2007
One would think that the BBC and ITV would be out to milk every last penny from the great TV programmes of the past. The Glittering Prizes ranked along with such greats as I Claudius, Fall of Eagles and Days of Hope. I doubt that the tapes have been lost or discarded. If the BBC could produce the old blotchy 50's recording of George Orwell's 1984 for its anniversary, they have got this one tucked away in their vaults.
The plot reminded me of the Up series, where a group of children are visited every 7 years to examine how they are faring in life. The Glittering Prizes was a work of fiction, but obviously based on real life characters who attended Cambridge in the 1950's and went on to careers, some successful, some not. I will never forget the scene with Tom Conti in his cheap rooms, with "Oh Mein Papa" playing on the radio, or the young boy when asked what kind of car the family had, replied that they had feet. The evocation of the 50's and 60's brought back so many memories. The script was sparkling, the acting superb and the concept predated all the ensemble films and reality shows.
TV has really gone downhill since programmes like this were made. We may have more channels, but the result in mediocrity. Best of all, they were able to get the message across without resorting to gutter language. Like others, I would like to see this on DVD.
The plot reminded me of the Up series, where a group of children are visited every 7 years to examine how they are faring in life. The Glittering Prizes was a work of fiction, but obviously based on real life characters who attended Cambridge in the 1950's and went on to careers, some successful, some not. I will never forget the scene with Tom Conti in his cheap rooms, with "Oh Mein Papa" playing on the radio, or the young boy when asked what kind of car the family had, replied that they had feet. The evocation of the 50's and 60's brought back so many memories. The script was sparkling, the acting superb and the concept predated all the ensemble films and reality shows.
TV has really gone downhill since programmes like this were made. We may have more channels, but the result in mediocrity. Best of all, they were able to get the message across without resorting to gutter language. Like others, I would like to see this on DVD.
Someone please release this series on DVD
dklbrooks15 April 2007
This must be the last of the quality BBC dramas yet to be released on DVD. I wonder what the problem is? Maybe the BBC has lost the original tapes - I hope not. Assuming that the tapes do exist still, I would expect the demand is enough now to justify its release on DVD. I would certainly be prepared to pay a premium to obtain it. It's one of those productions that do not date, but evokes the atmosphere of the 1950's to the 1970's as I remember living through it. Considering the number of excellent actors in the series you would think there would be a demand just to be able to see them as they were at the beginning of their careers. So come on BBC - at least let us know if we may hope!!!
Students confront realities of life after university.
pastark17 January 2000
It's a pity that this extraordinary piece of ensemble acting is currently unvavailable. It's a bittersweet piece, akin to Peter's Friends or The Big Chill, but more realistic (it's a set of scenes from lives, not a single short-term reunion). The acting is superb. Whoever has the rights: make this series available!
Terrific mini-series. But when are they going to release it on DVD?
asilver-1030 March 2007
One of the best British mini-series ever. I've been trying to buy this series on VHS or DVD for the longest time. It's not available. I'm hoping someone from the BBC will read this and get the ball rolling. The Glittering Prizes is not to be missed. Tom Conti is terrific, but then again, so is the entire cast. It's a wonderful ensemble piece. The screenplay was written by the incredibly witty Frederic Raphael, who adapted it from his novel. Raphael is known for "Darling" and a few other British films from the 60s and 70s. He also wrote most of "Eyes Wide Shut" before Kubrick re-wrote sections of it. The most recent film I've seen written by Raphael is "Coast To Coast" directed by Paul Mazursky and starring Judy Davis and Richard Dreyfuss. "Coast To Coast" was not released in theaters, only on cable. It's available on DVD and is very funny. The Glittering Prizes deserves its chance on DVD, too.
Two episodes dated and boring - the rest, great
alan_truelove30 July 2009
Don't bother to check epinions-they haven't heard of it. The Enoch Powell episode is dated, and as it turns out, fatuous (declaration of interest: some of us are erecting a statue with the epitaph: He was right); same goes for the Rebrick University episode. I recommend FF or eject on both (I haven't checked whether these episodes have any other plot in them..)
Adam seems overly concerned w. religion (maybe this follows Fred's life)-I was at Cambridge at that time & don't recall the slightest mention of the subject, other than mild criticism of the Billy Graham campaign.
Angela Down is so endearing in her 2 episodes that she really deserved star billing. The idea of a racing sculling boat at the Orchard is unthinkable. I don;'t remember seeing many Undergrad gowns (compulsory after dark) - maybe I missed them, or possibly they thought it would confuse American viewers..
Adam seems overly concerned w. religion (maybe this follows Fred's life)-I was at Cambridge at that time & don't recall the slightest mention of the subject, other than mild criticism of the Billy Graham campaign.
Angela Down is so endearing in her 2 episodes that she really deserved star billing. The idea of a racing sculling boat at the Orchard is unthinkable. I don;'t remember seeing many Undergrad gowns (compulsory after dark) - maybe I missed them, or possibly they thought it would confuse American viewers..
Clearly not perfect, but touched with a rare brilliance
rick_711 March 2011
The script's the star of this sprawling six-part series from Frederic Raphael: probing, caustic and matchlessly witty, particularly in the two most successful episodes, the Brideshead-esque 'An Early Life' and the frankly outlandish 'A Past Life', which features Eric Porter as a fascist sympathiser. The acting is variable (Tom Conti's bravura central performance is the obvious standout), the worldview sometimes unsavoury and the penultimate episode has passages that really drag, but it's a work touched with a rare brilliance and the dialogue is simply spectacular. I picked it up after hearing Nigel Havers (who has a small but memorable role) say it was the best script he'd ever read.
Talky drama of Cambridge graduates
didi-522 December 2009
Over six episodes, vaguely connected, we follow a group of Cambridge students from their time at university in the 1950s to resignation in the 1970s. The glittering prizes of the title might be the trappings of academia, or simply success, children, or a sense of self.
Nominal star is Tom Conti, as a character perhaps based on the writer Frederic Raphael himself, touchy about his religion but not really caring about the Jewish traditions, seeking success and glory but staring failure in the face - although he only really appears in episodes 1, 3, and 6. On the fringes are other actors like a very young Nigel Havers, as a gay man sent down for indecency; Mark Wing-Davey, as a narcissistic David Frost-type producer director seduced by the bright lights of Hollywood; Malcolm Stoddard, not marrying for love but fond of the quiet life, and in one episode only, Dinsdale Landen as a boozy, cynical flirt bored with his minor university and his ordinary unchallenging wife who he remains 'academically' faithful to.
Like most 1970s productions, scenes studio-bound have an air of fake about them, while filmed inserts are showing their age. And in the cast there's a surprise or two - look for Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp as a gangly schoolboy. The dialogue shows its age in places, too, but in the main it is good, though wordy.
Just don't expect a real storyline, or closure for the characters, and you might well enjoy this nine hour series.
Nominal star is Tom Conti, as a character perhaps based on the writer Frederic Raphael himself, touchy about his religion but not really caring about the Jewish traditions, seeking success and glory but staring failure in the face - although he only really appears in episodes 1, 3, and 6. On the fringes are other actors like a very young Nigel Havers, as a gay man sent down for indecency; Mark Wing-Davey, as a narcissistic David Frost-type producer director seduced by the bright lights of Hollywood; Malcolm Stoddard, not marrying for love but fond of the quiet life, and in one episode only, Dinsdale Landen as a boozy, cynical flirt bored with his minor university and his ordinary unchallenging wife who he remains 'academically' faithful to.
Like most 1970s productions, scenes studio-bound have an air of fake about them, while filmed inserts are showing their age. And in the cast there's a surprise or two - look for Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp as a gangly schoolboy. The dialogue shows its age in places, too, but in the main it is good, though wordy.
Just don't expect a real storyline, or closure for the characters, and you might well enjoy this nine hour series.
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