The House of Eliott: The Complete Collection [DVD]

A very interesting, well documented story but...it has no actual end. It looks as if another DVD or two are missing. Unexpected and disappointing.

The phrase 'they don't make em like this any more' is very over used, but I'm afriad is true in this case. Every episode, even though shot on video and sadly now looking flat and of poor quality, is like a mini-movie - beautiful and extensive costumes and sets all perfectly realised. The scope is quite astounding - you never see the same dress or location twice! Even Paris in 1924 complete with posters for the Olympics! The soundtrack (also available) is full of pithy jazz numbers and lovely melodies, again, the care that has gone in is fantastic. However, this attention to detail and style is not at the expense of the drama itself, it merely serves to draw you in to the House of Eliott and the 1920's world commpletely so the writing and acting can do their thing.They don't make em like this any more, becuase it seems to me that modern drama is afraid to ask you to care about flawed characters, and flawed they all are. Bea is passionate to the point of obsession - prickly, rude and difficult to be with. Jack can be selfish and demanding. Evie can be short sighted and self obsessed. But they are all wonderful none the less, you love them becuase they are real people. All the characters are brilliant, Tilly, Madge and Agnes the seamstresses, Lydia and Arthur in the first series and wonderufl, wonderful Penelope who is gone all too quickly but burns very brightly. Everyone even the guest stars are multi-layered, flawed, wonderful characters allowed time to grow slowly so you truly care about them. The relationship between Jack and Bea in particular is a tour de force, one of the very best depictions of love(and hate) you'll see, I promise you. Everyone plays their part as if their life depended on it and whilst yes, this can perhpas be argued to give the appearance of the characters taking themselves a little too seriously, why not? The passion on screen is infectious.The show has great heart too. It's an ode to the power of women, to passion, to fairness, to hard work and postivism, for social justice and the changing 20th Century. The themes at play go far, far beyond dresses. Underestimate the House of Eliott at your peril! *g*If there is a downside to becoming immersed in this series, it's the ending, or lack thereof. The third and final series transmitted appears to be missing two episodes and ends, at episode 10, abruptly with an 'end of episode' cliffhanger and with clearly more to tell. Charaters are left in limbo and this will frustrate you very, very much becuase you'll give a damn by Series 3, episode 10 and it's a bit of a tragedy for the series. So no, they don't make em like this any more, and in my humblest opinion, this is about as perfect as television can get, even with a non-ending.The boxset itself is nicely presented with a slipcase and cover art, but the menu's themselves are very simple and uninspiring and there are very few extras, which is a damn shame. Oh, for a cast interview! Still, it's amazing to have this seires complete on DVD so don't waste any more time...go and buy it! Buy it now!

My friend was so happy to receive this after wanting to watch it for an age x

So refreshingly unique. Absolutely loved watching the ambitions and rose of House Eliot. Wish they had made a 4th series.

I won't bother going over this 3 series journey because its been explained how each series progresses and the parts played by the main leading and support characters. But I will say this: for a three part 1920s era soap series it took until the third series to gather momentum by introducing more interesting story lines - not just for the two main characters but also the leading workroom character actors too. The two earlier series only revolved around the two main characters and their immediate associates and partners.The end of series 3 is abrupt and disappointing - with many 'threads' hanging loose. The last episode should have been that of an earlier episode: selling off the House of Eliott or passing the running of it over to in-house management so that both leading ladies could be free to enter a brand new 'collection' in their lives with their true loves: Bea + Jack, as he embarked on his political career with Bea and baba in tow; newly wed Evie accompanying Daniel to Paris to progress his art career and for her to stretch her design capabilities in Paris as she tried to do before. Other story lines were spoiled too regarding Agnus and Tilley and where their futures lay.Jean Marsh / Eileen Atkins are brilliant conceptual writers for early 20 century era drama serials, but I felt that HoE did not rank alongside Upstairs Downstairs. It was more lightweight with naff cliffhangers and it was too rushed in parts as well. Nevertheless, the casting was perfect and the acting superb and the 1920s costumes were wonderful to admire too.The scratchy violin-based signature tune was only made for occasionally listening. Fine if you're watching one episode every few days; but intensely annoying if you're watching many episodes over a short space of time. I had to fast forward to stop myself going mad. For concentrated viewing, the more familiar Upstairs Downstairs waltz is far easier on the ear.If you have a choice to buy either the original UD boxset or HoE boxset; buy the original UD without hesitation. This is a good addition; not a substitute.

I fell in love with this when Series 1 was shown on UKTV. Beatrice and Evangeline, two middle/upper class London sisters, are left in debt upon the death of their father. The expectation was that they would inherit a huge sum and live freely for the rest of their lives - answering to a financial "chaperone" of sorts as in the 1920's of course women were considered too stupid to take care of their own money. Unfortunately not so. They both have a talent for dressmaking and designing and Series 1-3 features their business, the House of Eliott, as it (and they) pass through trials of a personal nature as well as a financial one. Not going to ruin it for you - it is a fabulous series and you'll love every juicy piece to the very last episode, which leaves the story unfinished as good ol BBC decided to can a wonderful show yet again. I do wonder who the BBC chooses for target ratings families as I think they must all be twerps. So many great shows have gone down the drain for no given reason. Stars Stella Gonet as Beatrice and Louise Lombard as Evie and was released between 1991 and 1994.

We are currently just started season 3 and the series gets better and better as it goes on. Loved all the clothes and the grand houses. It is such a pity there are not more than 3 seasons.