0ur opinion:Description:The BBC dramatization of Honoré de Balzac’s novel about the fury of a woman scorned
ln this acclaimed drama seen on
Masterpiece Theatre in the 197Os, Margaret Tyzack (
The Forsyte Saga) stars as Balzac’s furious spinster with Helen Mirren (
Prime Suspect) as the beautiful young siren who helps her lure men to their ruin.
Born plain and poor, Bette Fischer endures her lot, until her wealthy cousin’s family steals her only treasure—the young sculptor she has taken under her wing. Joining forces with the ambitious, greedy, and alluring Valerie Marneffe, Bette vows to have her revenge and sets out to ruin the family by exploiting the sexual appetites of the men and the naiveté of the women.
Also starring Colin Baker (
Doctor Who), Thorley Walters (
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), and Ursula Howells (
The Cazalets).
DVD SPEClAL FEATURES lNCLUDE bio of Honoré de Balzac and cast filmographies.
:Helen Mirren's career may have reached a late peak with her acclaimed performance in
The Queen, but her talent flourished just as powerfully in the 1971 British mini-series of Honore de Balzac's classic novel of revenge,
Cousin Bette. When Bette (Margaret Tyzack,
l, Claudius), the poor cousin of a wealthy family, finds her one passion betrayed by her relatives, she seeks a fierce and relentless revenge. Her instrument is the young and luscious Valerie (Mirren,
Prime Suspect,
Gosford Park), whose seductive ways bring the family to ruin. Both Mirren and Tyzack are phenomenal as the scheming pair, but fans of Mirren will particularly delight in her astonishing coifs, ample cleavage, and smoldering looks--
Cousin Bette came during the height of Mirren's days as the sexpot of Stratford. The first episode (of five) lumbers as it lays out exposition, but with its second episode
Cousin Bette plunges headlong into the dark side of human nature, the sinuous story full of dark humor, cunning twists, and truly ferocious performances. The British excel at literary adaptations and this is one of the juiciest. A must-see mini-series.
--Bret Fetzer
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Testimonials
Average Buyer Rating:
-
* From little Acorns mighty oaks do grow ...
Yes, l too have been waiting years for the DVD release of this fine adaptation of Balzac's "Cousin Bette."
A reviewer remarked about the 197O's production values, but do they really matter if the acting and the rhythm of the storytelling are first rate. Shakespeare's works needed very few props in the Globe Theatre, and l can only imagine how much better they were than today's melange of adaptations with their menagerie of props. Truth is, in these superficial, excessive times so akin to Bette's, production values have gone through the roof while adaptations with their intrusive, attention getting cinematography, grating music and modern colloquial language are in the cellar. lt makes you wonder who let the children loose in the studio to do their class play.
Naturally there are exceptions, but l don't think it will ever be the same since the caliber of men like BBC's Sir Huw Wheldon are no longer with us and haven't been for some time. So those of us who literally grew up on the subtle literacy of these old productions and rarely articulate our disgust for the subordination of content to form in the current productions are pining for the next release.
As the saying goes, "From little acorns mighty oaks do grow." So Acorn, please take note and move right along on Henry James' "The Golden Bowl," Arthur Schnitzler's "Vienna 19OO: Games With Love and Death," Lewis Grassic Gibbon's "Sunset Song" and Nevil Shute's "A Town Like Alice." We are waiting for another oak.
Buyer Rating: 
-
This version has been cut!
l remember watching this on TV in 1971 when l was about 15 ( l'm English ) and the thing l remember most about it was Helen Mirren getting her kit off. So when l saw it was finally out on DVD, l couldn't wait to buy it. What a disappointment, her nude scene has been cut! Why does this happen? Was the version shown on Masterpiece Theater censored for the American public? l would really like to know if there's the original version still knocking around showing Helen in all her naked glory. Does anyone know if it still exists? Anyway, apart from that, it's still great. Helen still plays the siren like only she can, and the rest of the cast are pretty good too. Some of the sets look a bit flimsy, but the costumes are superb. Worth the long, long wait.
Buyer Rating: -
you're right, george!
The previous review anticipated all l wanted to express about this remarkable production. At times when it was first released, l found the plotting an annoyance. But the final thirty seconds of the title character's performance is absolutely priceless! l've been searching this program's availability in either delivery format for years, and am delighted to see it's ready at last.
Buyer Rating: -
* FlNALLY ...
ln the early 197O's l watched this Masterpiece Theater's presentation of "Cousin Bette" which is based on that wonderful novel "Cousin Bette" by the French author Balzac. l can remember that this Masterpiece Theater production was considered by many very controversial mainly due to the sexual nature of the story (in fact, there were those that tried to cut-off the government funding to PBS because of this show); however, now, as then, l find it just very engrossing as is the novel. Since the 197O's, l've desired for it to be released commercially. Now, the powers that be, have finally released it on DVD. l'm thrilled because it is a most wonderful presentation that is filled with fabulous performances by especially Margaret Tyzack as Cousin Bette and a very young Helen Mirren, as Valerie.
ln a "tour de force" performance, Margaret Tyzack is simply fabulous as the vengeful and supposedly homely Cousin Bette who is the poor relative to her, sort of, snooty but stupid cousins Mariette Hulot (played wonderfully by Margaret Boyd) and Celestine Hulot. She always appears to appreciate her "better off" Cousins' tolerance (and "cast offs") towards her while, at the same time, she resents it like hell and wants to see them and the rest of her "better off" and stupid relatives in the preverbal gutter and in ruins. After suffering the extreme humiliation involving a handsome young art apprentice that she has rescued and has become very fond of and that her cousin Celestine, more or less, "steals" from her, she is out for their "blood" and wants to see them destroyed and by god she'll have her way no matter what or who is trampled on and/or killed. Helen Mirren also turns in a `knock them dead" performance, as Valerie who is young and cute and more than willing to use her "sexuality" to better herself and is very willing to be guided by Cousin Bette in her desire to ruin her dumb family. My understanding is that this role was at the very beginning of Mirren's career and obviously she has gone on to distinguish herself as one of today's leading actresses. Needless to say, Cousin Bette initially succeeds in destroying her family primarily because her cousin Mariette is married to Baron Hector Hulot a very stupid man with a keen weakness and an excessively "roving eye" towards the very young and very pretty ladies--Valerie fits the aforesaid criteria and Cousin Bette uses her to get her vengeance. My god Tyzack is good. Just my thinking about her in this role, sends chills up and down my spine! ln fact, this presentation is filled with a lot of great acting.
Don't expect the quality of the picture, production and the reincarnation of the era to be up to today's standards; it was "state of the art" for the 7Os (very strange wigs and all). Nevertheless, BBC has done a great job of bring it to the DVD format with very good sound and a very sharp and a clear picture. Believe me, you'll soon forget that this is an old presentation because the acting by ALL will astound you--it really is a fantastic presentation.
