Under the Greenwood Tree [DVD]

I love adaptations of period dramas, especially those produced this side of the Atlantic. This one was 90odd minutes of enjoyment. Good casting, good acting and great location: not to mention the superb cinematography. I am just an ordinary person who wishes to be entertained. I am not a scholarly egghead who always seem to insist on the filmed adaptation sticking strictly to the book from whence it was born. I have no idea whether or not this film was accurately portrayed or not...does it matter? I get a little tired of reading, usually, screenfulls of critique from clearly well educated, well read individuals and good luck to them. But they are missing the point. These visual productions, mostly intended for social viewing are intended to be entertainment. If one wishes to study literature in depth go to the library! It beggars belief that there often exists a general opinion that a book, sometime hundreds of pages in length can be brought to the screen for a two hour or so depiction with all the associated production difficulties and costs that necessarily go with it. Let us all just be thankful that that book usually provides a skeleton to work on and the rest is left to talented people, in front of and behind the cameras who bring us such pleasure. This story is one of Thomas Hardy's ,shall we say, 'quieter' novels, but none the worse for that. There is no complex theme to follow, it is just a simple, straightforward love story. And one that we just know is going to turn out fine! It is all very enjoyable. The only thing that surprised me about this film is how little I know about Jersey C.I. where the filming took place. I had no idea the countryside was so idylic in such a small island. The film 'snow' was a little bit dodgy but who cares.

Beautifully filmed and the only screen adaptation of Thomas Hardy that I think is more substantial than the rather slight novel it portrays. Theme music too is very atmospheric. OK it's not Tess but what else is? Very enjoyable.

Have watched this many times. Fantastic reproduction of the novel. Very plausible. Love it!

I can understand the other reviewer's frustration and usually I am a terrible purist about adaptations of novels; but in this case, I'm afraid, it was necessary. I had not read the novel before seeing this adaptation and I must say that the writers extracted a charming love story from what is actually a very boring novel. Hardy clearly found the love story getting in the way of the point he wanted to make, which was his mourning for the loss of the rural and simple in the name of progress. The quire is doomed to fall before the harmonium, the reaper will fall before the threshing machine. But actually the love story is more interesting to a modern reader. [...] [...]

Apart from some lack of continuity - ie. Keely Hawes looks down from the window with her hair up, then chats to the vicar with it hanging down and then miraculously its up again in the next take. The trees still have all their leaves on when they are covered in snow tho and its a shame it wasnt filmed in England. I love it tho - wish it was longer - have bought the book but of course it is rather a tough read.

Keeley Hawes plays her role brilliantly (as she always does). Most of the other characters were also good. Unfortunately I found the rendition by James Murray not quite believable. He seemed to polished and clean-shaven. I also think he "tried too hard" to appear genuine. It was one of those too clean and tidy period dramas, where sets are just too pristine to be genuine. Not quite in the Sue Birtwistle league. That said, I will probably watch it again.

This adaptation of Hardy's novel about change in rural society needs to be watched on its own terms. Although the novel is not as tragic as many by this author, it is far more serious than this version suggests, because a great deal more of it is taken up with the fate of the gallery choir at the church, and the struggle against the vicar. In this adaptation that plot thread is reduced to something of a humorous sideshow, with Tony Haygarth being more amiable than perhaps he should be. The main focus is definitely on the romance element, with the new school mistress beset by three suitors. The balance between comedy and sentiment in this situation is well enough handled. Ms Hawes is of course a capable and attractive lead but she is perhaps too mature for the role and this turns her into a more independent figure than should be the case (for instance, you wonder why someone so evidently over 21 is asking her father's permission to marry). There is some good work among the smaller roles, eg Alethea Steven as the beautiful farm girl cast aside for Miss Fancy Day. Some reviewers have complained about the film being made on Jersey. This seems irrelevant to me; all that is needed is a convincingly pastoral setting, and this is provided. It is a good enough substitute for Dorset.

A joy to watch, despite those who have poo-pooed it - compering it with 'Far from the Maddening Crowd'. Under the Greenwood Tree is well made includes a variety of excellent actors, who portray a very pleasing and often humorous storyline.

Attention, pour anglicistes seulement car ce DVD n'est qu'en version anglaise (avec sous-titres en anglais si nécessaire). Il s'agit de l'adaptation du roman de Thomas Hardy que j'avais lu avec grand plaisir il y a quelques années. On y retrouve la description de la société contemporaine à l'auteur, ici concentrée dans un petit village où débarque une jeune et jolie institutrice, Fancy Day. Par sa grâce et son innocence, elle va tout de suite séduire trois hommes : Mr. Shiner, le squire ou du moins l'homme riche du village, un brave homme, somme toute, mais pas du tout séduisant, le pasteur, un homme rigide et froid et finalement le charmant Dick Dewey, un jeune homme dont la famille n'a pas le sou mais qui a les plus beaux yeux bleus de la terre, du moins dans ce film où il est interprété par James Murray, beau à tomber raide! Le père de Fancy veut qu'elle fasse "un beau mariage" et la pousse à accepter la proposition de Monsieur Shinner mais finalement Fancy, après bien des hésitations écoutera son coeur et fera fi des conventions sociales pour épouser le jeune Dick. C'est presque une comédie romantique classique, mais il y a ce "social background" qui rend l'histoire plus intéressante. Les acteurs sont bien choisis, et interprètent fort bien leur personnage, en particulier Ben Miles, le pasteur. Deux petits détails m'ont gênée cependant. Le père de Fancy vit et s'habille comme un miséreux qui vit dans la crasse, ce qui n'est pas vraiment cohérent avec le fait qu'il a réussi à faire faire des études à sa fille et les quelques scènes où l'on voit Fancy avec ses élèves font sourire car on n'a pas l'impression qu'elle leur apprenne grand chose. Mais ces petites réserves mises à part, ne boudez pas votre plaisir!

I stumbled across this delightful gem of a film recently: as everything I've ever read & seen of Hardy is quite tragic, I was expecting quite the same from this...boy, was I in for a surprise! This light-hearted romance comes from the usually gloom & doom Thomas Hardy pen: well-acted & filmed, this movie is a nice treat... When Fancy Day returns to Mellstock to care for her father & teach the local schoolchildren, she creates quite a stir: the townspeople don't quite know what to make of this educated girl & the parson's plans to replace their beloved choir with her playing of the "harmonia" (organ). Pretty soon the sweet & beautiful Fancy has attracted the eye of three men: a poor but handsome carrier, a rich but crass farmer and a gentlemanly but superior parson. Her father urges her to marry well, but Fancy wants to follow her heart: will true love win out in the end?! For those of you worried about content, it is kept to a few stolen kisses between an unmarried couple; there is also some time when a young man is in the river with his shirt off & he & a young lady steal a kiss. There is some mild carousing, as a few of the townsfolk show up to the church a bit tipsy on cider. I was quite impressed by this film: I kept waiting for the dark, depressing side of Hardy to come out & almost couldn't believe that the tone of the film seemed to be upbeat most of the time. Surprisingly, the film stayed on the happier side & ended quite nicely: I love Hardy's other stories, but it is quite refreshing to see that he was not always doom & gloom, and could pen such a sweet & spirited tale as this!! Highly recommended!

Kürzlich habe ich meine erste Bestellung über Amazon getätigt da ich "Under the Greenwood Tree" nirgends sonst finden konnte. Als Period Drama Fan war es aber ein MUSS mir diese DVD zu kaufen und ich muss sagen, die 22,95 Euro haben sich wirklich gelohnt! Zwar fand ich es ein wenig Schade das diese BBC Verfilmung nur eine Laufzeit von ca. 1,5 Stunden hat (Man erwartet von der BBC normalerweise Laufzeiten an die 3 Stunden und mehr...), doch dafür war die Verfilmung an sich wirklich gelungen soweit ich es beurteilen kann da ich den Roman von Thomas Hardy noch nicht gelesen habe. Ganz besonders hinreisend fand ich die Anfangssequenzen die die Ankunft Fancy's zur Weihnachtszeit und im tiefsten Winter zeigen. Wenn einem diese winterliche Landschaft nicht in eine äußerst romantische Stimmung versetzt dann weiß ich auch nicht...! Zur Handlung: Fancy Day, die neue Lehrerin der Dorfschule kommt am Weihnachtsabend im Dorf Melstock an. Sofort bezaubert Fancy durch ihr Aussehen und ihre gute Bildung. Vor allem der junge Fuhrmannssohn Dick Dewey verliebt sich auf den ersten Blick in die hübsche Fancy doch ist sein gesellschaftlicher Stand weit unter dem von Fancy Day. Dann gibt es da noch Reverend Maybold, der sich ebenfalls in Fancy verliebt und sie kurzerhand zum sonntäglichen Harmoniumspielen in der Gemeinde bringt. Dies wird allerdings zum Problem, da mit dem neuen Instrument der aus Männern bestehende Kirchenchor überflüssig wird... Der dritte im Bunde von Fancy's Verehrern ist der reiche Farmer Shinar, und so kommt es das sie am Ende drei Heiratsanträge von den drei besagten Männern bekommt und Fancy sich entscheiden muss, welchen sie unter dem Aspekt des gesellschaftlichen Standes und der Wahl ihres Herzens zu ihrem zukünftigen Ehemann nimmt... Und wieder hat die BBC mit viel Liebe zu den einzelnen Charakteren, der Kostüme und der schönen Landschaft etwas hinreisendes erschaffen! Keeley Hawes als Fancy Day ist eine sehr gute Besetzung und gleiches gilt vor allem für Dick Dewey Darsteller James Murray der bei mir einen Platz in den Top 10 der attraktivsten period drama men bekommen hat. Aber auch alle anderen Darsteller sind sehr gut ausgewählt. Was mir an dieser Verfilmung persönlich gut gefallen hat war die Mischung aus Romantik und Witz mit dem die Thematik "Fortschritt" in die Liebesgeschichte mit eingeflochten wurde. Die Musik ist ebenfalls gut gewählt und unterstreicht die jeweiligen Szenen des Films wunderbar! Anders als bei anderen Syncronisationen von KSM die in letzter Zeit so auf den Markt kamen, sind hier die Sprecher sehr sorgfältig ausgewählt worden. Danke für die Sorgfalt KSM! Ich bereue meinen Kauf nicht und kann diese Verfilmung jedem Liebhaber solcher Filme uneingeschränkt empfehlen!!

Good story with a happy ending!

Bel film, romantico, sensibile e in cui i personaggi e le storie si fondo o con il paesaggio e la natura e lo scorrere delle stagioni. La storia non prevede grossi colpi di scena, ma procede lineare e pulita giocando sulle sensazioni, i sentimenti, gli stati d'animo come del resto avviene nel romanzo originale di Thomas Hardy, da cui questo delizioso film firmato BBC del 2005 è stato tratto. Consigliatissimo per tutti gli amanti dei Period Drama britannici e anche per coloro che amano le storie semplici, romantiche e che hanno ancora qualcosa da insegnare...