Anglophiles will find much to admire in the 1978 production Disraeli, a comprehensive look at the political and personal lives of one of that nation's most important historical figures. Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881), played by Ian McShane (Deadwood, The Golden Compass) in a bravura performance, was "an enigma even to myself," as he puts it. Born to Jewish parents but baptized into the Anglican Church as a boy, he had already established a reputation as an author of "scandalous" novels, not to mention a silver-tongued flatterer and ladies man, when he began pursuing his political ambitions in his early thirties. His career didn't exactly get off to a flying start; it took him five tries to win a seat in Parliament as a "progressive conservative," and even then his defiant, blustery style earned him little favor among the somnolent stiffs who comprised much of that august body, some of whom dismissed him as "a tinseled coxcomb" whose attire resembled that of "an Italian dancing master" (Disraeli was known to sport lavish amounts of jewelry early in his career). Anti-Semitism didn't help, either. But he persevered, going on to serve twice as Prime Minister (the first and thus far only Jew to do so) and proving himself to be an eloquent and able leader with a dynamic vision that government should be more than simply a monarch ruling through an enlightened aristocracy (Rosemary Leach charmingly plays Queen Victoria, the monarch in question, with whom Disraeli formed a close and fruitful relationship).
The series also details his personal life, focusing on his 33-year marriage to the considerably older Mary Anne Lewis (Mary Peach), the widow of Disraeli's former patron and a seemingly frivolous chatterbox whom he admittedly married for her money ("I never intend to marry for love," he said. "It's a guarantee of unhappiness"), only to end up completely devoted to her. Along the way, Disraeli and his fellow politicians also deal with issues ranging from India and the Suez Canal to Ireland and the looming threat posed by Germany's "Iron Chancellor," Otto von Bismarck. All of this is accomplished primarily with words (including Disraeli's own, as well as those of scriptwriter David Butler), and there are lots of them. Disraeli isn't exactly action-packed--indeed, this is a genteel, stately, and occasionally rather tedious undertaking--but those willing to stick with it for its four-plus hours will find no shortage of rewards. --Sam Graham
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Victorian Review:
Really enjoyed this show. Ian McShane does a great impression of both an early and then more experienced Disraeli. Period dress was very impressive.
Ian mc shane the best:
This movie felt more like a play you have to give it a chance to really enjoy the story. Ian Mcshane is the best thing in the movie except every time I see him I cannot help but see him as a dirty mouthed mustached saloon owner in deadwood.
McShane/DISRAELI.:
I am currently replacing all my VHS with DVD'S so when I saw this DVD version of Disraeli listed on amazon I jumped on it......I will be not viewing this immediately as I am a very busy person.....but I have a few really good, often historical, VHS tapes still that I am waiting for an opportunity to change over. I felt that this portrayal was the very best account of the life and times of this great british prime minister....without his guidance lord knows what Queen Victoria would have done as she depended... more info
This TV Series Regarding Benjamin Disraeli Serves a Purpose:
Should the director and script writer attempted a less ambitious project? Whatever, there's enough here if one finds Bejamin Disraeli of interest. We follow his career from the age of about 32 to his death some 50 years later. Disraeli was a favorite of Queen Victoria. He apparently treated her as a mature and intelligent adult. In many respects, Disraeli was ahead of his time. He also had every intention of dragging British conservatives into the latter half of the 19th Century. Much is made of... more info
