Flambards (1979)

Simply Perfect

Fresh and Exciting

Absolutely Fantastic

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

I first saw Flambards when it was originally shown on PBS, many years ago. I found the first episode unpleasant. It was about a nice girl thrust amongst unpleasant people who had power over her, and I found it uncomfortable to watch.But for some reason, I felt compelled to watch the second episode. Perhaps it was the charm of the girl playing Christina. Perhaps it was the lush countryside. But it probably had most to do with the score by David Fanshawe, which I consider the best score ever written for television.After that first episode, Christina's rebellious nature let her rise above her difficulties, and more likable characters were introduced, and I became very enamored of the series.There is, though, one glaring flaw. While the three main characters are in their mid to late teens, the actors playing them are in their late twenties, and seem that old. This is a problem because they all do stupid, impetuous, naive things that make perfect sense from a 17 year old but that seem odd from someone on the verge of 30. As much as I like the cast, I think the series would have been better with younger actors. But in spite of that, it is still one of my favorite mini-series.

I first saw these programmes in 79 when I was 11 years old, I absolutely loved it. I've recently bought the series on DVD, and couldn't wait to get some time to myself to watch each episode. I cant get it out of my head! The story, the music, it's all just wonderful. It's not long since I finished the whole series, and I've already started watching them all again. The locations and costumes were spot on for that period. Looking out now for Alan Parnabys more recent work, he was so good as William Russell I've fallen in love with him all over again! Would love to know more about the actors, where they're from, where they are now, their ages etc. There have been many TV series and films that I've seen over the years, but nothing has got to me quite like Flambards!!

my mom suggested that i might like this show, it had horses and was set in england. i was about 14 or so. and i loved it. but we moved to a place where our PBS reception was terrible (no cable). but every time it came on, i would try to watch it thru the bad reception. it was a happy day for me when i found it for sale.i find the ending so poignant...mark's thoughts about finally growing up and dick's conversation with christina about inheriting the earth. so much that was lost during WWI, and the hope for the future.a wonderful coming of age and growing up into adulthood story.

"Flambards" gets virtually everything right; characters that we truly care about, great acting, wonderful music, and a story with twists and turns, skillfully told. But what is does better than anything is truly conjure up the spirit of Edwardian England.The period around 1910 was one of the great watersheds in history; airplanes, cars, and gramophones heralded a new age, only to have World War One stop everything in its tracks. "Flambards" captures all of this perfectly; the resentment of the old guard, the thrill of the new possibilities (especially for women), and the despair of the war years. Of all of the things about this series, the mood and atmosphere are the best.As an aside, speaking as an airplane buff, the airplanes are incredible. They are painstakingly accurate reproductions of real types, and it's wonderful to get a chance to actually see in the air types that you've only read about in books.This is a virtually perfect mini-series, quite possibly the best of its kind ever made. It's that good.