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"The fine high style of Masterpiece Theatre at its frothiest" --The Wall Street Journal
"Delightfully dizzy clan of Brits" --Houston Chronicle
"Urbane and amusing" --Los Angeles Times
The Bretts have ruled the London stage since the 1880s. Patriarch Charles (Norman Rodway, Reilly: Ace of Spies) is a matinee idol and a womanizer. His wife, Lydia (Barbara Murray, The Pallisers), is a glamorous star of musical comedies. Their five children include actors and a radical playwright, and their dramatic household is further enlivened by loyal but gossipy servants.
But now it’s the late 1920s, and times are changing. As talking pictures loom and Hollywood calls, the family buys a West End theatre to manage. Hilarity, tragedy, and slapstick ensue as the battling Bretts struggle to maintain the life they have always known.
Seen on Masterpiece Theatre and co-created by Upstairs, Downstairs writer Rosemary Anne Sisson, this British series is brimming with wit and Roaring Twenties flair.
Bretts: The Complete Collection Reviews
Bretts: The Complete Collection Reviews
| 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:  NEW re-manufactured IMPROVED collection reviewed, By This review is from: Bretts: The Complete Collection (DVD) This review is not a carry-forward from an old DVD set. For one thing, SUBTITLES are added. This is an excellent 1927-1931 period drama that involves a London theatre family. The sets, costumes, and props are true to the times, such delight. It is frothy with scandal as well as the ups & downs of acting careers, primarily the members of the Brett family. The lives of the family and their help are as addicting as "Upstairs Downstairs". The interplay with the downstairs Brett staff with the family is a mirror of "U,D". Surely that has something to do with the fact that one writer wrote for both series. The final episode leaves the viewer grieving over the discontinuation of episodes, like a death, the sign of a good DVD set.The only downside I found was a bit of overacting by the male lead Charles (Norman Rodway) who appears older than 55. On the other hand, an aspect I enjoyed was cases where special effects (i.e. fog), excessive make-up, obviously painted backdrops, and... Read more 4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:  Sparkles like champagne, By This review is from: Bretts: The Complete Collection (DVD) Who says Masterpiece Theatre is boring? One of their most entertaining series has been "The Bretts," a sparkling soap opera set in the roaring 20s. It suffers from some random plot twists (and character departures), but is entertainingly soapy fun.Charles and Lydia Brett (Norman Rodway, Barbara Murray) were the stars of the 1890s stage, with his costume dramas and their shared romantic comedies. Now they live with three of their kids: party-girl actress Martha (Belinda Lang), not-so-successful actor Edwin (David Yelland) and blooming socialist playwright Thomas (George Winter). The series opens rather weakly, when Charles and Lydia briefly break up over Charles hiring a sexy secretary, and his new swashbuckler almost bombs. But things stabilize as the main problems arise -- stages are being replaced with silver screens. Soon Edwin has become a hot Hollywood star, with the movie adaptation of his dad's latest play. Charles is determined to keep the... Read more Britts Bretts is British drama at it's best, By Miss Jane Marple (Columbus, IN, USA) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase This review is from: Bretts: The Complete Collection (DVD) Having an extensive DVD library of all things BBC offers on PBS, I was delighted to find The Bretts, which I didn't possess. It's tremendously entertaining for anyone who wishes to time travel back to the days of Britain in the 1920s when live theatre was in it's prime. The period costumes are dazzeling to say the least. The actors who play a family of stage actors in the series are all terrific and the scripts are somewhat juicy at times. It's such a shame that Masterpiece Theatre has turned off the lights and given the last performance, but luckily, I can watch The Bretts whenever I want. It's a winner. |
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