TV
SERIES DVD REVIEW – BY THE SWORD DIVIDED BBC DVD.
The whole of season
one of a series loosely modelled on events at the English Civil War siege of
Basing House. The series features Julian Glover as the head of a large house of
royalist supporters who witness events from the beginning of the war to the
first defeat of Charles 1st and the rise of the Levellers. Glover’s family are mostly staunch
Royalists, but some of them join the Parliamentary forces early on in the
conflict. When Glover gives friendship and armaments to Prince Rupert Of The
Rhine, the House becomes the sight of a long and deadly siege. The early episodes are quite slow and
political, but beautifully acted and full of genuine tension as the political
crisis gets out of control. An errant daughter who has an affair and refuses to
enter into a loveless marriage is brutally whipped by her father, who clearly
dislikes what he has to do for appearances sake only. The daughter, who dresses
as a man to fight, will eventually prove to be a true hero of the war.
There is a stark catfight in a
laundry mill when a new servant proves to be less than agreeable with her
duties.
Events really come into their own in
the last few episodes when the house comes under direct assault. For these
episodes members of the Sealed Knot were hired. In fact, Brigadier peter Young,
the founder of The Sealed Knot, acted as historical advisor throughout the
exquisite production. The final episode is very dark and bitter. The
Parliamentarians take the house. The father figure (Glover) is killed in the
fighting. Many servants who fought for the Royalists are executed. Then the
Levellers rise up and the news come of the King’s escape and the victors are
left wondering what they ever fought for in the first place. A second series followed. The terrific theme
tune was eventually hijacked by the BBC for use in a series of Miss Marple
adventures.
Arthur Chappell
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