Cheap Rector's Wife (Video) (Duncan, Pickup, Coy, Dillane, Lindsay Duncan) Price

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Customer Reviews of Rector's Wife

A must-see for fans of Trollope
A classic story of a woman's efforts to remain a good wife while taking new risks. Anna Bouverie has spent the last 20 years of her life struggling to keep her family financially afloat, in spite of her husband's less than lavish salary in the parish.
The last straw occurs when he is passed over for a promotion and Anna has to face the fact that she will have to take things into her own hands as well. But how does she do this without tipping the balance? Unfortunately, her efforts brings about the disapproval of those in the parish as well as the anger of her husband.
Anna is forced to form a new identity for herself, not an easy task after all the time she's spent within the protection (and confines) of her marriage. A very believable look at the challenges faced by one woman trying to break out of her shell.

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Not so good
Great acting all around but very weak and unrealistic storyline. I highly doubt that the intelligent woman portrayed by Duncan would risk everything by engaging in a sordid sexual liason with the brother of her husband's immediate superior. Come on! And I'm sure the Arch Deacon wouldn't so lightly brush off the knowledge of Anna's adulterous affair with his brother (which occured in his own house). As a clergyman he would surely condemn their actions and offer couseling to help get the family through this destructive episode. The real problem with this movie is precisely that it does not make any moral judgements. Anna's actions are protrayed as being totally pure and justified. The heavies are her overworked and depressed husband and the church ladies who are just trying to help (as church ladies do). In return, Anna gets to have sex with another man. This is moral relativism at its worst. Not worth a repeat viewing.

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VINTAGE, MUST-SEE BRITISH DRAMA.
THE RECTOR'S WIFE is one the most memorable British television productions from the 1990s. The lovely and accomplished Lindsay Duncan's understated, yet powerful performance as Anna Bouverie captures all the character's frustrations, disappointments and, finally, flowering in the wake of new love and the potential of a new life away from a loveless marriage and oppressive community. The film offers insightful comment about the nature of marriage and of the role of religion in modern society without being preachy or judgmental; if one chooses to ignore these themes, the film can just be enjoyed as fine, compelling drama. With Miss Duncan, there is fine support from the wonderful Stephen Dillane and from Ronald Pickup and, as always, Prunella Scales. Well worth repeated viewings.