The Buccaneers

[Milz]

WETA UK is rebroadcasting this series based on Edith Wharton's unfinished novel. Here's the MT websites' summary page:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/archive/168/168.html

 

Scroll to read Russell Baker's intro: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/archive/168/168e.html

 

The series is on youtube.

 

I watched it when it first aired in the early 90s.  I recall reading at that time that they moved the timeline in the series forward so that it occurs in the 1880s.

 

 

[M. Darcy]

I watched the first episode Saturday!  Or rewatched.

 

A very young Greg Wise!  I think when I originally watched it, the only "famous" person in the cast was Connie Booth.  Now, a lot of the cast is well known.

[Milz]

I watched the first episode Saturday!  Or rewatched.

 

A very young Greg Wise!  I think when I originally watched it, the only "famous" person in the cast was Connie Booth.  Now, a lot of the cast is well known.

 

And not much later,  Mira Sorvino wins the Oscar. I remember I kept wondering if Mira Sorvino was related to Paul Sorvino (I used to watch Law And Order).

 

Do you know which historic homes they filmed at? Some of the exterior shots look like Highclere or Kedleston.

 

i can see Julian Fellowes totally ripping this off to do the Down Abbey prequel (if that will ever be done).

 

Anyhow, I can't understand the mentality of the 'nouveau riche' wanting to be accepted into "society" so badly that they would, essentially, sell their daughters to these titled families. Shoot.....if I had the gobs of money they had, I'd throw my own parties inviting other nouveau.

Edited March 16, 2015 by Milz

[abbyzenn]

The is my first time seeing this.  It was okay but I will watch the whole series.

I hate the fashions - fashions were much better by the Downton era.

Not really crazy about any of the girls.

I agree Milz - I'd take my money and spend it on what I want - which wouldn't necessarily include an English title.

[Milz]

The is my first time seeing this.  It was okay but I will watch the whole series.

I hate the fashions - fashions were much better by the Downton era.

Not really crazy about any of the girls.

I agree Milz - I'd take my money and spend it on what I want - which wouldn't necessarily include an English title.

 

The series is supposed to take place in the early 1880s, so the fashion reflects that late Victorian era. Downton started in the post-Edwardian era. It's been awhile since I read the book, but I think it is set in the 1860s because Edith Wharton based the girls on Jennie Jerome (Lady Randolph Churchill/Winston Churchill's mother) and Consuelo Iznaga (The Duchess of Manchester) and some of the later "Dollar Princesses", like Consuelo Vanderbilt (The Duchess of Marlborough).

 

What's interesting about this series is that we get to see the culture shock the girls experienced when they married into these titled families and their country estates. In the first episode when the girls visit Connie, she says that the houses are cold because they don't have central heat. Ginny and Nan comment about the lack of gas lights. And there was a definite hierarchy and schedule within the family.

[M. Darcy]

 

Anyhow, I can't understand the mentality of the 'nouveau riche' wanting to be accepted into "society" so badly that they would, essentially, sell their daughters to these titled families.

They really really wanted to be a part of New York Society but were totally blackballed.   It was easier to just buy their way into London society.  Both sides really needed each other.  But it worked out well for history - that's how we got Winston Churchill.....and Mary and Edith :-)

 

 

Do you know which historic homes they filmed at?

One of them is Castle Howard of Brideshead fame.

[Milz]

They really really wanted to be a part of New York Society but were totally blackballed.   It was easier to just buy their way into London society.  Both sides really needed each other.  But it worked out well for history - that's how we got Winston Churchill.....and Mary and Edith :-)

 

One of them is Castle Howard of Brideshead fame.

 

It's also how we got Lady Diana Spencer and a whole host of British aristocracy.

 

But like I wrote, if I had the gobs and gobs of money they had, I wouldn't care if Mrs. Astor invited me to one of her parties or not. In fact, I would throw my own barn dance and invite everyone Mrs. Astor snubbed.

 

It's odd isn't it? If you watch enough Brit tv, you begin to recognize some of the homes used in them. Sometimes I think the homes should get a mention in the credits.

[M. Darcy]

But imagine being able to say to Mrs. Astor - suck it bitch, my daughter is a Countess now.   Hmm.  That's probably why I wouldn't have been invited either with my naughty language.

 

 

And not much later,  Mira Sorvino wins the Oscar

Even more important - two years later - Romy and Michele's High School Reunion.

[Milz]

And don't forget Carla Gugino co-starred for a season or two with Michael J. Fox on Spin City and then did those Spy Kid movies with Antonio Banderas

 

You and your foul mouth and I with my meanspiritedness would have thrown the best barn dances in Noo York City if we had the same kind of money Morgan, Carnegie and the Vanderbilts had. 

[Milz]

So Ginny marries Seadown and learns 1. he married her for her money, 2. he married her for her money so he can restore a wind of the house, and 3. he married her for her money. But seriously, did Ginny and Nan really think their father's money didn't make them more attractive, alluring and appealing?

 

Julius always struck me as a creepy, vampire-like creature.

[proserpina65]

But seriously, did Ginny and Nan really think their father's money didn't make them more attractive, alluring and appealing?

 

I think Nan realized that, and Ginny probably did too, but she really was caught up in her own fantasy about Seadown.  Poor deluded girl.

[Milz]

Early in the episode, one of them says that Connie never seems to have any money<------that should have set off warning lights, sirens, and fog horns.

 

As I wrote up thread, if Julian Fellowes ever makes a Downtown Prequel, I can see him totally ripping this series off. Martha as ditzy as Mrs. St. George. Cora has a prettier rival for Robert's title. Alas, the rival's daddy is a couple million poorer than Cora, which makes her less suitable.

[abbyzenn]

I thought last night's episode was the most enjoyable yet.

I just can't imagine why Nan married Julius.  She should have waited for Guy or anyone else or stayed single.  Julius is just creepy and weird.  It's not like she really wanted to be a Duchess or wanted the huge house.

It's funny that the only one of the girls that is happy is Lizzy - she's the only one that married for love.  Well, maybe Ginny was in love but I'm not sure.

[ichbin]

The series is on youtube.

 

It's on Hulu too.

[Milz]

I thought last night's episode was the most enjoyable yet.

I just can't imagine why Nan married Julius.  She should have waited for Guy or anyone else or stayed single.  Julius is just creepy and weird.  It's not like she really wanted to be a Duchess or wanted the huge house.

It's funny that the only one of the girls that is happy is Lizzy - she's the only one that married for love.  Well, maybe Ginny was in love but I'm not sure.

 

Laura said that Nan was still very child like in the way she analyzed things. So immaturity, compounded by being on the "rebound" (in her mind at least),  not wanting to return to Noo York City, and the cute puppy, made Julius' proposal very appealing. Anyhow, I don't think Nan realized that she would have to run the house and would have a bunch of responsibilities. She had that "oh crap!" look on her face when she and the Dowager were going through the conservatory.

 

I think Ginny, like Nan and Connie, were in love with the idea that they would be titled ladies. I think in the book that was finished with the blessing of the Edith Wharton foundation, Ginny becomes one of the mistresses of The Prince of Wales.

[Milz]

Just a reminder for everyone watching this on WETA UK. On April 4, two episodes will be shown, which will conclude the series. After the Downtown Abbey marathon on April 11 and 18, WETA UK will show Call the Midwife.

 

Heh, too bad, they didn't show the conclusion of The Buccaneers after the Downtown Marathon.

[dcalley]

This is on Netflix instant as well but is expiring at the end of the month. I feel like I must have seen this at some point, but I don't remember it now, so I guess I will try to watch it sometime this month.

 

4/2/15: Never mind. Netflix seems to have renewed the rights to it.

Edited April 3, 2015 by dcalley

[proserpina65]

You know, for years I've thought Seadown was played by Mark Strong, only to discover just now that I was wrong.  There goes my "I saw him waaaaay back when" bragging rights.

[Milz]

He was on As Time Goes By. Lionel brings Jean to a cocktail party at Alistair (first time Jean meets Alistair).  It's a very Seadown-like character: detached, snobbish. of course, Lionel and Jean think everyone at that party are superficial idiots.

[proserpina65]

He was on As Time Goes By. Lionel brings Jean to a cocktail party at Alistair (first time Jean meets Alistair).  It's a very Seadown-like character: detached, snobbish. of course, Lionel and Jean think everyone at that party are superficial idiots.

Okay, so I can say I saw him waaaaay back when, then.  Thanks.  :-)

[M. Darcy]

There really are only 4 British actors...

[Milz]

Ginny, Ginny, Ginny.....you know Seadown crawled back to you because 1. your Daddy has money again, 2. Idina is dead, 3. your Daddy has money again, 3. your Daddy has money again, and 4. your Daddy has money again.

[Megan]

I love this mini series so much. I just re-watched it this weekend - Prime has a lot of the 90's Masterpiece series up, Aristocrats, Tom Jones.  I have all these of DVD but I've become spoiled and prefer to watch things streaming, also Prime seems to have all the PBS removed scenes added back, at least on Buccaneers.

And @Milz seems to have been correct, with Fellowes upcoming Gilded Age series. (And funny that he shows up as the Duke of Richmond in Aristocrats)

I love the cast. Especially, Colonel St. George (who I just realized is Brian's father in Father of the Bride, I never connected that until this weekend) and the elder Brightlingseas.

Anyone know what house served as Lizzy and Hector's home? That staircase looks familiar but it doesn't seem to appear in any of the houses imdb tags as filming locations.

Edited May 30, 2018 by Megan