A "masterpiece" period drama based on a classic of English literature is hailed by fans as "the finest adaptation of a novel put to film". Brideshead Revisited (1981) is a TV miniseries adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's bestselling 1945 novel of the same name, and follows the life and loves of Charles Ryder (Jeremy Irons) from 1920s to the early 1940s.
A focal point of the series is his close and complex friendship with Lord Sebastian Flyte (Anthony Andrews) a charming but troubled aristocrat who lives with his wealthy family in Brideshead Castle, a sprawling mansion in Wiltshire. John Gielgud and Laurence Olivier, two British titans of stage and screen, are among the supporting cast in a series still lauded by modern audiences.
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Literary Hub put the film in a ranking of the 50 Greatest Literary TV Adaptations and fans have taken to IMDb to praise the series.
One wrote: "It is exceptional to find something in life that improves with age. Brideshead Revisited is one of those exalted things.
"Having just completed watching the entire series I can say that it is actually better than I remembered when I first saw it over 15 years ago.
"Seldom do so many things (cast, writing, locations, costumes) come together and form a harmonious whole. Brideshead is a tour-de-force of the film maker's art that glows with a magical intensity all its own."
Another said they were suprised by how good it is, writing that the series "not only preserved the story to the point of almost maintaining all the book's original dialogues but the aesthetic beauty of the images is beyond reproach".
"I strongly recommend this work for all who enjoy art in general and Evelyn Waugh in particular," they added.
A third said: "I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that this is probably the finest adaptation of a novel put to film. It is a real work of astounding and living art. It is very rare that you find something so perfect.
"The cast alone should get anyone interested. It is a veritable who's-who of British stage & cinema.
"Jeremy Irons, Anthony Andrews, Diana Quick, Claire Bloom and the giants of Sir John Gielgud & Lawrence Olivier all contribute to this masterpiece."
The series has a 15 certificate and deals with adult themes including alcoholism and depression, so may not be for everyone.
Brideshead Revisited is streaming now on ITVX.