“Deftly chronicling the quest for love and connection across a spectrum of sexual experiences, the star-studded, Peabody Award-winning PBS miniseries, Tales of the City: 20th Anniversary Edition arrives on DVD from Acorn on August 27, 2013. Based on the groundbreaking novel by Armistead Maupin, Tales of the City follows a colorful cast of characters living at 28 Barbary Lane in anything-goes 1970s San Francisco. The all-star cast includes Oscar® winner Olympia Dukakis (Moonstruck), Oscar® nominee Laura Linney (The Big C, John Adams, The Savages), Gemini winner Paul Gross (Slings & Arrows), Billy Campbell (Once and Again), and Thomas Gibson (Dharma & Greg). The series received universal acclaim when it debuted in 1994, hailed as “a brilliant evocation of a time and place” (Los Angeles Times), and remains a television landmark. The DVD 2-disc set includes all six episodes, plus bonus audio commentaries with the writer, director, and stars Olympia Dukakis, Laura Linney, and Barbara Garrick, 36-min. of behind-the-scenes location and rehearsal footage, and more ($49.99, AcornOnline.com).
Newly arrived in freewheeling 1970s San Francisco, wide-eyed Mary Ann Singleton (Laura Linney) quickly realizes just how far from Cleveland she really is. Moving into a funky house at 28 Barbary Lane—where her landlady (Olympia Dukakis) welcomes her with a joint—Mary Ann befriends the other residents and finds a good-natured home amid the drugs, drama, and debauchery. The series ensemble cast also includes Marcus D’Amico (Full Metal Jacket), Parker Posey (Louie), Donald Moffat (Clear and Present Danger), Chloe Webb (Shameless), and Barbara Garrick (Sleepless in Seattle).
Bonus: Audio commentaries on episodes 1, 3, and 6 with Armistead Maupin, director Alastair Reid, Olympia Dukakis, Laura Linney, and Barbara Garrick; Behind-the-scenes location and rehearsal footage (36 min.); Insert with an introduction by Armistead Maupin, notes by producer Alan Poul, and filming locations and landmarks.
Available: Aug. 27, 2013
SRP: $49.99
DVD 2-Disc Set: 6 episodes – Approx. 321 min., plus bonus — Drama – SDH subtitles
Contains nudity, coarse language, drug use, and sexual situations.”
My spouse and I had never seen this series. I had heard much about it, and that it was excellent, but we never had the time to sit down and enjoy each episode. So when offered a review copy, I jumped at the chance to own my own DVD so we could enjoy each episode.
We started with Episode 1 where Laura Linney’s character, Mary Ann, arrives in San Francisco. A city that we have now visited twice, so seeing the local scenery again brings up our own great memories! A small town girl transplanted to a big city, but not just any big city, the wild and crazy San Francisco! Gay sex, new drugs, and odd music. And transgender folk! That itself was a breakthrough in modern TV at the time!
Disclosure: We received this DVD for review. All opinions are 100% honest and our own.
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