Brideshead Revisited

Watch Brideshead Revisited

  • TV-14
  • 1981
  • 1 Season
  • 8.6  (8,147)

Brideshead Revisited is a British television miniseries that premiered in 1981. The show is based on the novel of the same name by Evelyn Waugh and follows the story of Charles Ryder, a young man who becomes captivated by the aristocratic and dysfunctional Marchmain family.

The show stars Jeremy Irons in the leading role of Charles Ryder, a young artist who becomes enraptured by the world of the Marchmain family. Anthony Andrews portrays Sebastian Flyte, the charming and troubled scion of the family. Diana Quick plays Julia Flyte, Sebastian's sister and Charles's love interest, while Laurence Olivier is cast as Lord Marchmain, patriarch of the family. The cast also includes Claire Bloom as Lady Marchmain, Simon Jones as Charles's friend Rex Mottram, and Stéphane Audran as Cara, Sebastian's mistress.

The show is set in the 1920s and 1930s, a time of great social upheaval and transformation in Britain. The Marchmain family, with their vast wealth and aristocratic background, stand in stark contrast to the rapidly changing society around them. Charles, a middle-class outsider, is drawn into their world and becomes entangled in their dramas and scandals.

Brideshead Revisited is a complex and multi-layered story, exploring themes of love, death, faith, and family. At its heart is the tumultuous relationship between Charles and Sebastian, which becomes the emotional core of the series. Sebastian is a deeply troubled character, struggling with alcoholism and the weight of his family's expectations. Charles, drawn to Sebastian's charismatic and free-spirited nature, becomes his close friend and confidant. Their relationship is complicated by their different social backgrounds, as well as the conflicting demands of family, religion, and sexuality. As the series progresses, their bond is tested to the breaking point, leading to a dramatic and tragic finale.

The show also features a strong supporting cast, including the formidable presence of Laurence Olivier as Lord Marchmain. Lady Marchmain, played by Claire Bloom, is a devout Catholic who seeks to exert her influence over her children and their lives. Her clash with the more secular and hedonistic Sebastian drives much of the drama of the series.

Brideshead Revisited is notable for its lush and sumptuous production design, recreating the grandeur and elegance of a bygone era. The locations, costumes, and sets are all meticulously crafted, evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing for a lost world. The show also features a haunting and beautiful musical score, composed by Geoffrey Burgon, which further adds to its dreamlike quality.

Overall, Brideshead Revisited is a powerful and poignant exploration of love, loss, and the complex ties that bind us to our families and our pasts. Its themes and characters resonate deeply with audiences, making it a timeless classic of British television.

Brideshead Revisited is a series that ran for 1 seasons (11 episodes) between October 12, 1981 and on Acorn Media

Brideshead Revisited
Filter by Source

Seasons
Brideshead Revisited
11. Brideshead Revisited
December 21, 1981
Lord Marchmain comes home to Brideshead to die. Bridey's determination to see his father reconcile with the church finally infects Julia, and even Charles, though it seals their fate. Back at Brideshead in the bleak spring of 1944, Charles relives his memories as he walks through the rooms with the HQ commandant. Alone in the chapel, he whispers a prayer.
A Twitch Upon the Thread
10. A Twitch Upon the Thread
December 14, 1981
Lovers for two years and planning to marry, Charles and Julia are happily reminiscing at Brideshead when an insult from Bridey unleashes all the pent-up guilt and torment of Julia's Catholic conscience. News from Cordelia about Sebastian's fate leaves Charles to contemplate how different their lives had become from the promise of those early golden days.
Orphans of the Storm
9. Orphans of the Storm
December 7, 1981
By the time the ship arrives in London, Charles and Julia have become lovers. At the opening of an exhibition of his work in a London gallery, Charles learns that Celia knows of his affair with Julia.
Brideshead Deserted
8. Brideshead Deserted
November 30, 1981
Evelyn Waugh's classic novel of romantic yearning and loss became the universally acclaimed television series that viewers on both sides of the Atlantic wished would never end. Set between the wars amid the fading glory of the British Empire and great family fortunes, Brideshead is a story of youthful illusions, of exquisite earthly beauty and of divine grace. Starring Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews and featuring Diana Quick, Sir John Gielgud, Claire Bloom and the incomparable Sir Laurence Olivier in an Emmy Award-winning performance.
The Unseen Hook
7. The Unseen Hook
November 23, 1981
Evelyn Waugh's classic novel of romantic yearning and loss became the universally acclaimed television series that viewers on both sides of the Atlantic wished would never end. Set between the wars amid the fading glory of the British Empire and great family fortunes, Brideshead is a story of youthful illusions, of exquisite earthly beauty and of divine grace. Starring Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews and featuring Diana Quick, Sir John Gielgud, Claire Bloom and the incomparable Sir Laurence Olivier in an Emmy Award-winning performance.
Julia
6. Julia
November 16, 1981
Evelyn Waugh's classic novel of romantic yearning and loss became the universally acclaimed television series that viewers on both sides of the Atlantic wished would never end. Set between the wars amid the fading glory of the British Empire and great family fortunes, Brideshead is a story of youthful illusions, of exquisite earthly beauty and of divine grace. Starring Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews and featuring Diana Quick, Sir John Gielgud, Claire Bloom and the incomparable Sir Laurence Olivier in an Emmy Award-winning performance.
A Blow Upon a Bruise
5. A Blow Upon a Bruise
November 9, 1981
Evelyn Waugh's classic novel of romantic yearning and loss became the universally acclaimed television series that viewers on both sides of the Atlantic wished would never end. Set between the wars amid the fading glory of the British Empire and great family fortunes, Brideshead is a story of youthful illusions, of exquisite earthly beauty and of divine grace. Starring Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews and featuring Diana Quick, Sir John Gielgud, Claire Bloom and the incomparable Sir Laurence Olivier in an Emmy Award-winning performance.
Sebastian Against the World
4. Sebastian Against the World
November 2, 1981
Evelyn Waugh's classic novel of romantic yearning and loss became the universally acclaimed television series that viewers on both sides of the Atlantic wished would never end. Set between the wars amid the fading glory of the British Empire and great family fortunes, Brideshead is a story of youthful illusions, of exquisite earthly beauty and of divine grace. Starring Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews and featuring Diana Quick, Sir John Gielgud, Claire Bloom and the incomparable Sir Laurence Olivier in an Emmy Award-winning performance.
The Bleak Light of Day
3. The Bleak Light of Day
October 26, 1981
Evelyn Waugh's classic novel of romantic yearning and loss became the universally acclaimed television series that viewers on both sides of the Atlantic wished would never end. Set between the wars amid the fading glory of the British Empire and great family fortunes, Brideshead is a story of youthful illusions, of exquisite earthly beauty and of divine grace. Starring Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews and featuring Diana Quick, Sir John Gielgud, Claire Bloom and the incomparable Sir Laurence Olivier in an Emmy Award-winning performance.
Home and Abroad
2. Home and Abroad
October 19, 1981
Charles spends some idyllic time at Brideshead with Sebastian, meeting more of the Marchmains and discovering the role of religion in the family's complicated lives. Besotted with the splendors of Brideshead, Charles accompanies Sebastian to Venice, where the Marchmain patriarch lives in voluntary exile.
Et in Arcadia Ego
1. Et in Arcadia Ego
October 12, 1981
Early spring 1944. Army captain Charles Ryder, an artist in civilian life, prepares to transport his dispirited company to brigade headquarters at a secret location. After an exhausting journey through the night, they arrive at the new camp, a formerly grand house called Brideshead Castle. The site of it releases a flood of bittersweet memories of Charles, back to his halcyon days at Oxford in 1922.
Description
Where to Watch Brideshead Revisited
Brideshead Revisited is available for streaming on the Acorn Media website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Brideshead Revisited on demand at Amazon Prime, Crackle and Plex.
  • Premiere Date
    October 12, 1981
  • IMDB Rating
    8.6  (8,147)