The series also details his personal life, focusing on his 33-year marriage to the considerably older Mary Anne Lewis (Mary Peach), the widow of Disraeli's former patron and a seemingly frivolous chatterbox whom he admittedly married for her money ("I never intend to marry for love," he said. "It's a guarantee of unhappiness"), only to end up completely devoted to her. Along the way, Disraeli and his fellow politicians also deal with issues ranging from India and the Suez Canal to Ireland and the looming threat posed by Germany's "Iron Chancellor," Otto von Bismarck. All of this is accomplished primarily with words (including Disraeli's own, as well as those of scriptwriter David Butler), and there are lots of them. Disraeli isn't exactly action-packed--indeed, this is a genteel, stately, and occasionally rather tedious undertaking--but those willing to stick with it for its four-plus hours will find no shortage of rewards. --Sam Graham

He had to compromise his personal values, change his fashionable image and had to learn to keep his mouth shut rather than brag about accomplishments. In time, he not only became accepted, but respected by all even his enemies.

The play also shows Disraeli personal life affects his views over time. Showing how what he wants often makes one a failure by not seeing what they have in life. Disraeli had a loving family and a wife who stood by him through think and thin. He owes his success to such nurturing.

I particular enjoyed how he was able to make reforms and progress in his own Tory party of conservatives that advanced England as a society in the Industrial Age. Disraeli contribution to voting rights, the eight hour day, and government sponsorship for programs for the poor are remarkable. This accomplishment while supporting the monarchy was quite an achievement.

I recommend this video to any politician seeking to change the world. It will show how one must change to accommodate others needs over personal desires and sightless aspirations. In the end, the world will change you based on the values you have within yourself, just like Disraeli. Then and only then will you shine above all others for a split second in time. Thus, will be your legacy that is more fleeting in life but will grow in history. Only if you have the caliber to serve the public rather than yourself!

William Pitt and Benjamin Disraeli have shown the way for a nation that fosters the Rule of Law with a Monarchy. Royalty came to admire commoners whom achievements improve the lives of many in the end.


A good overview of the history and personal life of a great politician   March 7, 2009
C. B Collins Jr. (Atlanta, GA United States)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Ian McShane does a superb job of playing Benjamin Disraeli from the time he is a young politician, losing 5 elections in a row, to the time of his death after serving as Prime Minister of England twice. He is able to portray the handsome curly haired young dandy covered in gold chains and also the elderly stately politician with his large bald forehead. He is supported by a superb cast that includes Rosemary Leach as Queen Victoria and Mary Peach as Mary Anne Lewis Disraeli, the two women in the life of Disraeli that were most supportive of his political career and ambitions.

McShane is great as the young Disraeli, of Jewish heritage but baptized in the Anglican Church as a child. Disraeli's family was highly supportive of his ambitions and intellectual curiosity. Disraeli wrote novels and was relatively successful as a novelist before becoming a politician in his 30s, however he continue to write some also during his political career. It took 5 attempts before he was finally elected to the House of Commons as a Conservative. Yet over time he reveals himself to be a progressive conservative, steering the conservative party toward continued successes in policy. He was Prime Minister twice, much to the liking of Queen Victoria who appreciated Disraeli's philosophy, politics, and social interactions with herself. Disraeli married a wealthy widow woman 13 years his senior but their 33 year marriage was strong and supported by their mutual fascination with politics. Disraeli dealt with multiple challenges during his years of leadership including his political rivalries and allies, crisis in India and Ireland, the purchase of controlling stock in the Suez canal, and the rise of a unified Germany under the control of Otto von Bismarck. A dramatic moment occurs in the film when Baron Rothschild provides the British government a loan to purchase the Suez canal and thus keep it out of the control of the French and especially the Russians.

The DVD is four hours long and covers a good bit of English history however the majority of action is implied in the dialogues between characters. In fact, like many early BBC products, the dialogue is the primary messenger rather than action sequences. Because there is so much to cover in just 4 hours, in some ways the issues were glossed over and were not explored in any depth. This is the major drawback of the production in that it jumps from historic event to historic event to personal event to personal event without a sense of integration or without extensive context which is really necessary to understand complex historic trends and the complex personalities that swim in these political waters. Thus the DVD should be seen as an introduction to the life and career of Disraeli and that further study might be needed later to fully understand the sweep of events that is discussed in the DVD.