Two generations of genius are brought to life in this lavish, eight-part British miniseries about one of the most talented musical families in history. THE STRAUSS FAMILY spans 85 years and chronicles the rise of Johann St... more »rauss, Sr. from his humble beginnings to becoming one of the most famous musicians in Europe. But at the height of his success, a series of scandalous love affairs estrange him from his wife and prodigiously talented son Johann, Jr. Father and son soon become fierce rivals in the musical and political worlds of nineteenth-century Austria. THE STRAUSS FAMILY follows the advancing career of the younger Strauss as he achieves even greater fame as Vienna s Waltz King, celebrated even today for the Blue Danube waltz and Die Fledermaus.
With a superb cast including Emmy-award winner actors Derek Jacobi (Anastezsi) and Jane Seymour (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman), and glorious renditions of the Strauss s works by the London Symphony Orchestra, THE STRAUSS FAMILY is a dramatic family saga of tragedy and triumph.
DVD Features: Cast Biographies; Selected List of Compositions« less
"The story is a little soapy, the acting just okay, but this mini-series has the most glorious renditions of the Strauss family's music you will find. It should be a CD so you might as well buy the video."
Good History, Good Writing, and Good Acting
Gridley | asheville, north carolina USA | 12/08/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Writing a movie script about a family can be problematic unless the script writer knows someone has to be the central character, as did the writers of The Strauss Family. Constructed about the life of Johann Junior, this series depicts the highs and lows of the creative life.
The acting seems a bit like summer stock at times, but good writing and directorial pacing minimizes this weak link.
All in all, good history, good writing, and good acting."
Strauss Family
Dave | Columbia, SC | 09/12/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This was very enjoyable and about the right length to cover the subject. Wonderful music."
A wonderful movie
Josephine N. Hood | alb, n.m. usa | 12/15/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This was one of the best movie I have watch in a longtime. The music was wonderful so was the story line. I love biographies and this was one of the best."
Pleasant view of a famous musical family
A. Braswell | USA | 03/26/2010
(3 out of 5 stars)
""The Strauss family" made for TV miniseries is an interesting view of this multi-talented family. However, it shows how a dramatist can use factual material and twist it for the good of telling a story. If one knows much about this illustrious family, one knows that much is left out and much is fabricated to make an entertaining afternoon. I recommend it to those who know nothing about the family. Actually one could make a wonderful series out of the experiences of these musicians, but it would take many hours to do so. It is disappointing that this movie makes such little use of the many beautiful compositions from the several Strauss men.