kevin olzak This videotaped adaptation of Christopher Fry's 1948 play "The Lady's Not for Burning" was a PBS broadcast for Hollywood Television Theatre on Nov 18 1974, long revered as the finest filmed version to be produced. Richard Chamberlain as Thomas Mendip is the soldier seeking death rather than a life filled with dreariness, Eileen Atkins the comely Jennet Jourdemayne, falsely accused of witchcraft, both finding a kind of solace in each other's presence after a pair of brothers make unsuccessful passes at her. Thomas wants to be executed for the murder of Old Matthew Skips, happily confessing to the incredulous mayor (Keene Curtis) who refuses to take him seriously. Jennet's connection to Old Skips is to have turned him into a dog, a servant making the charge of witchcraft after hearing the cry of a peacock, assuming it was the devil himself. Prejudice in the Middle Ages has seldom enjoyed a better showcase, capped by the final reel appearance of the man in question, Old Skips, played by the venerable Shakespearean John Carradine, quite a hoot as the drunken sot whose absence is explained by his being away visiting his daughter: "peace on earth and good tall women!"

bldd This is simply one of the finest plays written, performed, and produced. I have seen both versions. I first saw the Richard Chamberlain and Eileen Atkins version as a girl and later was shown the John Gielgud version by a friend who by some slight of hand had it. It is simply exquisitely written and exquisitely performed. If you haven't read or seen this work don't miss out. It does more for the human heart, mind, body and soul than any other work I've read or seen in theater or television and those number quite a lot. It celebrates language and spirit and intelligence and wit. It provides hope which, speaking for myself, is in shockingly low supply.

gardenwriter I'm not kidding. My sister had to remind me to breathe as we sat and watched this excellent drama together. As a college theater major I had worked on this production and so was totally familiar with the plot and characters - but not done this way. The production was stunning; the acting superb - the entire thing was completely riveting. I only wish it was available on DVD as I could probably watch it again and again.Richard Chamberlain was the perfect Thomas and one could easily see how he could entrance the Allaged witch, Jennet. I also enjoyed Kristoffer Tabori as the clerk, Richard. It has been nearly 20 years since I saw this show but it still stands out in my mind as one of my all time favorite viewing experiences. Christopher Fry, the playwright, uses language that may sound a bit archaic to the modern ear, but it soon becomes quite normal as we settle in to be absorbed by an entrancing tale.

keyspoet Even though it has been thirty years, I remember this well, as do my mother and sister. I probably saw it a dozen times over it's KCET run, every time we knew it was going to be on, and loved every showing.So many in the cast are favorites of mine that I'll refrain from going into each performance, except to say that the casting was excellent all around. Growing up in Los Angeles I was fortunate to see Richard Chamberlain on stage several times, and never better than he was in this role. Kristoffer Tabori stood out as well, as he has done so consistently throughout his career.If you have the opportunity to see this, DO NOT MISS IT. You will not be sorry.Message to KCET: PLEASE RELEASE THIS ON VHS/DVD!!!!!