carolelamantia I too have been searching for years for a video or DVD of the original 1980 Love in a Cold Climate series. It was the definitive version. The casting and performances were brilliant. Not even Alan Bates can compete with Michael Aldridge's Uncle Matthew--he was perfection! And, for heaven's sake, it also featured Judi Dench and Vivian Pickles, among other truly great performers. I was astounded that anyone would even do a remake when there was no possibility of surpassing the original 1980 version. It's difficult to understand why such a masterpiece is not available to the public. Will someone please put this on video or DVD. I promise to buy one for everyone I know!

pwilkinson100 To me, this is the Holy Grail of Masterpiece Theatre presentations. I'd trade all of the ones in existence for this one - why Thames won't (or can't) make it commercially available, I don't understand. I'm sure somebody somewhere has a bootleg copy (this being shown first time 'round - and to my knowledge, only time around) in the fall of 1981. This was broadcast in the days when VCR's were available (at great cost, but available nonetheless). Wish I were friends with Dame Dench - both she and her late husband had featured roles. Somehow I'd bet she has some footage (or could get her hands on some).In my recollection, this production was pitch perfect. True to the books (unlike the recent Moggach adaptation - true to the concept, but these were works to savor, not condense, and that's what Moggach did, just like in the new "Pride and Prejudice") and perfectly cast. Sheila Gish was a good Lady Montdore, but Vivian Pickles was even better - no introspection whatsoever. Boy (in the original) was somehow a little more "lapdog" than Jeremy Irons (who nonetheless steals a number of scenes)and John Hurt was the definitive Cedric. The narrator in the original was perfect (unlike in the recent remake, where Rosalind Pike's beauty eclipses both Polly and Linda, which skews the story somewhat). There was balance in the original between the older characters and the younger characters; in the newer version, I thought the elders stole all the scenes, which is problematic. The original version is definitive, superlative - but unavailable. A sad state of affairs.If anyone ever gets their hands on it, please let me know!

Peter Godfrey I agree with all the previous comments and more. Anyone that lives nearer than I to Thames TV (the makers, I think) please approach them. I cant get any further away than i am unfortunately. Ask them if it possible to make copies, I will gladly fund any costs; as long as I can distribute the copies freely.I have sent many a communication to Thames but have never heard back. Please contact me if anyone has any luck. There must be an original copy on video in the archives inn the dungeons of Thames.I am going to try and contact Thames again and put this proposition to them as I gave up on this a couple of years ago.

bfontaine Love In a Cold Climate (the first version, not the 2001 remake) is the best Masterpiece Theater series ever. The actors were perfectly cast and the dialogue was extremely well-written. I'm sure Nancy Mitford was proud!I have looked for this on video for years with no success. I'd give up every video in my collection to be able to see this one again. I went out and bought the book after seeing the series and have gone through several copies of it as my teenaged daughters read it, lost it, went to college with it.These characters have gone around in my mind over and over for years and have never lost their charm. I would recommend this movie highly to anyone.2010 - I read from another reviewer that the DVD series was available from a company in Canada. I ordered it and have since watched the series several times. It is every bit as good as I remembered from when I first saw it on PBS!