You can get "Mother Love" from raretelevision.com. Here is the message they sent me:
Mother Love is the 4-part film (on 2 discs) starring Diana Rigg. The picture quality is very good as this was transferred to disc when it was re-shown on a digital tv channel and not when it was first shown in 1989. Very popular and always in stock.
£10.95 direct from the UK. They ship internationally.
Thanks so much for the information, ahdbiz. I check back here every so often to see if any progress has been made with regard to the BBC releasing this series on DVD. Well, this is the next best thing. I've ordered it, but as yet have not received it. Prior to my ordering, I emailed them to ask if the DVD played on Region 1 (USA) equipment. They stated that the DVD is multi-regional and would therefore play on any DVD player, which is great. They also mentioned that this DVD is very popular with people from the US, and as you've mentioned is in stock. Thanks again. I am waiting with great anticipation for "Mother Love"!
shareHello. I have always been a fan of this great miniseries and years ago I had a copy on VHS tape (which I recorded off a PBS station). I wish that raretelevision.com would accept international money orders, because I dislike giving out my credit card number. Amazon at least encrypts it and is obviously a very trustworthy company. Assuming that you yourself bought this DVD, would you please be so kind as to tell me what the picture quality is like? Would you give it at least an 8 out of ten? Is it grainy? I bought a copy from an eBay seller three years ago and did not even bother keeping it -- so poor was the quality. Any feedback with which you could provide me would be vastly appreciated.
Thank you in advance,
Stephen
Hello!
I received my copy of Mother Love from raretelevision.com, and the quality of the DVD is pretty good. I thought it would be on 2 disks, but they put the entire miniseries on one disk, which is convenient. It was recorded from a TV station called UK Drama, whose logo was on screen at all times. It was not however, annoying. Many stations use that here as well, like Hallmark Channel, for instance. I also had taped the series on VHS when it originally aired on PBS, and this is 100 times better than that ever was. I guess I would rate the quality an 8 out of a ten, considering that it appears that the source was from television. I think that when it formally comes out on DVD, the BBC would have to re-master it. The look of it was very much the same as the original airing on PBS. I'm quite happy with it. It was wonderful seeing it again. In fact, I watched it twice in succession, and the acting is just superb! The sound quality is very good, as well. I'm glad I made the purchase. I wish that they added the commentary that was aired on PBS, but they didn't. It is a 4 part series on 1 disk with no commentary. I would have loved the extra commentary of Simon Langton, the director, Andrew Davies, the screen writer, and of course, Diana Rigg. As I recall, their commentary appeared in the original airing on PBS. All in all, I'm just thrilled to have the miniseries on DVD! I hope this was helpful.
Thanks very much for going into so much detail.
Stephen
Have you still got mother love on dvd..i was interested in a copy
Angela
Thanks for the info. We watched our copy this evening. Very happy to finally have a copy of the splendid work.
Can't find raretelevision.com. Really wanted this movie.
'back at the saloon my tears mixed in mildew with my drink'
For those in the US that have ordered it from raretelevision, how long did it take to arrive? We ordered it yesterday and are curious how long to expect. I'm another one that taped it during its original airing, but no longer have access to the tape. :(
I haven't seen it for over 7 years and I can't wait! My husband has never seen it and is dying to see what all the excitement has been about, LOL.
~The path of my life is strewn with cow~pats from the devil's own satanic herd!!~
My old VHS copy of it, from its BBC2 repeat in 1991, isn't watchable anymore.
Is the version from raretv.co.uk censored for swearing and nudity? Does it have advert breaks?
http://raretelevision.com/all-rare-dvds-1/mother-love-1989-dvd-514.html
I have thought about buying it from raretv.co.uk, but have not taken the plunge yet. Nice to know it is still in 4 episodes, and not cut into 2 or 1.
I'd be so grateful if someone could answer my queries.
Thanks.
I'm halfway through episode 2, and it hasn't been censored for either nudity or swearing. As for advert breaks, there's the promo screenshot for a split second and then the program resumes. As most of us seem to have done, I also recorded it on its first airing, and I'd say the picture quality is at least as good as if I'd transferred that old VHS recording to DVD. I expected the audio to be somewhat low or fuzzy, but it's actually very good. As other posters have said, it's on ONE disk, not two like they advertise.
For those of us in North America that can't ever get it on tv, definitely go ahead and order it. It cost a total of $22 US (great luck that the exchange rate is really low right now) and took less than 2 weeks to get here. If I were in the UK and it still airs periodically (which I believe it does?), I'd probably just wait for it to come on and record it myself. For the price vs the quality, if I *had* a choice, I wouldn't pay for it. Hope this helps.
I add my praises for raretelevision.com and their unofficial release of MOTHER LOVE. I received my copy from the UK in only 4 days (!), and just watched the last episode last night. Even better (if possible) than I remembered from seeing it when it first aired (the only time I'd seen it). The video quality is very good (considering the source), certainly as good or better than if I'd taped it myself on a 1990-vintage VHS machine. And the audio is excellent. Plus it's not censored, as others have noted. ORDER TT NOW--besides, raretelevision is currently having a sale. And check out their other stuff--they have copies of Dennis Potter's BLACK EYES (which was never shown in the U.S., as far as I know) and Ricky Gervaise's pre-OFFICE series. I will say that SOMEDAY, I'm sure, the BBC will finally release this on DVD (and sell a ton of copies), and I hope it will be with the interviews (which I'd forgotten about). And how about outtakes--can you imagine BLOOPERS from this series??? Ouch.
sharewell, it looks like raretelevision has gone out of business. I was able to place an order for MOther Love just before they did but they have a 2 week delay on all back orders now.
shareIt shows as available on raretvondvd.com
http://www.raretvondvd.com/?Page_ID=3610&id=8770
I got my copy from raretv.com in about 10 days. It came in a small, durable plastic case. They even went to the trouble of putting artwork on the cover.
The DVD opens to a menu where you can choose from the four episodes. There is also a sub-menu where you can choose individual scenes. It's nice that they took the time to put breaks in so you can use your skip button.
The picture quality is good, except one scene where the suit Helena is wearing kind of glows. I forgot about how certain colors used to do that in the past.
I'm really pleased with this DVD. I've watched it three times so far.
raretelevision.com has a 50% sale! I am ordering Mother Love!
shareI recently bought a 2 disc DVD set of Mother Love from www.rareminiseries.co.uk who have loads of other rare stuff too.
No censorship, no commercial breaks and for a 1989 series that has never been released on DVD the picture quality is excellent. They can do NTSC for North America or PAL for Europe and the DVDs are region free with artwork.
Available in a North American format at www.robertsvideos.com
It's now £16.95.
share