Return to Eden ( 6-DVD Boxset) 22 part TV Series
Return to Eden ( 6-DVD Boxset) 22 part TV Series
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 List Price: £32.66 Sale Price: £39.50 Availability: unspecified 
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Product Description
Australia released, PAL/Region 0 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Box Set, Interactive Menu, Multi-DVD Set, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: RETURN TO EDEN.the story continues. 22 PART TV SERIES. Return to the power, the passion, the glamour. Return to romance, adventure, excitement.Return to the story of love, betrayal and revenge. RETURN TO EDEN, the series, joins Stephanie Harper, seven years on from the mini-series, where the saga of the Harper family and their battle to preserve their empire against those who wish to destroy them continues. Stephanie Harper, now the richest, most powerful woman in Australia, is suddenly threatened by dark forces from her past and must fight to save all she has struggled for. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Sydney, RETURN TO EDEN excites with the intrigue of international high finance and sizzles with the intensity of a love that will overcome all obstacles. ...Return to Eden (1986) - Series - 6-DVD Box Set
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Well over twenty years old, the legendary Return To Eden (1983) firmly remains Australia’s most successful mini-series to date. It has reached worldwide cult status having attracted over a staggering 300 million viewers worldwide! It has even scored mammoth viewing figures in the U.S.A, a market in which seldom an Australian drama has endured!
The central character in Return To Eden is Stephanie Harper, played beautifully by Rebecca Gilling, who is a middle aged, rather niave and plain looking mining magnates daughter and mother of two. Stephanie Harper is also renowned for being Australia’s wealthiest woman.
The story opens on the much publicised wedding of Stephanie Harper and the dashing but considerably charmless, Greg Marsden (James Reyne) a somewhat sleazy and nauseating sports star. It’s made clear from the outset that Greg, a man nearly half Stephanies age, was blatantly just after getting his greedy hands on Stephanies fortune.
On the wedding day an obvious attraction between Greg and Stephanies frosty best friend Jilly Stewart (marvelously played by Wendy Hughes) is made apparent. Greg and Stephanie invite Jilly Stewart along on their honeymoon at Stephanies family homestead, Eden, located in the Northern terriotry. It is at Eden that the traitorous Jilly embarks upon a torrid love affair with Greg whilst poor Stephanie remains completely oblivious.
One night on the honeymoon, Stephanie and Jilly join Greg on a boat for a crocodile hunt. Once in a deserted spot, Greg maliciously throws Stephanie straight into the jaws of a crocodile whilst Jilly just simply stands by and watches her supposed best friend fight desperately for her life.
Stephanie Harper is presumed dead but miraculously she survives the crocodile attack (remember folks this was the 1980′s) though is obviously half dead and hideously scarred. Whilst the world thinks Stephanie Harper is dead, including Greg and Jilly who continue their intense, sexually charged love affair, Stephanie spends the next six months recovering in a private clinic on a deserted island, all the while hatching a cunning plan to exact revenge on Greg and Jilly. Stephanie undergoes extensive plastic surgery that drastically changes her whole physical apperance. At the hands of the gentle plastic surgeon Dr Dan Marshall (James Smilie), Stephanie Harper is transformed from an ugly ducking into a beautiful swan. She assumes a new identity, calling herself Tara Welles and quickly becomes one of Australia’s most celebrated fashion models. Stephanie, masquerading as Tara Welles, cleverley befriends Jilly, winning her trust and charms Greg into falling in love with her whilst continuing plotting bitter revenge on her betrayors.
So, ok, those of you that aren’t familiar with Return To Eden, taking one read of the plot synopsis i’ve written, you’d be perfectly within your rights to say NO WAY! SOUNDS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! And of course that is very true. BUT, Return To Eden, on a purely entertainment level, works incredibly well, evoking a gripping, tense atmopshere throughout building on suspense and packed with several surprise twist and turns in the story.
Return To Eden is not least redeemed by its ludicrously over-the-top plot line by an engaging performance from its leading star, Rebecca Gilling, an acclaimed Australian actress. Rebecca Gilling is both beleavable and likeable in her role as Stephanie Harper/Tara Welles. The transformation of Stephanie Harper into the stunningly beautiful Tara Welles is truly amazing thanks to a fantastic and expert make up job. The character Stephanie shrewdly shifts from being something of a dowdy, put-upon wimp to a more glamorous, worldly sophisticated woman as Tara, brimming with more self assurance without being arrogant or unlikeable.
Another acclaimed Australian actress, Wendy Hughes, appears as the restless and fairly bitter, Jilly Stewart. Wendy Hughes delivers a cracking performance as the neurotic, needy alcoholic, making the character beleavable by displaying different dimensions to the character which included a large vulnreable side.
Early 80′s rock star, James Reyne, chosen for the role presumably for his good looks rather than his questionalbe acting abilities, is quite laughable most of the time in his role as the greedy, scheming Greg Marsden. Intentionally, James Reyne literally oozed bucket loads of slime in his role as Greg though his performance is often wooden. He is at his most hilariously over the top at the exciting and dramatic climax where he is semmingly playing the whole thing as though he were the principal villain in a pantomime. Needless to say, James Reyne confessed years later in an interview for the DVD edition that he failed to take his role in Return To Eden at all seriously. He also adopted a very rigid sort of walk for the character that is of siginificant amusement value!
Completing the principal cast line up is James Smilie as the smooth (if occasionally too sickly sweet) Dr Dan Marshall who Stephanie/Tara ends up having a somewhat complex affair with. His down to earth performance blends well into this big budget film noir.
The locations used in Return To Eden are notably very eye catching and beautiful. The locations ranged from Sydney, Orpheus Island and Arnham Land in the Northern terriotry and boasts magnificent cinematography courtesy of Dean Semler who later went on to win an academy award for his work on the classic film, Dances With Wolves.
I really don’t want to give anything away about the tremendous climax for those of you that have not yet watched Return To Eden but I can reveal that the stunning conclusion is very cleverley drawn out with plenty of action and high, intense drama where Stephanie/Tara cunningly lures both Greg and Jilly back to Eden to serve up her carefully planned revenge – hence the title Return To Eden. It literally escalates even further when the so-called Tara Welles finally reveals that she is infact Stephanie Harper. By this time the murderous Greg Marsden is now completely head over heels and obsessed with Tara, not having the slightest inkling that she is infact Stephanie Harper – the lady he was married too and tried to kill in order to get his hands on her fortune. With the canniving Jilly, you do, in a strange way, actually feel a little sympathetic towards her as she had been practically brainwashed by Greg Marsdens evil, mainpulative ways.
Return To Eden clocks in at well over four hours long and is admitedly hard to stick to in one sitting if viewing it on DVD or video. However when watched in the instalments as shown on television (which was shown in 3 parts) it is thoroughly enjoyable. Most notably funny in Return To Eden are the hilarious fashions seen during the cat walk sequences which proceeds to make Return To Eden look all the more dated. Undoubtedly though, the fashions, as laughably over the top as they were, was the cutting edge of its time.
After enjoying blockbuster ratings in Australia in 1983 (despite receiving a bashing from critics of the day), Return To Eden began being shown across the world, acheiving renewed gigantic success, particularly in Europe and the U.S.A. It took its star, Rebecca Gilling all across the world as millions of adoring fans of Return To Eden clamoured to catch a glimpse and meet the true star of this show.
Return To Eden was produced by twin brothers Hal and Jim McElroy, who were already renowned for their work on the Australian film classic, Picnic At Hanging Rock. The screenplay was written by Michael Laurence and was directed by Karen Arthur.
I was just three years old when Return To Eden exploded onto tv screens in 1983 but thanks to its availbility on DVD and video (both of which have enjoyed extravagent sales worldwide) has allowed a whole other generation, including myself, to discover this major landmark in Australian television history which continues in its popularity to this day. Most definitely worth purchasing on DVD or Video to watch over again.
That old adage “they don’t make them like this anymore” applies accordingly to Return To Eden as its so blatantly a product of its time. Never the less it remains an enthralling and intense melodrama with excellent production values where evidently no expense was spared. Absolutely compulsive, Return To Eden is a thrilling viewing experience and is highly recommended. Providing you view it as a piece of very well made entertainment, you’ll absolutely love it!
Ian Phillips
March 2007
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After spending the last few weeks watching the series I have ended up becoming very frustrated with the conclusion. Was their another series of the programme and if so when is it going to be on general release. Does anyone know.?
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Recently I bought this DVD and it is great but a bit disappointing because the end is incomplete. I taped it, years ago, when it came on tv and have it on VHS so I checked it. It’s only a misealy 5 minutes but it makes the ending much better. You might take that into consideration if you intend to buy it.
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I enjoyed this mini-series, finding it quite addictive to watch, despite the shoulder pads, perms, bizarre now-dated fashions and the way all the women woke each morning and exited the swimming pool with their make up perfectly in place! As with the previous reviews I agree it a pain that the final episode ends with “loose ends” but if you go to “en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_to_Eden ” you will find out how they tied these up by re-shooting the final episode which wasn’t included on this DVD. Well worth a watch in my opinion.
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How wonderful for this rare but (ironically) perennially popular 22-part spin-off from the cult hit miniseries to be released on DVD.
Yes, the plots are absurd as is the fashion and the cast revel in camp excess, but that is precisely what makes it fun, and the show actually had a sense of humour about itself that would have – if it had continued – distinguished it from “Sons and Daughters”, the only show with which it is vaguely comparable. It was unfortunately marketed as “Dallas Down Under” or the “Aussie Dynasty”, but it was far wittier than either of those shows.
The show was apparently very successful overseas and it was initially planned to have a 5 year run, but its high budget precluded further series. That is a pity. Whilst it is doubtful that it could have sustained its camp wit for 5 years, it probably could have run for 3.
The one shame about this release – as of course has been noted by other reviwers – is that it does not include the wrap-up ending that was filmed after the cancellation, featuring radically new hairstyles for Rebecca Gilling and Peter Cousins, and which was shown to European audiences (it has also been used for all the Australian reruns, so I’m not sure why it is not included on the DVD). But really, we ought to be grateful that it was released on DVD at all!
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All enquires answered promptly and correctly. DVD arrived earlier than expected package correctly and worked on our player no problem. Would have no hesitation from ordering from this company in the future.
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Brilliant 80`s series about Stephanie Harper, but be aware, it doesn`t include the “conclusion” of the series.
It was originally ment to be a follow up, but unfortunately it wasn`t popular enought in Australia, so they ended
it with a 5 minutes conclusion, which is not included on this dvd. It it possible to see it on you tube though
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fab!! great to watch this 80′s classic without all the ad’s, dallas style drama that has a fair bit of grity over the top touchy feely’ sexy scenes. rebecca gilling is fab ,a shame she hasn’t done much more since this show. great RICHES to RAGS to RICHES drama. if you love dallas, dynasty, ect you will really love this . IT NEVER BORES ME OR MY FAMILY. give it a go.
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I was pleased with the content of the DVD although I feel I have ordered the wrong one I wanted the origunal series not the follow on so I shall have to keep looking
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The set of dvd’s for the mini series “Return to Eden”, arrived safely, and was in the condition as advertised. Due to other commitments I have, as yet, been unable to view the dvd’s but do not doubt there quality. I look forward to being being able to sit back and enjoy watching the story unfold.