I watched this movie when it aired on tv in the early to mid 90's it has been a favorite since. Bought it on VHS and watched it over and over till it no longer played, I now have it on dvd and watch it whenever the mood strikes. I have also read the book several times over the years. I love how Danielle Steel weaves so much history into her work. Zoya, The Ring, No Grater Love, and Star have book and movie adaptations that are awesome as well. Pegasus, and the award are awesome as well but to the best of my knowledge are only books. The Promise, Ransom, Fine Things, Heartbeat, Mixed Blessings, and Family Album have less history but are all awesome book or movie adaptations.
10 Reviews
Great movie, not as good as book-some spoilers
flowergirlz_us7 May 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I remember reading the book Jewels a long time ago. I was going through a Danielle Steel faze and fell in love with this book.
So I was thrilled when they made a movie about it.
I have to admit, I loved the first part of the movie best. The romance between Sarah and William was my favorite part in the book and in the movie.
My other favorite aspect of the movie was Anthony Andrews as William. I love this actor, ever since I saw him as a kid in two movies I loved, Ivanhoe and The Scarlett Pimpernel. Casting him in the role of William Whitfield lent the TV melodrama a real sense of legitimacy. He is a great actor, and the perfect choice to play the Duke. Not only is he devastatingly handsome, he has a great sense of humor. You first saw it in The Scarlet Pimpernel, and was very important for this movie.
I say that hesitantly though because I have to say that I was very disappointed that almost all of the humor shared between William and Sarah was taken out of the movie. I remember when I read the book, I had tears rolling down my cheeks because I was laughing so hard. And I was horrified to hear only one or two lines from the book shared between both characters.
While I loved Anthony Andrews as William, I was not as certain about the actress playing Sarah. I like Annette O'Toole, I really do, but I didn't in this movie. I felt her acting was too over the top in some scenes and she was described much differently in the book and maybe I was too influenced by that description to really enjoy the performance. I found Annette's shaking her head from side to side to be too distracting.
Like the book, I lost interest during the Nazi invasion, and there was another major change. In the book, the character of Philip actually loved the character of Joachim Von Mannheim, the Nazi who had taken over the château during the war, but in the movie, he hated him.
The rest of the story involving the children interested me even less. With the exception of the brothers all being cute, the last part of the movie was very boring. Typical spoiled brats all making huge mistakes, hurting their mother.
Spoiler:
The ending was the dumbest I have ever seen for a miniseries. The idea that Julian would associate not only with his brother, but his ex-wife, who left Julian for Philip, and gave him their son, without caring a thing about it was ludicrous. There was the whole family, at a christening, including Philip and Julian's ex-wife, standing next to her son, and everyone is happily smiling at one another. Please!
This ending did not happen in the book, and I was very disappointed by it.
This is really the Jewel in the crown of all Danielle Steel novels made into a TV movie. But for anyone who read the book and loved it like me, there are some big disappointments.
Still a good watch, very romantic in many places.
So I was thrilled when they made a movie about it.
I have to admit, I loved the first part of the movie best. The romance between Sarah and William was my favorite part in the book and in the movie.
My other favorite aspect of the movie was Anthony Andrews as William. I love this actor, ever since I saw him as a kid in two movies I loved, Ivanhoe and The Scarlett Pimpernel. Casting him in the role of William Whitfield lent the TV melodrama a real sense of legitimacy. He is a great actor, and the perfect choice to play the Duke. Not only is he devastatingly handsome, he has a great sense of humor. You first saw it in The Scarlet Pimpernel, and was very important for this movie.
I say that hesitantly though because I have to say that I was very disappointed that almost all of the humor shared between William and Sarah was taken out of the movie. I remember when I read the book, I had tears rolling down my cheeks because I was laughing so hard. And I was horrified to hear only one or two lines from the book shared between both characters.
While I loved Anthony Andrews as William, I was not as certain about the actress playing Sarah. I like Annette O'Toole, I really do, but I didn't in this movie. I felt her acting was too over the top in some scenes and she was described much differently in the book and maybe I was too influenced by that description to really enjoy the performance. I found Annette's shaking her head from side to side to be too distracting.
Like the book, I lost interest during the Nazi invasion, and there was another major change. In the book, the character of Philip actually loved the character of Joachim Von Mannheim, the Nazi who had taken over the château during the war, but in the movie, he hated him.
The rest of the story involving the children interested me even less. With the exception of the brothers all being cute, the last part of the movie was very boring. Typical spoiled brats all making huge mistakes, hurting their mother.
Spoiler:
The ending was the dumbest I have ever seen for a miniseries. The idea that Julian would associate not only with his brother, but his ex-wife, who left Julian for Philip, and gave him their son, without caring a thing about it was ludicrous. There was the whole family, at a christening, including Philip and Julian's ex-wife, standing next to her son, and everyone is happily smiling at one another. Please!
This ending did not happen in the book, and I was very disappointed by it.
This is really the Jewel in the crown of all Danielle Steel novels made into a TV movie. But for anyone who read the book and loved it like me, there are some big disappointments.
Still a good watch, very romantic in many places.
Anthony Andrews = Superb
amyleegee1 November 2006
I really love this show - mainly due to the brilliant acting of Anthony Andrews who I believe was cast perfectly for this role. He played the role of the charming William perfectly... in my opinion his performance really makes Jewels a success. I liked Annette O'Toole also, but found her performance a little grating - especially in the labour scene which I thought was a little over the top. I preferred the first half of the series to the second half. I think that it turned into a bit of a soap opera to me with all their wayward children and their love lives :) I could watch the first half where William and Sarah first meet over and over though. Anthony's performance makes Jewels worth watching.
One of the best Danielle Steel TV movies
Monika-510 October 2000
As far as Danielle Steel's TV movie adaptions of her books, this is one of her very best, along with Once in a Lifetime and Vanished. Sure, it's a fluffy melodrama, but who cares?? Annette O'Toole and Anthony Andrews are both wonderful, and you really believe in their everlasting love for each other, and their children. The portrayals of the children (both as children and adults) are credible as well. Interesting note: Bradley Cole, who played Freddie, currently plays Prince Richard Winslow on Guiding Light.
i love this movie
tommy_girl_9981 April 2004
i am in love with this movie, it is the best, granted its long and some parts are long and tedius and not needed but its amazing, the love between sarah and william is amazing, everytime i watch it, i am astounded by the passion the film. i love robert wagners appearence in the end as well, that chemistry is great too. all in all its great..i will always watch this movie and think how wonderful it is an how wonderful the storyline is. I love the actors in the film, i never have seen annette otoole in anything until this, and she is an amazing actress. and anthony andrews is great too. all of them are absolutly a joy to see on screen. i will always watch this.
Aw, please! (possible spoilers)
angelinastarr18 November 2004
Warning: Spoilers
I was a kid when I saw this film and I thought it was wonderful. What little girl wouldn't enjoy watching a movie about fancy rocks and racy family members? I certainly did. My mother and I would watch this movie practically every weekend. Now that I am an adult, I realize that I have been deceived. How is it that most mini-series initially come out to be really great, but then a few years down the road, they turn out kind of crummy?!
Character's actions. Some of the characters were just not believable. I thought that Sarah (Annette O'Toole) had the tinniest laugh when she meets William (Anthony Andrews) for the first time. At least he was a perfect gentleman and didn't say anything to her about it. O'Toole has a superficiality throughout the entire movie that I just wanted to squish. Then their child Philip. What an ungracious, spoiled brat! I'm sorry, but if I were in her shoes and escaping from the Nazi's, I'd say, "Take my child, not me" I have to say I enjoyed the château immensely and I don't blame the bad guys for moving into it and making it their headquarters.
I have to say the only really good actors were William and the adult Phillip. They seemed to be the most enjoyable actors throughout the whole movie. I particularly enjoyed William while he was in his wheelchair and having all of those heart attacks. Then Phillip, he could run a harem the way he was running around town with that French Floozy.
They should change the title of this film to "William and Phillip" as they kept me entertained.
Character's actions. Some of the characters were just not believable. I thought that Sarah (Annette O'Toole) had the tinniest laugh when she meets William (Anthony Andrews) for the first time. At least he was a perfect gentleman and didn't say anything to her about it. O'Toole has a superficiality throughout the entire movie that I just wanted to squish. Then their child Philip. What an ungracious, spoiled brat! I'm sorry, but if I were in her shoes and escaping from the Nazi's, I'd say, "Take my child, not me" I have to say I enjoyed the château immensely and I don't blame the bad guys for moving into it and making it their headquarters.
I have to say the only really good actors were William and the adult Phillip. They seemed to be the most enjoyable actors throughout the whole movie. I particularly enjoyed William while he was in his wheelchair and having all of those heart attacks. Then Phillip, he could run a harem the way he was running around town with that French Floozy.
They should change the title of this film to "William and Phillip" as they kept me entertained.
Very entertaining homage to Wallis and Monaco
phd_travel14 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Extremely entertaining story with a historical sweep. Divorced after an abusive marriage she is swept off her feet by and English duke. When he's off at war she falls for a good German officer who is kind to her. The first part has a homage to the Wallis Simpson affair. Later when she has kids they each pick horrid spouses from an Italian gigolo prince to a total amoral jezebel. It's a hilarious send up of the Monaco family with a girl who looks like Caroline.
The dialogue is funny especially during the proposal from the Duke and when dealing with her children's idiotic marriage choices.
One of Danielle Steel'a better ones starring Annette OToole.
Very entertaining if you like saga movies.
Marie-78 November 1998
Enjoyed the talents of Bradley Cole
ehfr26 August 2001
I enjoyed Bradley Cole in the movie and think that with his talent, he could have easily played the lead...he is a very versatile actor and can play many extremely different roles. He has played Shakespeare and can speak French fluently, along with many different accents. Does a great British accent.
Do not hold out for your happiness
zelda196429 November 2003
I had seen the film many times and thought Miss O'Toole had a great performance. In the movie, the children grew to be snobbish and selfish. I felt that their mother was showing her devotion by bailing them out of every mess they got into. She sacrificed her wishes and desires for their well being and security. I feel that she was brave in war time and true to her Husband in his illness.
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