'Lillie' is now on DVD

A classic from the golden age of the British miniseries on par with "Brideshead Revisited," the PBS "Masterpiece Theatre" classic, "Lillie," has been reissued on DVD from Acorn Media.

Renowned actress Francesca Annis ("Cranford," "Madame Bovary") stars as Lillie Langtry in this sumptuous production beset with meticulously recreated costumes and sets, location filming, and a 1,000-member cast.

The acclaimed 13-part drama was nominated for eight BAFTA Awards, including best drama series. With its splendid cast and exquisite production elements, "Lillie" vividly captures the complex woman who became one of the most infamous figures of the Victorian age.

Broadcast in 1979, the program also stars beloved British actors Anton Rodgers ("Fresh Fields"), Denis Lill ("Rumpole of the Bailey"), Peter Egan ("A Perfect Spy") and Joanna David ("The Forsyte Saga," "Pride and Prejudice".

Walt Whitman called Lillie Langtry “the essence of poetry.” James Whistler confessed that even he couldn't capture her beauty in a painting. And George Bernard Shaw declared her “intelligent, daring, and independent.” In a BAFTA award-winning performance, Francesca Annis portrays the acclaimed actress and courtesan from the blush of youth to the blight of still-glorious old age.

Smart, stunning, and scandalous, Lillie proved a forerunner to modern celebrity idols. At a time when society expected women to be docile and demure, Lillie posed for celebrity endorsements, conducted her own business affairs, and paid her first husband to keep his distance. Even more scandalously, she openly entertained a string of lovers among Europe's elite, including the very married Prince of Wales—all while managing to win the respect and admiration of his wife.

Bonus material:

• Essay about Lillie Langtry’s impact on pop culture and cast filmographies