Product Description

Join host John Cleese for a four-part BBC series that studies the nuances of "The Human Face," from what defines beauty to the countless array of expressions used to communicate emotion, from biological, psychological, historical and cultural viewpoints. Special guests include Candice Bergen, Pierce Brosnan, Elizabeth Hurley, and Michael Palin. 3 1/3 hrs. on two discs. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; photo gallery; biographies; interviews.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #99033 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2001-08-28
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .15 pounds
• Running time: 200 minutes

Amazon.com
Anthropology, psychology, cultural history, and biology provide key filters in this breezy but substantial exploration of the focal impact of the face. Produced by the BBC as a four-hour series and broadcast in the U.S. on the Learning Channel, The Human Face benefits from host, narrator, and cowriter John Cleese's signature blend of erudition, enthusiasm, and wit. Along the way, Cleese presents information on the evolution of human facial features, the face's role in sexuality (including the biological significance of "bedroom eyes"), communication through facial expressions, and the face's essential role in defining identity. Ideals of physical beauty, the reasons why visual development and artistic expression focus on the face, and the nature of celebrity are examined, as are medical anomalies such as Mobius syndrome, a condition that eliminates the ability to smile. The presenter gets strategic help from guest Elizabeth Hurley, who gamely lampoons her own celebrated beauty in various sketches, and Cleese's fellow Monty Python alumnus Michael Palin, who pops up in Python-esque skits during the program's fourth segment on fame. Comments from scientific sources are augmented by thoughtful interviews with Pierce Brosnan and Candice Bergen, who convincingly address the downside of being drop-dead gorgeous. --Sam Sutherland