Average Rating: 
Rating: - Oh, to have lived at 28 Barbary Lane!
If you can honestly say after viewing this mini-series that you don't wish you were in San Francisco in the 70's, your either dead or frigid!Ah! to have a landlady like Anna Madrigal, a pair of hunky guys next door (Michael Mouse and Brian!), a fag-hag party girl (Mona) and a fag-hag in training (Maryanne) all in one apartment complex! Add to that all the sex, disco and pot you can handle and you have the recipe for one of the best and most beloved TV series ever! "Tales of the City" is without a doubt a series you must OWN! Not rent, not borrow... OWN! No gay man in his right mind should be without it and every newbie should have it as "required viewing!" The magic of "Tales" is that it is equal parts drama, mystery, comedy, love story and a wonderful period piece. Rarely has a relationship between an older couple been portrayed with such tenderness and when Anna Madrigal states "There are many ways to make love without having sex and they last a lot longer", you can't help but connect with her yearning for something that transcends the ordinary. She is a larger than life woman and she wants memories and passion on a grand scale. I could not imagine anyone portaying Anna other than Olympia (though Shirley Maclaine/Bea Arthur might be interesting - since Shirley has that "other worldly quality" and Bea has that well.. "Masculine" quality!)... still, I would die a happy man if all of the six books were adapted to TV with Olympia in the lead! I fell in love with Laura Linney with this series. She's beautiful, naive, sprited, curious and eager to make her way in the free-love world of 70's San Francisco. Her growth throughout this series and the further evolution of her character in the two sequels (thus far!) are a study in excellent acting. Chloe Webb is also brilliant and I sorely miss her in the follow-ups. Michael Mouse's character is loveable and wonderfully annoying - I mean Marcus D'Amico is BEAUTUIFUL! and yet he's always kvetching how he'll never find his true love! (Give me HIS body and I'll find a way to suffer through!) Fortunately Michael Mouse's character is played equally as well in the follow-ups! DeDe Halycon, Beechum and our gorgeous Dr. Fielding are all brilliant as well! If you haven't seen this gem, your in for a REAL treat, if you have, snag that cutie who hasn't and cuddle up by the TV (drink and/or joint in hand) and settle in for your and/or his TV event (to be remembered) for a lifetime... YES, it's THAT GOOD! Chris
Rating: - Five solid hours of pure entertainment!
This wonderful PBS adaptation of Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City" is remarkably faithful to the book, a delightful look at San Francisco during the era of free-love. The cast, led by Olympia Dukakis as mysteriously quirky landlady Anna Madrigal, brings the tenants of 28 Barbary Lane to life on the small screen. Trivia buffs will undoubtedly smile when they see Thomas Gibson, better known to 90s TV fans as Greg on the television show "Dharma & Greg," as Beauchamp Day, one of the many unforgettable characters in this mini-series. It will make you laugh. It will make you cry. It will make you wish YOU were a resident of Barbary Lane. But be forewarned: At Barbary Lane, absolutely nothing is considered taboo. So grab a bowl of popcorn, Babycakes, and enjoy the ride! END
Rating: - Something for everybody
The "Tales of the City" series has become dear to my heart - probably my favorite movie of all time. The characters are one's that you'll love, from Mona's search for her purpose in life, to Mouse's quest for love, to Mary Ann's innocent take on things. Especially wonderful is Olympia Dukakis as Anna Madrigal. Her devotion to the Tales movies is commendable and her performance is outstanding. All in all, this is a great story about life in San Francisco in the 70s, from gay to straight, hippies to suits, poor to weathly. The plot keeps you craving for more. Also, I have yet to meet anyone who has seen this and not liked it. And to top it, the books are even better. Enjoy!
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