The Newport Mansions

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. narrates this visually rich guide to the ornate splendors of "la belle époque," the beautiful era which found resplendent examples in the "summer cottages" of the rich and famous on the beach at Newport, R.I. Stomping grounds of the Vanderbilts in real life, and Jay Gatsby, in the realm of fiction, the seven homes featured here all share at least one trait in common: they exude "conspicuous consumption." And they exude it very well thanks to the meticulous upkeep of the Preservation Society of Newport County. Previously open to the public only during selected times, Marble House, The Breakers, Chateau-Sur-Mer, Kingscote, The Elms, Rosecliff, and Hunter House (a representative from the colonial period), are now open all year round. In addition to the excellent tours which take viewers through all the nooks and crannies of each house, the narration is chockfull of choice historical tidbits about the architects and early residents of these lavish mansions. Opulent to what many might consider a vulgar degree, the Newport Mansions are nevertheless sterling symbols of a time long gone, or as one of the owners summed it up so famously: "we're the end of an era, if you please." Highly recommended. (Available from most distributors.)