Wednesday, August 22, 2007

HETTY WAINTHROPP INVESTIGATES-THE COMPLETE SERIES TV DVD REVIEW


A blurb from Acorn Media about “Hetty Wainthropp Investigates”-The Complete Collection” Acclaimed actress Patricia Routledge (Keeping Up Appearances) captivated American and British audiences alike as the 60-something housewife-turned detective, Hetty Wainthropp.

Move over Angela Lansbury, Patricia Routledge just took over as the world’s best amateur sleuth! I have always liked Patricia as Hyacinth Bucket in the long running, ”Keeping Up Appearances” series and she plays a no nonsense senior citizen that has a knack for asking the right questions and solving crimes. The show actually started as a pilot for the TV series entitled “Missing Persons” which she had a different husband and she looked different as well. Then 6 years later the BBC started the “Hetty Wainthroppe Investigates” series that ran for 4 seasons and 27 episodes. The show also was a springboard for the up & coming star Dominic Monaghan from “The Lord of the Rings” and now “Lost”. The show had a few known guest stars but mainly use the locals in Lancashire. This complete box set also includes the pilot story “Missing Persons” and an interview with Patricia Routledge with photo galleries and cast filmographies.


VIDEO

The video quality is very good! All episodes are filmed.


Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. It is also Mono on this set.

Disc 1- 1. “The Bearded Lady”
2. “Eye Witness”

Disc 2- 1. “Fingers”
2. “Widdershins”

Disc 3- 1. “A High Profile” with Anne Reid
2. “Safe As Houses”

Disc 4-1. “Poison Pen”
2. “Lost Chords”

Disc 5- 1. “Not All There (Runaways)”
2. “Astral Plane”

Disc 6- 1. “A Rose By Any Other Name” with Ronald Pickup and Joan Sims
2. “Woman Of The Year”


Disc 7- 1. “All Stitched Up”
2. “Daughter Of The Regiment”
3. “Serving The Community”

Disc 8- 1. “Fisticuffs”
2. “Child’s Play”
3. “Pursuit By Proxy”

Disc 9- 1. “A Minor Operation” with Wanda Ventham
2. “Helping Hansi” with Wanda Ventham and Michael Troughton
4. “How Time Flies” with Tenniel Evans

Disc 10-1. “Something to Treasure”
2. “Family Values”

Disc 11- 1. “Digging For Dirt”
2. “Mind Over Muscle”

Disc 12- 1. “Blood Relations”
2. “For Love Nor Money”

Disc 13-Bonus Disc

Pilot Movie-Missing Persons (104 Mins) (1990) with Jimmy Jewel


Extras

Disc 1- a conversation with Patricia Routledge (26:04)
Photo Gallery-20 Pictures
Cast Filmographies

Disc 2- None

Disc 3- None

Disc 4- Production Notes –(Text Only)
Cast Filmographies

Disc 5- None

Disc 6- None

Disc 7- Production Notes-Season 3-(Text Only)

Disc 8- None

Disc 9- None

Disc 10- Production Notes-Season 4-(Text Only)
Cast Filmographies

Disc 11- None

Disc 12- None

Disc 13- None

Verdict

I’d take Hetty over Jessica any day. A very nice series. My only concern is the packaging that the set came in. I about broke the discs getting them out. Apart from that, great!


Rating; *****!

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