LAVERNE & SHIRLEY SEASON 4 DVD REVIEW

Laverne & Shirley start their fourth season still in Milwaukee working for the brewery. This season consists of 24 episodes. The show was a spin-off of Happy Days. The series lasted for eight seasons. Quite a few guest stars dropped by to visit the girls such as Hans Conreid, Toni Basil, Robert Alda, Anne Ramsey and Jay Leno. There are no special features on this set.

VIDEO

The video quality is very good! All discs have a Play All feature. All episodes are approx 22 minutes each.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Also here in mono.

Disc 1- 1. "The Festival" Pt. 1
"The Festival" Pt. 2
"Playing The Roxy"
"The Robbery"
"The Quiz Show"
"Laverne & Shirley Go To Night School"-with Hans Conreid

Disc 2- 6. "A Date with Eraserhead"
7. "The Bully Show"
8. "A Visit to the Cemetery"
9. "A Chorus Line"-with Toni Basil
10. "Laverne & Shirley Move In"
11. "Dinner for Four"

Disc 3- 12. "It’s A Dog’s Life"
13. "Oh, Come All Ye Bums"
14. "Who’s Papa?"-with Ed Begley Jr.
15. "The Third Annual Shotz Talent Show"
16. "Supermarket Sweep"
17. "Lenny’s Crush"

Disc 4-18. "The Fire Show"-with Anne Ramsey
19. "Squiggy’s In Love"
20. "The Feminine Mistake"-with Jay Leno
21. "Tenants Are Revolting"
"There’s A Spy In My Beer"-with G.W. Bailey
"Shirley and The Older Man"-with Robert Alda

Extras

Disc 1: None
Disc 2: None
Disc 3: None
Disc 4: None

Verdict

Season 5 should be out soon. Paramount has done a good job on this set!

I REMEMBER NELSON TV DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from Acorn Media about I Remember Nelson- Worshipped as a national savior, Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson masterminded the naval victories that thwarted Napoleon’s plans to invade Britain. Yet, in the midst of public adulation, rumors swirled about his private life. Nelson took a friend’s wife as a mistress and even fathered a child by her in secret.

Most British costume dramas can sometimes be a little boring, but I found that this series “I Remember Nelson” enjoyable in the fact that it is told in 4 different perspectives from 4 different people in Nelson’s life. The series originally aired on Masterpiece Theatre in 1982 starring Kenneth Colley as Horatio Nelson made famous among other things the saying “Kiss Me Hardy” referring to his Captain on ship when Nelson was hit by cannon fire and was dying down below deck. This 2-disc set has the 4 episodes from the mini series with Cast Filmographies and a Photo Gallery.

VIDEO

The video quality is good considering the age of the video! Each episode runs approx 52 mins each.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Is also in Mono but very clear!

Disc 1- 1. “Love”-with Laurence Naismith, John Gill and John Forbes-Robertson
2. “Passion”-with Tim Pigott-Smith

Disc 2- 1. “Duty”-with Daniel Massey
2. “Battle”

Extras

Disc 1: Cast Filmographies

Disc 2: Photo Gallery-26 pictures


Verdict

An engaging mini-series! If you are a sea-faring fan and like British Naval history, then you will like this!

THE SEA HUNTERS SET 2 DVD REVIEW

Clive Cussler, best known for his Dirk Pitt novels, comes “The Sea Hunters”, a documentary series that focuses on shipwrecks, maritime disasters and relic from World War 2. This set consists of the second 6 episodes that track things such as the Carpathia, the ship that saved the survivors of the Titanic which sank 6 years later due to German U-Boats and the Andrea Gail the story that became the movie “The Perfect Storm” among others! The team is led by renowned maritime Archaeologist James Delgado, which searches for these relics with submarines, 3-D imaging sonar and the latest mixed-gas dive equipment. The Sea Hunters is currently airing on the National Geographic Channel. This set includes extra footage from each episodes and a Clive Cussler Biography.

VIDEO

The video quality is great. The episodes run approx 48 minutes each.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Audio quality is also in Mono.


Disc 1-
1. “The Search for Carpathia”
2. “The Search for Andrea Gail”
3. “Catherine The Great’s Treasure Ship”

Disc 2-
4. “Russalka: The Czar’s Lost Ironclad”
5. “Lost At Sea: The Great US Navy Airships: Akron and Macon”
6. “The Search for the SS Alabama”


Extras


Disc 1- Bonus Footage from first three episodes
Clive Cusslar’s Biography- (Text Only)

Disc 2- Bonus Footage from last 3 episodes



Verdict

If you’re a fan of Shipwrecks and Diving, you’ll enjoy this show.

MATLOCK-SEASON 1 DVD REVIEW

A blurb from Paramount about Matlock Season 1: This 7-disc set contains all 24 Season One episodes of the immensely popular series, including the 2 hour TV movie “Diary of a Perfect Murder”, that introduced the character of Ben Matlock. Matlock is back, serving justice country-style!

My second favorite courtroom drama series has to be “Matlock”! This series was also a long running series lasting over 10 years! Matlock was a cross between Perry Mason and Columbo, where he would throw the guilty party off guard and then close the case. This 7 disc set covers the first 24 episodes with such luminaries as Dick Van Dyke, Piper Laurie, John Beck, William Conrad, Joe Penny, Jonathan Frakes, Pat Hingle and Roddy McDowell to name a few! The 2-part episode “The Don” has Joe Penny and William Conrad, which would later spin off in their own series “Jake and the Fatman”. Apart from some beginning episode teasers, there are no special features on this set. Thank God they came out with a full season set!

VIDEO

The video quality is fantastic! Episodes are also mostly uncut. There is also a Play All feature on each disc. Each episode runs approx 48 mins each.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Audio quality is mono but very clear!

Disc 1- 1. “Diary of a Perfect Murder”(Pilot) (91 Mins)
2. “The Judge”-with Dick Van Dyke, Piper Laurie and Bobbie Eakes
3. “The Stripper”

Disc 2- 1. “The Affair”-with Jeff Conaway and Carolyn Seymour
2. “The Seduction”-with John Beck and Alex Hyde White
3. “The Don” Part 1-with William Conrad, Joe Penny and Jose Ferrer
4. “The Don” Part 2-with William Conrad, Joe Penny and Jose Ferrer

Disc 3- 1. “The Sisters”-with Gail O’Grady and Conchata Ferrell
2. “The Cop”-with Hector Elanzio
3. “The Angel”-with Jonathan Frakes
4. “The Professor”-with Christopher McDonald and Don Porter

Disc 4- 1. “Santa Claus”-with Pat Hingle
2. “The Chef”-with Roddy McDowell
3. “The Author”-with Parker Stevenson and John Schuck
4. “The Rat Pack”-with Desi Arnez Jr and Greg Evigan

Disc 5- 1. “The Nurse”-with Billy Zane
2. “The Convict”-with Robert Pine and Larry Wilcox
3. “The Court-Martial” Part 1-with Barry Corbin, Dana Elcar and Tim Reid
4. “The Court-Martial” Part 2- with Barry Corbin, Dana Elcar and Tim Reid

Disc 6-1. “The Therapist”-with Kevin Hagen
2. “The People Vs Matlock”
3. “The Photographer”-with Billy Bob Thorton

Disc 7- 1. “The Reporter”
2. ”The Doctors”-with Norman Fell and Daniel Roebuck



Extras

Disc 1: None

Disc 2: None

Disc 3: None

Disc 4: None

Disc 5: None

Disc 6: None

Disc 7: None


Verdict

I’m a big fan of Matlock and I am looking forward to Season 2! I also hope that they keep at least the Matlock episodes as full season sets!

PERRY MASON 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION DVD REVIEW

One of the longest running Courtroom dramas was one of my favorites, “Perry Mason” played flawlessly by the great late Raymond Burr! This 50th Anniversary set is a treasure trove of episodes over the course of its 9-year run. In this 4 disc set there are 12 classic episodes some of which are the ones where Mason loses the case and where Burr plays a dual role and the only color episode and the final episode of the series. There is also on the special features disc (Disc 4) the first Reunion movie “Perry Mason Returns” as well as audition tapes where Burr played the Hamilton Burger part while William Hopper played Perry Mason! There is also audio commentary on the episode “The Dead Ringer” with Barbara Hale and Producer Arthur Marks. A good spread of episodes to keep you interested!

VIDEO

The video quality is superb! Digitally Remastered. There is a Play All feature. Barbara Hale optionally introduces every episode. Each episode runs approx 52 mins each.

Audio

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

Disc 1-
1. “The Case of the Wary Wildcatter”-with Barbara Bain
2. “The Case of the Treacherous Toupee”-with Robert Redford
3. “The Case of the Envious Editor”-with James Coburn
4. “The Case of the Barefaced Witness”-with Adam West and Paul Fix

Disc 2-
1. “The Case of the Counterfeit Crank”-with Burt Reynolds
2. “The Case of the Shoplifter’s Shoe”-with Leonard Nimoy
3. “The Case of the Constant Doyle”-with Bette Davis
4. “The Case of the Deadly Verdict”-with Julie Adams (Mason loses case)

Disc 3-
1. “The Case of the Bountiful Beauty”-with Ryan O’Neal
2. “The Case of the Twice Told Twist”-with Victor Buono (Only Color Episode)
3. “The Case of the Dead Ringer”-Burr plays a dual role
4. “The Case of the Final Fadeout”-with Dick Clark and Denver Pyle (Last Episode of the Series)

Disc 4- Special Features Disc-See Extras


Extras

Disc 1 : None

Disc 2: None

Disc 3: Audio Commentary on Dead Ringer with Barbara Hale and Arthur Marks

Disc 4: Perry Mason Returns-Reunion Movie- (95 Mins)
Perry Mason Talent Tests- (19:16)
The Case of Erie Stanley Gardner featurette- (11:32)
Syndication Promos- (01:03)
Raymond Burr Charlie Rose Interviews- (12:09)
Raymond Burr on “Person To Person”-(11:39)
New Barbara Hale Interview (19:55)
New Arthur Marks Interview- (18:33)
Photo Gallery-61 pictures
“Stump the Stars-Perry Mason Cast- (11:05)
William Talman anti-smoking message- (07:13)
CBS Executive Anne Nelson Interview- (04:31)


Verdict

A very well done set! I would highly recommend this set for anyone to buy!

THE LAST DETECTIVE SERIES 4 DVD REVIEW

A blurb from Acorn Media about The Last Detective Series 4: Beleaguered by life and belittled by his colleagues, “Dangerous” Davies (Peter Davison, DOCTOR WHO, ALL CREATURES GREAT & SMALL) cracks five all-new cases in the detective series that has delighted legions of loyal fans.

This box set is the final five episodes from Dangerous Davies. This time around his wife actually takes him back and also lets Mod live with them. Five more great stories arrive in this set for series 4. Davies still gets the least promising cases and his colleagues still mock him but he also solves some pretty good cases too. These episodes also has a few really good guest stars such as the Who’s Roger Daltrey, Leslie Phillips and New Doctor Who’s Camille Cordi and comedienne, Josie Lawrence. The special features are the same as series 1 & 2 and 3 with the exception of a really interesting video interview with the star himself, Peter Davison!

VIDEO

The video quality is great! Episodes run approx 69 minutes each.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Is also in Mono but very clear!

Disc 1- 1. “Once Upon a Time on the Westway” with Camille Cordi, Roger Daltrey and Anthony Valentine
2. “Dangerous Liaisons”
3. “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Willesden”

Disc 2- 1. “The Man From Montevideo”-with Josie Lawrence
2. “Dead Peasants Society”-with Leslie Phillips and Owen Teale


Extras

Disc 1: Cast filmographies
Leslie Thomas Biography

Disc 2: Peter Davison Video Interview (23:07)


Verdict

I really enjoyed this series. Peter Davison consistently puts out great performances! Well worth the buy!

FORTYSOMETHING-COMPLETE SERIES DVD REVIEW

A rather strange but funny series starring Hugh Laurie who also directed the first 3 episodes is about a middle-aged man hence the title “Fortysomething” who is a Doctor that is having a mid-life crisis and a affair or two. The series also stars Anne Chancellor from “Suburban Shootout” as his wife who also may be having affairs as well. By sheer coincidence or irony, the very next project for Laurie was to go to America to star in a TV series about a strange Doctor in the series “House”! This series had a few well-known British actors such as Sheila Hancock, Clive Mantle and Laurie’s comedy buddy for 10 years, Stephen Fry. Special Features include a text only Biography on Hugh Laurie and Cast Filmographies.

VIDEO

The video quality is great! All the episodes are on film. Film quality is quite good with little to no dirt or specks Each episode runs approx 49 mins each. There is also a Play All feature.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Also here in mono but very clear!

Disc 1- 1. “Episode 1”-with Sheila Hancock and Clive Mantle
2. “Episode 2”-with Stephen Fry
3. “Episode 3”

Disc 2- 1. “Episode 4”
2. “Episode 5”
3. “Episode 6”

Extras

Disc 1: Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)
Hugh Laurie Biography- (Text Only)

Disc 2: None


Verdict

A very good series. If you are a fan of Hugh Laurie, pick this one up!

TRIPPING THE RIFT-THE MOVIE DVD REVIEW

I enjoyed the series of “Tripping the Rift” and when I heard there was a movie version coming out I was happy to hear it. The movie like the “Uncensored” versions of the TV episodes have the sexual innuendo and language that are free for the taking but there is no nudity in the film at all! The movie also gives nods to Young Frankenstein in the Black & White sequence, The Terminator and Desperate Housewives. The thin plot for the movie is about an upset princess being protected by the group from another group of clown assassins. Jenny McCarthy voices this time the sexual android “Six of Nine” for the movie. The original voice cast also returns. A funny film but felt like a few episodes were thrown together. A movie defiantly not for kids! The disc comes with a making of featurette about the movie and a trailer to the film.

VIDEO

The video quality is great! The performance is 75 minutes long. The movie is in Widescreen.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. It is also in 5.1 Dolby Surround sound.

Disc 1- 1. “Tripping the Rift-The Movie”

Extras

Disc 1: Captain’s Log: The Making of Tripping the Rift-The Movie- (07:00)
Trailer- (02:06)

Verdict

I would recommend this movie if you are a fan of the TV series!

TORCHWOOD-SEASON 1 DVD REVIEW

A blurb from BBC Warner about Torchwood-Season 1: “Separate from the government, outside the police, beyond the United Nations: Torchwood sets its own rules. Led by the enigmatic, ever watchful Captain Jack Harkness, the Torchwood team delves into the unknown and fights the impossible.

Torchwood is a spin-off series of the revamped Doctor Who TV series. It deals with a covert and highly secret team of scientists that work at the Torchwood Institute that deal with alien intelligence and hardware that fall from the skies and invade Earth on a regular basis. The leader of the team is Captain Jack Harkness an alien from the future that was first introduced in the Doctor Who story “The Empty Child”. He is indestructible and has regenerative powers thanks to Rose in the story “The Parting of the Ways”. The show is more mature in content. There are stories about Cannibalism, Love affairs both Heterosexual and Homosexual and Bisexual, Time Rifts, and possible ending of the World. I personally like the stories but sometime the Adult content and profanity is thrown in your face for no other reason that shock value. Apart from that there were some good stories. The show is now in its second season and is popular now enough for a possible third season. The first season set includes Audio commentaries on every episode along with Deleted scenes, Outtakes, featurettes on every episode, a making of feature of the series and Torchwood: Declassified which are short takes on each episode by the cast and crew.

VIDEO

The video quality is fantastic! Episodes were shot in HD but shown on the discs as Standard. Episodes are also uncut. There is also a Play All feature on each disc. Each episode runs approx 50 mins each.

Audio

Was originally recorded in 5.1. It is presented on this set as 5.1.

Disc 1- 1. “Everything Changes”
2. “Day One”

Disc 2- 1. “Ghost Machine”-with Gareth Thomas
2. “Cyberwoman”
3. “Small Worlds”

Disc 3- 1. “Countrycide”
2. “Greeks Bearing Gifts”

Disc 4- 1. “They Keep Killing Suzie”
2. “Random Shoes”


Disc 5- 1. “Out of Time”
2. “Combat”

Disc 6-1. “Captain Jack Harkness”
2. “End Of Days”

Disc 7- 1. Torchwood Declassified

1. “Welcome to Torchwood” (10:36)
2. “Bad Day at the Office” (09:05)
3. “Girl Trouble” (10:06)
4. “The Country Club” (10:25)
5. “Beyond The Grave” (10:41)
6. “Time Flies” (10:31)
7. “Blast From The Past” (10:05)
8. “Jack’s Back” (08:00)
9. “Loving History” (09:04)
10. “Away With The Faries” (10:06)
11. “There’s Something About Mary” (10:23)
12. “Dead Man Walking” (10:18)
13. “Weevil Fight Club” (10:23)
14. “To The End” (10:24)


Extras

Disc 1: Audio Commentaries on “Everything Changes” and “Day One”
Welcome To Torchwood (14:30)
Torchwood on the Scene (15:40)
Torchwood Out of This World (10:32)
Deleted Scenes (11:02)

Disc 2: Audio Commentaries on “Ghost Machine”, “Cyberwoman” and “Small Worlds”
Torchwood Out of This World-“Ghost Machine” (05:15)
“Cyberwoman” (04:17)
“Small Worlds” (05:14)

Disc 3: Audio Commentaries on “Countrycide” and “Greeks Bearing Gifts”
Torchwood-Sex, Violence Blood and Gore (15:40)
Torchwood-The Team and Their Troubles (10:26)


Disc 4: Audio Commentaries on “They Keep Killing Suzie” and “Random Shoes”
Torchwood on the Road (09:07)
Torchwood The Team and their Troubles (11:43)
Deleted Scenes (06:49)

Disc 5: Audio Commentaries on “Out of Time” and “Combat”
Torchwood Moments in the Making (10:38)
The Captain’s Log (10:24)

Disc 6: Audio Commentaries on “Captain Jack Harkness” and “End Of Days”
Torchwood Moments in the Making (10:35)
Torchwood on Time (10:08)
Deleted Scenes (14:17)
Outtakes (05:36)

Disc 7: Bonus Disc-Torchwood Declassified-See above



Verdict

A defiantly different series to Doctor Who! If you can get past the Adult content, it’s a pretty good series! Will look forward to Season 2 when it comes out.

DOCTOR WHO-ARC OF INFINITY DVD REVIEW

A blurb from BBC Warner about Doctor Who-Arc of Infinity: Traveling with Nyssa in the Tardis, the Doctor is attacked by a malign entity-a being of pure anti-matter seeking to cross the dimensions. Although the invader is successfully repelled, the Tardis is immediately recalled to Gallifrey, where the High Council of the Time Lords sentence the Doctor to be executed to prevent any further attempts at bonding.

The first story from the second season of Peter Davison’s reign as the doctor is also the 20th Anniversary season of the series. This story in many ways is a sequel to “The Three Doctors” where Omega finally crosses over to the real world of matter and someone on Gallifrey is helping him but is setting up the Doctor to take the fall and be bonded with Omega so he can cross from the anti-matter universe. The story played pretty well with the future Doctor, Colin Baker playing a minor role as the Captain of the guards. It also showed the return of Tegan back to the series. Why they filmed in Amsterdam is beyond me, more than likely having something to do with the producer’s choice of location. The story also had a wonderful character actor in it being Michael Gough. This story and “Time-Flight” is presented in a 2 Disc set but I am reviewing them separately. This disc also includes an Audio Commentary with Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, Sarah Sutton and Colin Baker, two featurettes, one about the making of this story and the other about the character of Omega, behind the scenes footage of the story, deleted and extended scenes, original on-air continuity announcements and a new feature with new CGI effects option to watch the story that way or the original way it was presented.

VIDEO

The video quality is great! There is a Play all feature. The total story is approx 98 minutes long.

Audio

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

Disc 1- 1. “Arc of Infinity”-with Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, Sarah Sutton and Colin Baker (98 mins)
Part One (24:37)
Part Two (24:43)
Part Three (24:39)
Part Four (24:29)

Extras

Disc 1: Audio Commentary by Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton and Colin Baker
Anti-Matter from Amsterdam (34:53)
The Omega Factor (14:56)
Deleted and Extended Scenes (2:55)
Under Arc Lights (11:32)
Photo Gallery (07:43)
New CGI Effects
Original Continuity Announcements (03:12)
Music Only Option
Radio Times Listing and 1983 Dr Who Annual on DVD Rom
Production text notes
Coming Soon Trailer (01:01)


Verdict

A much better story to kick off the 20th Anniversary season! I had also the pleasure of meeting Peter Davison on a few occasions at Dr Who Conventions over the years and found him to be very nice and approachable!

DOCTOR WHO-TIME-FLIGHT DVD REVIEW

A blurb from BBC Warner about Doctor Who-Time-Flight: The Tardis arrives by accident in the middle of Terminal One at Heathrow Airport. One of the supersonic Concordes has disappeared midair, and the Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa soon become involved in a hunt for the missing airplane.

The last story from the first season of Peter Davison’s reign as the doctor takes place at London’s Heathrow Airport for there are missing Concordes that takes the Doctor back in time to the prehistoric era to find a deadly foe that is trying to seize control of the ancient powers of the Xeraphin. The group is still reeling over the death of Adric from the previous story “Earthshock”. They find two Concordes that they eventually get back to present day but with no help from the Deadly foe, which is none other than the Master! The story itself was pretty good but played way over the top by Anthony Ainley. The character of Tegan left the Doctor at the end of this story only to come back one story later in “Arc of Infinity”. Doctor Who was the first TV series to film at Heathrow Airport. This story and “Arc of Infinity is presented in a 2 Disc set but I am reviewing them separately. This disc also includes an Audio Commentary with Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, Sarah Sutton and Script Editor Eric Saward, a short featurette about the character of Tegan, behind the scenes footage of the story, deleted and extended scenes, outtakes and an interview with the director of the story, the late Peter Grimwade.

VIDEO

The video quality is great! There is a Play all feature. The total story is approx 98 minutes long.

Audio

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

Disc 1- 1. “Time-Flight”-with Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton (98 mins)
Part One (24:57)
Part Two (24:01)
Part Three (24:30)
Part Four (24:32)

Extras

Disc 1: Audio Commentary by Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton
Mouth on Legs! (13:38)
Deleted and Extended Scenes (3:46)
Jurassic Larks (19:32)
Outtakes (13:53)
Interview with Peter Grimwade (4:12)
Photo Gallery (08:12)
Radio Times Listing and Dr Who Annual on DVD Rom
Production text notes
Coming Soon Trailer (01:01)



Verdict

A fairly good story to end Davison’s first season. I had also the pleasure of meeting Peter Davison on a few occasions at Dr Who Conventions over the years and found him to be very nice and approachable!

SUBURBAN SHOOTOUT-THE SERIES DVD REVIEW

This short series is extremely odd yet infectious in the sense that it is best described quoted rightly as a cross between “Desperate Housewives meets the Sopranos”, could not have put it better myself! It is basically about a mild mannered woman that her and her husband has moved into a quite town that is not so quiet! There is death, Guns, Shootouts, Blackmail you name it! Defiantly a “Black Comedy”. The series aired on the Oxygen Channel in 2006. For a single disc, it is crammed full with features such as audio commentaries, behind the scenes documentary and Cast Filmographies .

VIDEO

The video quality is good! Each episode runs 20 minutes in length. There is also a play all feature.

Audio

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

Disc 1- 1. “Hot Flush”
2. “Super Sex Me”
3. “Kill Bill”
4. “Botox Rox”
5. “Dance Chill”
6. “Throw Mama From The Train”
7. “Let the Binging Commence”
8. “What Do I Hear For Rod Stewart’s Thong?”

Extras

Disc 1: Audio Commentaries on Every Episode
Behind The Scenes- (17:56)
Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)

Rating: ****!

MIDSOMER MURDERS SET 10 DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from Acorn Media about Midsomer Murders Set 10: What Evil Lurks Beyond the Well-Trimmed Hedges of Midsomer… The cozy villages of Midsomer County reveal their most sinister secrets in these contemporary British television mysteries.

Midsomer Murders is a British TV Drama about murders that take place in the English countryside of Midsomer. The show focuses on the main character Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby, played by John Nettles (Bergerac, Dickens of London) and his way of solving crimes that afflict Midsomer. This set is the next four feature-length stories that are tremendously popular and which to this day are making new episodes. This set is Series 10. Also on this set is a Caroline Graham biography and Cast Filmographies.

VIDEO

The video quality is good! All episodes are on film. All episodes are approx 94 minutes each. Episodes are in Widescreen.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Also here in mono.

Disc 1- 1. “Second Sight”-with Wanda Ventham

Disc 2- 1. “Hidden Depths” with Oliver Ford Davies

Disc 3- 1. “Sauce For The Goose”

Disc 4-1. “Midsomer Rhapsody”-with Trevor Peacock and Christopher Benjamin

Extras

Disc 1: Caroline Graham Biography- (Text Only)
Cast Fimographies

Disc 2: Cast Fimographies

Disc 3: Cast Fimographies

Disc 4: Cast Fimographies


Verdict

Intriguing Crime Series. Looking forward to more sets!

MIDSOMER MURDERS-THE EARLY CASES DVD REVIEW

At first I didn’t get the Midsomer Murder series but the more I watched, I was hooked and to have the first 18 feature length episodes of the series that fleshes out the main characters and the extraordinary villains of each show makes you want to keep watching! This collection is also in original UK broadcast order. The series is still in production with more than 60 episodes! This set also includes a text essay by actor John Nettles, A midsomer map, production notes, a behind the scenes featurette with a Caroline Graham text biography and Cast Filmographies. There is also a 19th disc with a 47-minute documentary called Super Sleuths.

VIDEO

The video quality is very good! All episodes are shot on film. Each episode runs approx 101 mins


Audio

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

Disc 1- 1- “The Killing at Badger’s Drift”-with Julian Glover

Disc 2- 2- “Written In Blood”-with Una Stubbs and David Troughton

Disc 3- 3- “Death of a Hollow Man”-with Angela Pleasance

Disc 4- 4- “Faithful Unto Death”

Disc 5- 5- “Death In Disguise”-with Geoffrey Beevers

Disc 6- 6- “Death’s Shadow”-with Richard Briers

Disc 7- 7- “Strangler’s Wood”-with Frank Windsor and Phyllis Logan

Disc 8- 8-“Dead Man’s Eleven”-with Robert Hardy

Disc 9- 9- “Blood Will Out”-with Phyllida Law

Disc 10- 10-“ Death of a Stranger”-with Richard Johnson

Disc 11- 11- “Blue Herrings”-with Geoffrey Bayldon, Cyril Shaps and Caroline John


Disc 12- 12- “Judgment Day”-with Hannah Gordon, Orlando Bloom and Timothy West

Disc 13- 13- “Beyond the Grave”-with Prunella Scales

Disc 14- 14- “Garden of Death”

Disc 15 15- “Destroying Angel”-with Samantha Bond and Robert Lang

Disc 16 16- “The Electric Vendetta”-with John Woodvine

Disc 17-17- “Who Killed Cock Robin?-with Ian McNeice and George Innes

Disc 18-18- “Dark Autumn”

Disc 19-Bonus Disc-Super Sleuths-Documentary-(47 Mins)


Extras

Disc 1- Production Notes-Text Only
Map of Midsomer Country
Caroline Graham Biography and Book List
Cast Filmographies

Disc 2- Map of Midsomer Country
Cast Filmographies

Disc 3- Map of Midsomer Country
Cast Filmographies

Disc 4- Map of Midsomer Country
Cast Filmographies

Disc 5- Map of Midsomer Country
Cast Filmographies

Disc 6- Map of Midsomer Country
Caroline Graham Biography and Book List
Cast Filmographies

Disc 7- Map of Midsomer Country
Caroline Graham Biography and Book List
Cast Filmographies

Disc 8- Map of Midsomer Country
Caroline Graham Biography and Book List
Cast Filmographies
Production Notes-Text Only

Disc 9- Map of Midsomer Country
Caroline Graham Biography and Book List
Cast Filmographies

Disc 10- Map of Midsomer Country
Caroline Graham Biography and Book List
Cast Filmographies
Production Notes-Text Only

Disc 11- Map of Midsomer Country
Caroline Graham Biography and Book List
Cast Filmographies

Disc 12- Map of Midsomer Country
Caroline Graham Biography and Book List
Cast Filmographies

Disc 13- Map of Midsomer Country
Caroline Graham Biography
Cast Biographies

Disc 14- “The Inside Story-Midsomer Murders”-(8:23)
Map of Midsomer Country
Caroline Graham Biography
Cast Filmographies
Production Notes-Text Only

Disc 15- Map of Midsomer Country
Cast Filmographies

Disc 16- Map of Midsomer Country
Cast Filmographies

Disc 17- Map of Midsomer Country
Cast Filmographies

Disc 18- Map of Midsomer Country
Cast Filmographies

Verdict

I greatly enjoyed this set! My only disappointment with the set is the packaging. With most big sets, the DVD holders make it almost impossible to remove the discs easily.

WILD WILD WEST SEASON 4 TV DVD REVIEW

A blurb from Paramount about The Wild, Wild West Season 4: U.S. Secert Agents James West and Artemus Gordon are back in action in the fourth and final season of the Wild Wild West.

The fourth and final season of Wild, Wild West is now on DVD! The digitally remastered episodes are just as sharp and clear as the first, second and third seasons except for the episode “Night of the Plague” which for some reason was a bad film print. The fourth season was pitted with the severe health of actor Ross Martin suffering a major heart attack which made quite a few episodes from the last season filled with fill in guests to cover Martin’s absence. Michael Dunn’s health was also getting worse and was again only in 1 episode that season. Ross Martin came back within the last six episodes of the series looking slimmer and better than he did before. This season also has 24 episodes that are uncut. There are quite a few guest stars such as Kevin McCarthy, Jay Robinson, Simon Oakland, Sorrell Booke, William Marshall, Khigh Dhiegh, Barry Atwater, Harold Gould, Alan Hale and Jim Backus to name more than a few. I did enjoy most of the stories this season. Again, there are no extras to this set as the previous season set.

VIDEO

The video quality is fantastic! Episodes are also uncut. Each episode runs approx 51 mins each.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Audio quality is mono but very clear!

Disc 1- 1. “The Night Of The Big Blackmail”-with Harvey Korman
2. “The Night of the Doomsday Formula”-with Kevin McCarthy
3. “The Night Of The Juggernaut”
4. “The Night Of the Sedgwick Curse”-with Jay Robinson

Disc 2- 1. “The Night of the Gruesome Games”-with William Schallert
2. “The Night Of The Kraken”-with Jason Evers, Ted Knight and Anthony Caruso
3. “The Night Of The Fugitives”-with Simon Oakland and Mickey Hargitay
4. “The Night Of the Egyptian Queen”-with Sorrell Booke and William Marshall

Disc 3- 1. “The Night Of Fire and Brimstone”-with Dabbs Greer
2. “The Night of the Camera”-with Pat Paulsen and Barry Atwater
3. “The Night Of The Avaricious Actuary”-with Harold Gould and Fritz Feld
4. “The Night Of Miguelito’s Revenge”-with Michael Dunn and Charles Aidman

Disc 4- 1. “The Night Of The Pelican”-with Khigh Dheigh and Vincent Beck
2. “The Night Of The Spanish Curse”-with Thayer David
3. “The Night Of The Winged Terror Part 1”-with Jackie Coogan and Bernard Fox
4. “The Night Of The Winged Terror Part 2”-with Vic Perrin and Lisa Todd

Disc 5- 1. “The Night of the Sabatini’s Death”-with Alan Hale and Jim Backus
2. “The Night Of The Janus”-with Jack Carter and Charles Aidman
3. “The Night Of The Pistoleros”-with Robert Pine and Perry Lopez
4. “The Night Of The Diva”

Disc 6- 1. “The Night Of The Bleak Island”-with John Williams and Beverly Garland
2. “The Night Of The Cossacks”-with John Van Dreelen
3. “The Night Of The Plague”-with John Hoyt and Lana Wood
4. “The Night Of The Tycoons”-with Jo Van Fleet


Extras

Disc 1: None

Disc 2: None

Disc 3: None

Disc 4: None

Disc 5: None

Disc 6: None

Verdict

End of a great series, End of an Era. Great Stuff!



Rating: *****!

THE MOD SQUAD SEASON 1 VOLUME 2

The second volume of the Aaron Spelling’s first prime time series is now out with the 1969-1970 season. The series starred Michael Cole as Pete Cochran, Clarence Williams III as Linc Hayes and Peggy Lipton as Julie Barnes. This volume consists of the last 13 episodes of Season 1 in crystal clear quality. There is also a featurette about Peggy Lipton’s Style of clothing for the series. Such up and coming guest stars were Russ Conway, Monte Markham, Louis Gossett Jr., Leslie Ann Warren, Bo Hopkins, Robert Duvall and John Beck along side such greats as Sammy Davis Jr, Ida Lupino and William Windom.

VIDEO

All 13 episodes have been Digitally Remastered. Each episode runs approx 51 mins. There is also a Play All feature

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Audio quality is good to very good.


Disc 1- 1. “Hello Mother, My Name is Julie”-with William Windom and Leonard Stone
2. “Flight Five Doesn’t Answer”-with Whit Bissell and Russ Conway
3. “Shell Game”
4. “Fear is the Bucking Horse”-with Ed Begley and Monte Markham

Disc 2- 5. “A Hint of Darkness, A Hint of Light”
6. “The Uptight Town”-with Jason Evers, Cliff Osmond and Lou Gossett Jr.
7. “A Reign of Guns”-with J D Cannon

Disc 3- 8. “A Run for the Money”-with Leslie Ann Warren and Tom Bosley
9. “Child of Sorrow, Child of Light”-with Ida Lupino and Foster Brooks
10. “Keep The Faith, Baby”-with Sammy David Jr. and Robert Duvall

Disc 4-11. “Captain Greer, Call Surgery”-with Edward Andrews and Army Archard
12. “Peace Now-Arly Blau!”-with Christopher Connelly and Ross Hagan
13. “A Seat By The Window”-with Bo Hopkins and John Beck


Extras

Disc 1: None

Disc 2: None

Disc 3: None

Disc 4: Hello, My Name is Julie: The Mod Look- (10:15)


Verdict

A great series and Season 2 should be on the way soon! Go buy it!

Rating: ****!

LOVE AMERICAN STYLE SEASON 1 VOLUME 2 TV DVD REVIEW

The next volume of the comedy classic series is now available! The show was an anthology of comedic short stories with an ever-changing cast all to do with “Love” in one way or another. Also between stories are very quick vignettes that play like a “Laugh-In” sketch which at times, were funnier than the stories themselves! There are lots of noticeable names that graced the show as well as newcomers to the world of entertainment, such as George Gobel, Vivian Vance, Dorothy Lamour, Wally Cox, Steve Allen, Darren McGavin and Forrest Tucker to name a few as well as a very young Penny Marshall, Mike Farrell, Kurt Russell and Burt Reynolds! This volume is considered a “Vanilla” release meaning there are no extras except the episodes being unedited. This volume also consists of the final 12 episodes from the first season.

VIDEO

I don’t think the episodes are Digitally Remastered but the film prints are quite crisp and in very good shape. The episodes are approx 51 mins each and are shown in Airdate order.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Audio quality is also in Mono. Very strong sound.


Disc 1- Episode 16 (51:53)
1. “Love and the Medium”-with George Gobel and Vivian Vance
2. “Love and the Bed”-with Roger Perry and George Tobias
3. “Love and the High School Flopout”

Episode 8 (52:00)
1. “Love and the Pickup”-with Dorothy Lamour, Penny Marshall and Mike Farrell
2. “Love and the Proposal”-with Joan Hackett and Joan Van Ark
3. “Love and the Fighting Couple”-with Dick Sargent and Mariette Hartly

Episode 15 (51:55)
1. “Love and the Boss’ Ex”-with Ray Walston and Pat Harrington
2. “Love and Mr. Nice Guy”-with Wally Cox and Ray Danton
3. “Love and the Gangster”-with Nehemiah Persoff and Jerry Van Dyke

Episode 18 (51:53)
1. “Love and the Poor Crusader’s Wives”-with Monte Markham and Woodrow Parfrey
2. “Love and the Big Night”-with Julie Newmar and Tony Randall
3. “Love and the VIP Restaurant”-with Shelly Berman and Kaye Ballard


Disc 2- Episode 19 (51:55)
1. “Love and the Nervous Executive”-with Carol Wayne and Paul Lynde
2. “Love and the Hitchhiker”-with Bob Denver and Joey Heatherton
4. “Love and the Great Catch”-with Pat Carroll, George Lindsey and Adam West

Episode 20 (52:02)
1. “Love and the Banned Book”-with Elizabeth Ashley and Burt Reynolds
2. “Love and the First Nighters”-with Jackie Coogan and Kurt Russell
3. “Love and the King”-with Ron Masak and Herb Vigan

Episode 21 (51:54)
1. “Love and The Coed Dorm”-with Karen Valentine
2. “Love and the Optimist”-with Jo Anne Worley and David Ketchum
3. “Love and the Teacher”-with Orson Bean and Clint Howard

Episode 10 (51:56)
1. “Love and Safely Married Man”
2. “Love and the Uncoupled Couple”-with Tom Bosley, Darryl Hickman and Greg Morris
3. “Love and the Many Married Couple”-with Steve Allen, Jack Cassidy and Joyce Meadows

Disc 3- Episode 22 (51:41)
1. “Love and Las Vegas”-with Bill Dana and Edward Everett Horton
2. “Love and the Good Samaritans”-with Kenneth Mars and Jack Riley
3. “Love and the Marriage Counselor”-with Jim Backus and Bernie Kopell

Episode 12 (51:54)
1. “Love and The Other Guy”-with Donna Douglas and Gary Collins
2. “Love and the Grandma”-with Meredith MacRae and Patrick Wayne

Episode 23 (51:54)
1. “Love and the Fly”-with Darren McGavin and Suzanne Pleshette
2. “Love and the Millionaires”-with Jonathan Harris and Forrest Tucker
3. “Love and the Double Trouble”-with Phyllis Davis and Malachi Thorne

Episode 24 (51:54)
1. “Love and the Minister”-with Richard Long and Van Williams
2. “Love and the Geisha”-with Carolyn Jones and Red Buttons
3. “Love and the Single’s Apartment”-with Joyce Van Patten and Mel Torme


Extras


Disc 1- None

Disc 2- None

Disc 3-None


Verdict

Season 2 should be on its way hopefully soon!


Rating: ****!

THE LOAVE BOAT SEASON 1 VOLUME 1 TV DVD REVIEW

One of my favorite sitcoms from the 1970’s was “The Love Boat”! The show had a fairly now typical way of showing 3 different stories arcing into the same episode as a theme with some other show of that time. It was another in a long line of very popular TV series created by Aaron Spelling that ran for an amazing 10 seasons and 249 episodes. There were 2 90-minute pilots for the series that are not on this set and probably wont be on any future sets. This set consists of the first 12 episodes of the 1977 season. What I really enjoyed about this series was that it let a lot of stars of the Golden and bygone eras of film to have a chance of still acting and some their final performances! The only special feature on this set is the original episode promos that started each episode.

VIDEO

I don’t think the episodes are Digitally Remastered but the film prints are quite crisp and in pretty good shape considering the age. The episodes are approx 51 mins each and are shown in Airdate order.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Audio quality is also in Mono. Very strong sound.


Disc 1-
1. “Captain and the Lady/One if By Land/Centerfold”-with Bonnie Franklin and Suzanne Summers
2. “Oh Dale/The Main Event/A Tasteful Affair”-with John Ritter and Jaclyn Smith
3. “Ex Plus Y/Graham & Kelly/Golden Agers”-with Edward Andrews, Scott Baio, Robert Reed and Loretta Swit
4. “Message for Maureen”/Acapulco Connection/Gotcha!”-with Milton Berle, Bill Bixby and Charo

Disc 2-
5. “Help! Murder! /Isaac the Groupie/ Mr. Popularity”-with Dianne Carroll, Michelle Lee and Jim Nabors
6. “The Joker is Mild/First Time Out/Take My Granddaughter, Please!”-with Patty Duke Astin, Tab Hunter and Maureen McCormick
7. “The Identical Problem/Julie’s Old Flame/The Jinx”-with Ray Bolger, David Hedison
8. “The Understudy/Married Singles/ Lost & Found”-with Steve Allen and Loni Anderson

Disc 3-
9. “Romance Roulette/The Captain’s Captain/Hounded (A Dog’s Life)”-with Gary Burgoff and Phil Silvers and Jane Curtin
10. “Dear Beverly/The Strike/ Special Delivery”-with Pamela Franklin, Eva Gabor and Leslie Nielsen
11. “Lonely At The Top/Divorce Me, Please/Silent Night”-with John Gavin Donna Mills and Dick Sargent
12. “The Old Man and The Runaway/A Fine Romance/ The Painters”-with Will Geer, Arte Johnson, Pat Morita, Tom Poston and Anson Williams


Extras


Disc 1- Original Episode Promos

Disc 2- Original Episode Promos

Disc 3- Original Episode Promos


Verdict

I really looking forward to the next volume to come out!

HOUSEWIFE, 49-TV DVD REVIEW

A blurb from Acorn Media about Housewife, 49: Written and starring beloved British actress Victoria Wood, Housewife, 49 presents a moving glimpse into life on the home front through the eyes of a resolute woman gradually awakening to life.

This TV movie was based on the World War II diaries of one Nella Last. The Mass Observation project was started in 1939 to examine the lives of ordinary people asking them to start a diary about their feeling on politics and everyday things. During wartime, Nella wrote about her life and struggles, which were poignant and moving. She continued writing her diaries until her death in 1968. Victoria Wood won a BAFTA Award for her portrayal of Nella. The movie has not been broadcast as of yet here in the States. This disc also features a text interview with Victoria Wood and Cast Filmographies.

VIDEO

The video quality is great! The TV movie is 92 minutes long.

Audio

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

Disc 1- 1. “Housewife, 49”-Movie

Extras

Disc 1: Victoria Wood Interview- (Text Only)
Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)

Verdict

An interesting look at life in Britain during World War II. Well Done!


Rating: ****!

VISIONS OF IRELAND DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from Acorn Media about Visions Of Ireland- From Galway to Dublin, savor spectacular scenery from the perspective of the faeries.

The newest documentary in the “Visions Of” series is the “Visions Of Ireland”! Ireland is rich with history and it castles and this program sure shows that! See where the Blarney Stone came from and the rolling countryside with “40 shades of Green”. Again filmed by Roy Hammond, with a high-definition camera mounted on the bottom of a helicopter, shows views of countrysides and cities that are absolutely breathtaking!! This disc like the one on Scotland has bonus footage as well.

VIDEO

The video quality is fantastic! The documentary is done on videotape but is stunning! Excellent quality. The documentary runs approx 75 mins


Audio

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

Disc 1- 1. Opening, Croagh Patrick, Galway
2. Clonmacnoise, Sligo, Classiebawn, Giant’s Causeway
3. Belfast
4. Lough Neagh, Armagh, Mount Stewart, Bru Na Boinne, Kells, Wicklow Mountains, Glendalbugh
5. Cashel, Blarney Castle, Cork, Killaruey National Park
6. Skellig Islands, Galley Head
7. Cliffs of Moher, Inishaan, Inishmore, Insheer, Lough Corrib, The Burren and Limerick
8. Dublin
9. Credits

Extras

Disc 1: Bonus footage not shown on TV (18:27)

Verdict

I really loved these programs! Buying this program would perfectly make a trilogy of the British Isles and make a great gift for any anglophile! Fantastic!


Rating; *****!

BL STRYKER SEASON 1 TV DVD REVIEW

BL Stryker were made for TV movies for the ABC network from February 1989 to May 1990. They starred Burt Reynolds as BL (Buddy Lee) Stryker, a retired New Orleans Police officer that moved back to his home state of Florida and became a private investigator. Reynolds’s character builds from movie to movie. The series was produced by Magnum himself, Tom Selleck! I had the opportunity to work with Burt Reynolds on the set of Cop & ½ in Tampa, Florida in the summer of 1992. This set comprises of the first 5 TV movies that made up the first season. Guest stars that graced the movies were Ossie Davis, Kristy Swanson, Rita Moreno, Peter Palmer to name a few. The extras in this set are 3 scripts from the series on PDF format on DVD Rom. The scripts are from the episodes: Blind Chess, Auntie Sue and Blues for Buder.

VIDEO

The video quality is slightly washed out but still very clear!
All movies are approx. 94 minutes each.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Is also in Mono but very clear!

Disc 1- 1. “The Dancer’s Touch”-with Ossie Davis, Kristy Swanson and Rita Moreno
2. “Caroleann”-with Deborah Raffin

Disc 2- 1. “Blind Chess”-with Peter Palmer
2. “Auntie Sue”-with Maureen Stapleton, Jack Gilford and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Disc 3- 1. “Blues For Buder”-with Neil Patrick Harris and Michael Chiklis


Extras

Disc 1: None

Disc 2: None

Disc 3: Scripts in PDF format on DVD Rom-“Blind Chess’, “Auntie Sue” and “Blues for Buder”


Verdict

A fun series set in Florida, What could be better!

Rating: *****!

ROUGH DIAMOND-TV DVD REVIEW

I was quite impressed with Rough Diamond, which was actually called “Diamond Geezer” in the U.K. Rough Diamond is about a master thief that in the pilot is a prison inmate that escapes to steal diamonds from a boxing bully in prison. Acting legend Sir David Jason best known for “Only Fools and Horses” and the voice of “Dangermouse” wonderfully plays the master thief. The pilot was shot in 2005 and 3 more episodes followed in 2007. The series for me is a cross between “The Saint” and “The Persuaders”. David Jason is such a great actor; you’re watching every subtle gesture he makes! There are some great guest stars that are in the series such as Jenny Agutter, George Cole, Mary Tamm, Don Warrington and Simon Williams. The set includes Cast Filmographies and text interviews with the stars.

VIDEO

The video quality is great! The pilot runs 93 mins and each episode is approx. 68 mins each. It is presented in Widescreen.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Is also in Mono but very clear!

Disc 1- 1. “Rough Diamond” (93 mins)
2. “A Royal Affair”-with Mary Tamm, George Cole, Jenny Agutter and David Troughton

Disc 2- 1. “Old Gold”-with Roy Marsden
2. “Old School Lies”-with Don Warrington and Simon Williams

Extras

Disc 1: David Jason Interview- (Text Only)
Jenny Agutter Interview- (Text Only)
Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)

Disc 2: Don Warrington Interview- (Text Only)
Simon Williams Interview- (Text Only)
Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)

Verdict

An enjoyable TV Series! Check it out!

Rating: ****!

RED GREEN 1999 SEASON-TV DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from Acorn Media about “The Red Green Show-1999 Season”: The complete ninth season of the public television hit’s 15-year run also sees Harold leave the Lodge for corporate life in the big city (with frequent visits from his uncle, of course).

Join Red, Harold, and all the guys at Possum Lodge for a year’s worth of doing what men do when women aren’t around-and some things that are even worse.

This set is from the 1999 season, 9 years into the run of the show. There are 16 episodes on 3 discs and I loved every minute of it. Harold now works in the big city and Red visits him from time to time and Red build a hot-air balloon that is made from a bus! Ranger Gord now is begins his series of educational cartoons. The set also includes Red and Harold character biographies and production notes written by Red Green’s alter ego, Steve Smith.

VIDEO

The video quality is great! There is also a Play All feature.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Audio quality is also in Mono.


Disc 1-
1. “Harold’s Job”
2. “The Fishing Derby”
3. “Lady In Red”
4. “The Bachelor Auction”
5. “Angel”
6. “School Bus Blimp”

Disc 2-
7. “Coup De Grass”
8. “Rent A Wreck”
9. “Curse of the Mummy”
10. “Roll Out The Barrels”
11. “No Retreat”

Disc 3-
12. “The Battle Call”
13. “Hurricane Doug”
14. “Guinness World Records”
15. “The Auto Club”
16. “Too Much Information”

Extras

Disc 1- Character Biographies (Text Only)
Production Notes from Steve Smith (Text Only)

Disc 2- None

Disc 3- None


Verdict

A very funny Canadian TV series. One of the best! I highly recommend it!

Rating: *****!

DALLAS SEASON 8 TV DVD REVIEW

If you don’t count the miniseries as season 1, then this is actually season 7, the supposed last season for Patrick Duffy when he left the series the following season to seek other opportunities. This season was defiantly packed with an attempted murder, weddings, a kidnapping sudden wealth and a death! Barbara Bel Geddes was having medical problems so she left for a while and was replaced by actress Donna Reed as Miss Ellie. This role was Donna Reed’s final TV performance before her death a year later. This season set contains 30 episodes from the 8th season and the extra on the set is a featurette about Dallas’ costume designer, Travilla.

VIDEO

The video quality is fairly good; There are a few specks and film dirt but not much. The episodes were not remastered. Episodes are also uncut.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Audio quality is also in Mono.


Disc 1- Side A
1. “Killer At Large”-with Martin E Brooks and Dennis Haysbert
2. “Battle Lines”-with Mitch Ryan
3. “If At First You Don’t Succeed”
Side B
4. “Jamie”-with Jenilee Harrison and Randolph ManTooth
5. “Family”-with William Smithers
6. “Shadow of A Doubt”

Disc 2- Side A
7. “Homecoming”-with Donna Reed
8. “Oil Barron’s Ball III”-with Morgan Woodward
9. “Shadows”
Side B
10. “Charlie”
11. “Barbeque Five”
12. “Do You Take This Woman”

Disc 3- Side A
13. “DeJa Vu”-with James Cromwell
14. “Odd Man Out”
15. “Lock Up In Laredo”

Side B
16. “Winds of War”
17. “Bail Out”
18. “Legacy Of Hate”

Disc 4-Side A

19. “Sins of the Fathers”
20. “The Brothers Ewing”
21. “Shattered Dreams”
Side B
22. “Dead Ends”
23. “Trial and Error”
24. “The Verdict”

Disc 5-Side A
25. “Sentences”
26. “Terms of Estrangement”-with Dack Rambo
27. “The Ewing Connection”-with John Zaremba
Side B
28. “Deeds and Misdeeds”-with John Larch
29. “Deliverance”
30. “Swan Song”-with Morgan Brittany, Jared Martin and David White



Extras

Disc 1-4: None

Disc 5-: Dallas Makeover-Travilla Style- (09:50)


Verdict

I watched this series from the get go and this season had some really good and strong stories. Defiantly pick up this season!


Rating: ****!

GET SMART-THE COMPLETE SERIES DVD REVIEW

The iconic TV show legend Don Adams and crew are finally available for the first time on DVD with the complete series of “Get Smart”! The show lasted for 5 seasons from 1965-1970 with 138 episodes. Time-Life and HBO Video have done an astoundingly fantastic job with this Megaset. All the episodes have been digitally remastered and care and love for the show was taken with the interviews, clips, bloopers and personal material partly by Don Adam’s widow, Dorothy Adams-Ferrante.

Two comedy-writing legends created the series, Mel Brooks and Buck Henry. The show was first pitched to ABC, which turned them down, but Grant Tinker from NBC took it on with a contract actor, Don Adams. The star of the show was originally supposed to be actor Tom Poston, but found Adams to be a better fit. The show also starred Barbara Feldon as Agent 99 and character actor Edward Platt as their boss, Chief. A pilot episode was made in Black & White and was a complete success. The show has a wonderful array of supporting characters and villains.

The secondary characters that were the core of the series were Bernie Kopell as Sigfried from K.A.O.S., Dick Gautier as Hymie the robot, with David Ketchum and Robert Karvelas as Agent 13 and Larabee respectively. There have been some big name guest stars that have been on the show over its 5 year run such as Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, James Caan, Ernest Borgnine, Don Rickles and Milton Berle to name a few. The show ran for 4 seasons on NBC and the last season was shown on CBS.

This complete series set is phenomenal! There are audio commentaries on 8 episodes with a treasure trove of extras from the Andy Williams Show, to classic commercials to a Playboy 75th Birthday celebration and reunion at the Museum of Television and Radio as well as Don Adams’ memorial service and many more! Agent 99 herself, Barbara Feldon, introduces each episode and extra!


VIDEO

The video quality is excellent! Each episode has been digitally remastered.


Audio

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

Disc 1- “Mr. Big”-with Michael Dunn and Vito Scotti
“Diplomat’s Daughter”-with Leonard Strong
“School Days”-with Ben Wright and Leo Gordon
“Our Man In Toyland”-with John Hoyt and Helen Kleeb
“Now You See Him, Now You Don’t”
“Washington 4, Indians 3”-with Anthony Caruso
“K.A.O.S in Control”-with Barbara Bain and Ed Peck
“The Day Smart Turned Chicken”-with Simon Oakland

Disc 2- “Satan Place”-with Len Lesser
“Our Man In Leotards”-with Michael Pate
“Too Many Chiefs”-with Victor French
“My Nephew The Spy”-with Conrad Janis
“Aboard The Orient Express”-with Johnny Carson and Theo Marcuse
“Weekend Vampire”-with Ford Rainey
“Survival Of The Fattest”-with Karen Steele and Milton Selzer
“Double Agent”

Disc 3- “Kisses For K.A.O.S.”-with John Abbott
“The Dead Spy Scrawls”-with Leonard Nimoy
“Back To The Old Drawing Board”-with Dick Gautier
“All In The Mind”-with Torin Thatcher
“Dear Diary”-with Ellen Corby
“Smart The Assassin”-with Tony Lo Bianco
“I’m Only Human”-with Oscar Beregi

Disc 4- “Stakeout on Blue Mist Mountain”-with Ted Knight
“The Amazing Harry Hoo”-with Leonard Strong and Joey Forman
“Hubert’s Unfinished Symphony”-with Richard Webb
“Ship of Spies Part 1”-with Harold J Stone
“Ship of Spies Part 2”-with Harold J Stone
“Shipment To Beirut”-with Lee Bergere
“The Last One Is A Rotten Spy”-with Alice Ghostley

Disc 5- Bonus Disc-See Extras

Disc 6- “Anatomy of a Lover”-with King Moody
“Strike Will The Agent Is Hot”
“A Spy For A Spy”-with Stacy Keach and Bernie Kopell
“The Only Way To Die”-with Gordon Jump
“Maxwell Smart, Alias Jimmy Ballentine”-with Vic Tayback
“Casablanca”
“The Decoy”-with Len Lesser
“Hoo Done It”-with Joey Forman

Disc 7- “Rub-A-Dub-Dub…Three Spies In A Tub”
“The Greatest Spy On Earth”-with Paul Dooley and Victor Lundin
“Island of the Darned”-with Harold Gould
“Bronzefinger”
“Perils In A Petshop”-with Dick Wilson
“The Whole Tooth and…”-with Robert Strauss
“Kiss Of Death”
“It Takes One To Know One”-with Woodrow Palfrey and Gayle Hunnicutt

Disc 8- “Someone Down Here Hates Me”
“Cutback At Control”
“The Man From Yenta”-with Alan Oppenheimer
“The Mummy”
“The Girls From K.A.O.S.”-with Tisha Sterling
“Smart Fit The Battle Of Jericho”-with Angeline PettyJohn
“Where-What-How-Who Am I?”

Disc 9- “The Expendable Agent”
“How To Succeed In The Spy Business Without Really Trying”
“Appointment In Sahara”-with Vic Tayback
“Pussycats Galore”-with Ted Knight and Angeline PettyJohn
“A Man Called Smart Part 1”-with Kenneth Mars
“A Man Called Smart Part 2”
“A Man Called Smart Part 3”

Disc 10- Bonus Disc-See Extras

Disc 11- “The Spy Who Met Himself”
“Viva Smart”
“Witness For The Persecution”
“The Spirit Is Willing”-with Ina Balin and Len Lesser
“Maxwell Smart, Private Eye”
“Supersonic Boom”-with Farley Grainger and Alex Rocco
“One Of Our Olives Is Missing”-with Carol Burnett


Disc 12- “When Good Fellows Get Together”
“Dr Yes”
“That Old Gang of Mind”-with Sid Haig
“The Mild Ones”
“Classification: Dead”
“The Mysterious Dr T.”
“The King Lives?”-with Michael Forest

Disc 13- “The Groovy Guru”-with Larry Storch and Barry Newman
“The Little Black Book, Part 1”-with Don Rickles
“The Little Black Book, Part 2”-with Joey Forman
“Don’t Look Back”-with Bruce Gordon
“99 Loses Control”-with Jacques Bergerac
“The Wax Max”

Disc 14- “Run, Robot Run”
“Operation Ridiculous”-with George Macready
“Spy, Spy Birdie”
“The Hot Line”-with Regis Philbin and John Byner
“Die, Spy”
“The Reluctant Redhead”-with Cesar Romero

Disc 15 Bonus Disc-See Extras

Disc 16 “The Impossible Mission”-with Jamie Farr
“Snoopy Smart Vs The Red Baron”-with Mary Frann
“Closely Watched Planes”-with Pete Barbutti
“The Secret Of Sam Vittoro”-with J.Carrol Naish
“Diamonds Are A Spy’s Best Friend”-with Dick Wilson
“The Worst Best Man”-with Ron Masak and Avery Schreiber
“A Tale of Two Tails”-with Victor Sen Yung and Fred Willard

Disc 17- “The Return of the Ancient Mariner”-with Jack Cassidy
“With Love and Twitches”-with Alan Oppenheimer
“The Laser Blazer”-with Julie Newmar and Leonard Strong
“The Farkas Fracas”-with Tom Bosley and Alice Ghostley
“Temporarily Out of Control”
“Schwartz’s Island”
“One Nation Invisible”

Disc 18- “Hurray for Hollywood”
“The Day They Raided The Knights”-with Nancy Kovack
“Tequila Mockingbird”-with Oscar Beregi
“I Shot 86 Today”-with Sharon Acker
“Absorb the Greek”
“To Sire, With Love Part 1”-with John Doucette

Disc 19- “To Sire, With Love Part 2”-with John Doucette
“Shock It To Me”-with Tom Poston and Sid Haig
“Leadside”-with Ronald Long and Paul Carr
“Greer Window”
“The Not So Great Escape Part 1”
“The Not So Great Escape Part 2”

Disc 20- Bonus Disc-See Extras

Disc 21- “Pheasant Under Glass”-with Peter Brocco
“Ironhand”-with Billy Barty
“Valerie of the Dolls”-with Antoinette Bower
“Widow Often Annie”-with Dana Wynter
“The Treasure of C. Errol Madre”-with Broderick Crawford
“Smart Fell On Alabama”-with John Dehner
“And Baby Makes Four Part 1”-with Jack Gilford and Dana Elcar

Disc 22- “And Baby makes Four Part 2”-with Jack Gilford and Dana Elcar
“Physician Impossible”
“The Apes of Rath”
“Age Before Duty”
“Is This Trip Necessary?”-with Vincent Price
“Ice Station Siegfried”-with Bill Dana
“Moonlighting Becomes You”-with Victor Buono and Sid Haig

Disc 23- “House of Max Part 1”-with Ian Abercrombie
“House of Max Part 2”-with Ian Abercrombie
“Rebecca of Funny Folk Farm”-with Gale Sondergaard
“The Mess of Adrian Listenger”-with Pat Paulsen
“Witness for the Execution”
“How Green Was My Valet”-with Jonathan Harris

Disc 24- “And Only Two Ninety-Nine”
“Smartacus”-with John Zaremba
“What’s It All About Algie?”-with John Van Dreelsen
“Hello Columbus, Goodbye America”-with Vito Scotti and Billy Barty
“Do I Hear The Vaults?”
“I Am Curiously Yellow”-with Victor Sen Yeng

Disc 25- Bonus Disc-See Extras


Extras

Disc 1- Audio Commentary on Mr. Big with Buck Henry
Audio Commentary for Mr. Big with Mel Brooks

Disc 2- None

Disc 3- Audio Commentary on Kisses for K.A.O.S by Barbara Feldon

Disc 4- None

Disc 5- Interview with Buck Henry- (22:37)
Featurette-The Secret History of Get Smart- (16:56)
Clips-The Bill Dana Show-1964- (06:48)
Clips-The Andy Williams Show-1965- (05:06)
Clips-Top Brass Hair Care Commercial with Barbara Feldon-(01:02)
Clips-NBC Fall Season Preview-1965- (10:06)
Clips-Get Smart-Promo-Part 1-(1965)-(00:23)
Clips-Get Smart Promo-Part 2-(1965)-(00:11)
Bloopers- (02:13)
Get Smart Reunion Seminar 2003-(1 Hour)
Interactive Feature-The Chief’s Office

Disc 6- None

Disc 7- None

Disc 8- None

Disc 9- Audio Commentary on How To Succeed…By Bernie Kopell
Audio Commentary on A Man Called Smart Part 1 by Leonard Stern

Disc 10- Interview with Leonard Stern- (31:56)
Featurette-Barbara Feldon-Real Model to Role Model- (14:38)
Clip from the 1967 Emmys- (03:03)
Bloopers- (02:39)
Get Smart Reunion Seminar Part 2-(04:53)
Don Adam’s 75th Birthday Celebration-1999- (53:01)
NBC Broadcast Standers Memos-Pictures
Interactive Bonus-Agent’s 99 Purse

Disc 11- None

Disc 12- None

Disc 13- Audio Commentary on Little Black Book Part 2 with Don Rickles
Audio Commentary on 99 Loses Control by Barbara Feldon
Audio Commentary on 99 Loses Control by Buck Henry

Disc 14- None

Disc 15- Interview with Bruce Bilson- (Director)-(31:01)
Featurette-Spooks, Spies, Gadgets and Gizmos- (13:33)
Clip form the 1968 Emmys- (04:44)
Get Smart Syndication Promo- (03:21)
Milton Berle’s Mad, Mad World of Comedy- (04:44)
Clip from the Andy Williams Show-1966- (06:31)
Bloopers- (01:42)
Don Rickles Bloopers-Little Black Book- (01:25)
Get Smart Reunion Seminar Part 3-(04:41)
NBC Broadcast and Standers Memo-Pictures
Interactive Bonus-Max’s Sunbeam Tiger Car

Disc 16- None

Disc 17- Audio Commentary on For Love and Twitches by Barbara Feldon
Audio Commentary on For Love and Twitches by Buck Henry

Disc 18-None

Disc 19- Audio Commentary on To Sire With Love Part 2 by James Caan

Disc 20-Interview with Bernie Kopell- (22:29)
Interview with Barbara Feldon- (24:44)
Featurette-Code Words and Catch Phrases- (14:11)
Clip-Rose Parade with Don and Barbara 1969-(00:52)
Clip-The Any Williams Show- (05:46)
Syndication Promo- (02:12)
Clip from 1969 Emmys- (03:10)
Pepsodent Commerical-1967- (00:56)
White Castle Commerical-1990- (01:19)
Chief Auto Parts Commercial-1983- (00:37)
Bloopers- (02:22)
Interactive Bonus-Max’s Apartment

Disc 21- None

Disc 22- Audio Commentary on Ice Station Sigfried by Bill Dana

Disc 23-None

Disc 24-None

Disc 25-Featurette-The Fans Of Get Smart- (14:38)
Don Adam’s Memorial-2005- (81 Mins)
TV Land Awards 2003-(00:46)
Clip-The Andy Williams Show- (00:50)
Chief Auto Parts Commercial 1981 and 1983-(01:12)
White Castle Commercial 1-1990-(00:39)
White Castle Commercial 2-1990-(00:39)
Choice Hotels Commercial 1991-(00:40)
Buck A Call Commercial 1999-(00:34)
Bloopers- (01:21)
Ultimate Get Smart Clip Reel- (20:33)
Interactive Bonus-Spy Aptitude Test

Verdict

You absolutely have to get this set for your collection! Its well worth the money even if you not a true fan of the series. This is a true Classic! Go to www.timelife.com for more information!


Rating; *****!

TONY ROBINSON'S CUNNING NIGHT OUT! REVIEW

Tony Robinson has had a wide and diverse life and shares his experiences with wit and history in “Tony Robinson’s Cunning Night Out!” Robinson offers hilarious tales, family stories with acting and historical anecdotes. He has also ran for public office in Britain, has written 19 children’s books and is most famously known the world over as “Baldrick” the hapless servant through the centuries in the comedy series “Blackadder” with always a “Cunning” plan which never seems to work! It is a very funny one-man stage show! It is for more of a mature audience with the language that is presented. The disc also includes extra footage of the stage show.

VIDEO

The performance was done on video and there are no dropouts of picture and sound. The performance is 82 minutes long.

Audio

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

Disc 1- 1. “A Cunning Night Out”-Performance

Extras

Disc 1: Extra Footage- (10:12)

Verdict

If you like to hear some good stories and laugh out loud, then you’ll love this performance! Visit www.acornmeadia.com or www.acornonline.com for more information. I would recommend it!


Rating: *****!

LILLIE-THE MINISERIES TV DVD REVIEW

The acclaimed 13 part miniseries that starred Francesca Annis as Lillie Langtry, the theater darling of England around the turn of the last century. Francesca Annis also played the same character in the miniseries, Edward the Seventh 3 years prior. The story takes place in an unhappy marriage in the 1870’s to her death in 1929, played wonderfully by Annis and the make up in the last few episodes are very believable. Shot on videotape and film was shown on London Weekend Television for the ITV channel back in 1978. The series also stars Anton Rogers, Peter Egan, Dennis Lil, Jeannie Linden, Anthony Ainley, John Bennett and “Q” himself, Desmond Llewelyn among others. This set includes Cast filmographies on all discs.

VIDEO

The video quality is quite good! All the episodes are on videotape with filmed outdoor scenes. There is a Play All feature. All episodes run approx 51 mins.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Also here in mono but very clear!


Disc 1- 1. “Emille”
2. “Mrs. Langtry”
3. “The Jersey Lillie”-with Jennie Linden and Desmond Llewelyn
4. “The New Helen”-with Dennis Lil

Disc 2- 5. “Bertie”
6. “Let Them Say”
7. “The Sailor Prince”-with John Castle and Anthony Ainley

Disc 3- 8. “Going on the Stage’
9. “America”
10. “Home on the Range”-with John Bennett and David Healy

Disc 4-11. “Mr. Jersey”-with James Warwick
12. “Sunset and Evening Star”-with Deborah Watling
13. “Fifty Cents A Dance”

Extras

Disc 1: Cast filmographies

Disc 2: None

Disc 3: None

Disc 4: None

Verdict

A well done miniseries. To learn more about the show visit www. acornmedia.com.


Rating; ****!

MONARCH OF THE GLEN-THE COMPLETE COLLECTION DVD REVIEW

If you love Scotland or the Scottish Highlands, which have been called “As close to Heaven on Earth” and enjoy great acting, then you will love “Monarch of the Glen”! The series premiered in 2000 and lasted 7 seasons with 64 episodes. The show was loosely based on a set of novels written in the 1930’s and 1940’s called simply “The Highland Novels”. The first book in the series was entitled “Monarch of the Glen”. The first 5 seasons starred Alistair Mackenzie as Archie, one of the sons of Hector MacDonald, owner of the castle and land of Glenbogle. Archie gave up a restaurant business in London and left for Scotland to take care of the land that once was home.

The well-known British actor, Richard Briers, plays the father and Susan Hampshire plays the Mother. The show was very close to a “Soap Opera” with the storylines it had. The home and land went through ups and downs with almost losing it all to the bank. At the end of the 3rd season, Richard Briers left the show and at the end of the series, he came back briefly, from the dead! In the beginning of the 6th season until the end of the series, Hectors brother comes to stay at Glenbogle, played by my 2nd favorite Doctor Who, Tom Baker, Jon Pertwee being my first choice! A new Laird comes in and takes over the problems of the family who is the illegitimate brother of Archie’s, Paul, played by Lloyd Owen.

This complete set has a nice bit of extras such as an interview with Susan Hampshire, a tour of the estate, a documentary of the Scottish Highlands from Bill Oddie from “The Goodies”, a Christmas special and the behind the scenes look at the show with Cast Filmographies and Biographies


VIDEO

The video quality is very good! All episodes are shot on film. There is a Play All feature.


Audio

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

Disc 1- Series 1-Episode 1
Series 1-Episode 2
Series 1-Episode 3
Series 1-Episode 4

Disc 2-Series 1-Episode 5
Series 1-Episode 6
Series 1-Episode 7
Series 1-Episode 8

Disc 3-Series 2-Episode 1
Series 2-Episode 2
Series 2-Episode 3
Series 2-Episode 4

Disc 4-Series 2-Episode 5
Series 2-Episode 6
Series 2-Episode 7
Series 2-Episode 8

Disc 5-Series 3-Episode 1
Series 3-Episode 2
Series 3-Episode 3
Series 3-Episode 4

Disc 6-Series 3-Episode 5
Series 3-Episode 6
Series 3-Episode 7
Series 3-Episode 8

Disc 7-Series 3-Episode 9
Series 3-Episode 10
Series 3-Episode 11

Disc 8-Series 4-Episode 1
Series 4-Episode 2-with Phyllida Law
Series 4-Episode 3-with Leslie Phillips
Series 4-Episode 4

Disc 9-Series 4-Episode 5
Series 4-Episode 6
Series 4-Episode 7

Disc 10-Series 4-Episode 8
Series 4-Episode 9
Series 4-Episode 10

Disc 11-Series 5-Episode 1
Series 5-Episode 2
Series 5-Episode 3
Series 5-Episode 4

Disc 12-Series 5-Episode 5
Series 5-Episode 6
Series 5-Episode 7
Series 5-Episode 8

Disc 13-Series 5-Episode 9
Series 5-Episode 10

Disc 14-Series 6-Episode 1
Series 6-Episode 2-with Tom Baker
Series 6-Episode 3
Series 6-Episode 4

Disc 15-Series 6-Episode 5
Series 6-Episode 6
Series 6-Episode 7-with Anthony Head
Series 6-Epiosde 8

Disc 16-Series 6-Episode 9
Series 6-Episode 10

Disc 17-Series 7-Episode 1
Series 7-Episode 2
Series 7-Episode 3

Disc 18-Series 7-Episode 4
Series 7-Episode 5
Series 7-Episode 6-with Richard Briers

Extras

Disc 1- None

Disc 2- Holiday-A tour of Glenbogle Estate- (06:14)
Cast Biographies- (Text Only)
Trailer

Disc 3- None

Disc 4- Cast Biographies- (Text Only)
Trailers

Disc 5- None

Disc 6- None

Disc 7- Interview with Susan Hampshire- (09:04)
Cast Biographies- (Text Only)
Trailers

Disc 8- None

Disc 9- None

Disc 10- Wildlife in the Scottish Highlands- (29:15) with Bill Oddie
Cast Biographies
Trailers

Disc 11- None

Disc 12- None

Disc 13- Hogmany Special- (59:18)
Cast Biographies
Trailers

Disc 14- None

Disc 15- None

Disc 16- Cast Biographies
Trailers

Disc 17- None

Disc 18-The Last Monarch- (29:11)
Cast Biographies
Trailer

Verdict

What a breathtaking series this is! Without a doubt, worth the buy!


Rating; *****!