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!