Site
created 12/15/97.
|
page
created: 9/22/05
Barrie
Maxwell - Main Page
|
Reviews
of Two Recent BBC Video Releases
As Time Goes
By: Complete Series 8 & 9
(released on DVD by BBC Video on August 30th, 2005, distributed by
Warner Bros.)
If you've never seen the British TV series As
Time Goes By, BBC Video's recent release of Complete
Series 8 & 9 (the program's final episodes) means you can now
sit down with a nice cup of tea and enjoy the whole series from
start to finish without being concerned about waiting for missing
episodes.
|
 
 |
Those
who are familiar with the program (and there are many fans in
North America) know the pleasures in store, but for those who
are not, suffice it to say that it is a decided cut above most
North American network comedy fare. For one thing, it recognizes
that there are indeed people alive who are over 25 and further,
it credits its audience with an IQ of considerably higher than
your average fruit fly.
The program follows the relationship between Jean Pargeter and
Lionel Hardcastle who were young lovers 40 years ago. She was a
nurse and he a soldier when the two were separated by Lionel's
posting to Korea. The two lost contact due to circumstance and
now re-encounter each other when Lionel returns to England from
Kenya where he has been a successful coffee grower. Lionel is
writing his memoirs ("My Life in Kenya") and requires
secretarial assistance which he secures from an agency run by
Jean.
Over the course of 64 episodes we follow the couple's fortunes
as they reconnect, fall in love again, and move in together. As
we experience the pair's ups and downs, we meet Jean's daughter
Judith, Judith's friend and co-worker Sandy, Lionel's young
publisher Alistair, and Lionel's father Rocky, a rather
energetic senior who has just married the equally energetic
Madge. All contribute to a richly vibrant TV family that
millions of viewers have come to love over the past 13 years. |
As Time Goes By made its
first appearance on British television in 1992 with an initial
series of 6 episodes. British programs typically don't extend
beyond two or three seasons, but this one extended to 9 seasons
over the following 10 years. While the program's general appeal
lies in the gentle humour that arises in the familiar situations
of real life, its specific draw is its refreshing focus on a
sixty-ish couple dealing with all the typical issues of a new
relationship. What a pleasure it is to see recognition of issues
that touch older people, from sex to retirement to financial
security to elderly parents and to adult children dealing with
their own problems. The main characters of Jean and Lionel are
ideally portrayed by Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer
respectively. Judi Dench displays adept comic timing as one
might expect from one of the foremost actresses of the day, but
she is matched by Geoffrey Palmer's irascible portrayal. Veteran
British comedy viewers will see a very familiar face in Palmer
whose skill has graced many series over the past three decades
including The Fall and Rise of
Reginald Perrin and Butterflies.
Series 8 of As Time Goes By
(six episodes, made in 2000) begins to show some signs of
tiredness as some of the situations are rather routine, but
episodes dealing with Lionel's concern over his lack of a
pension plan and with the apparent mysteries of dealing with the
internet are up to standard. Series 9 (four episodes, made in
2002) basically ties up the loose ends of all the characters'
lives and is a fitting conclusion to the program. Each series is
presented on the BBC Video DVD on a separate disc and as with
all the discs issued to date, demonstrates excellent image
quality - sharp, nicely detailed, and with accurate-looking
colour. Series 8 is presented mildly letterboxed while series 9
is shown at 1.78:1 and anamorphically enhanced. The Dolby
Digital stereo provides a pleasantly realistic audio experience
with both fore- and background sounds clearly presented. There
are no sub-titles. Extras (appearing on the Series 9 disc)
include informative interviews with cast members Geoffrey
Palmer, Moira Brooker (Judith), and Philip Bretherton (Alistair)
as well as an hour-long special. The latter is somewhat
disappointing as it simply presents some new linking material
about Lionel writing a follow-up to his autobiography that
serves to allow the presentation of clips from the series' early
shows. As the wrap-up DVD offering of As
Time Goes By, this latest set is a no-brainer for the
series' fans. Others should enjoy it equally, but it makes best
sense to sample the earlier discs first.
BBC
History of World War II
(released on DVD by BBC Video on July 19th, 2005, distributed
by Warner Bros.)
British television is well known for the high quality of its
documentaries in general, but none more so than those that deal
with events related to World War II. BBC Video has now released
a mammoth 12-disc box set that presents ten BBC series that
chronicle the key events, places, and personages associated with
the war. While the set does cover many aspects of the conflict,
it is by no means a definitive visual history of the war. For
that, you are best off to try The
World at War series narrated by Laurence Olivier and
available on DVD from A&E.
|
|
The
BBC History of World War II box set's contents
include the following:
The Nazis: A Warning from History
- a six-part series that helps us to understand the forces and
conditions that led to the rise of the Nazi Party, its
subsequent attainment of power, and its eventual demise. This is
the showpiece of the set, a highly acclaimed documentary that
utilizes interviews with surviving witnesses and participants
along with archival film and records. The material is presented
with thoughtfulness and vigour (narrated by Samuel West, written
and directed by historian Laurence Rees), and provides
essentially the definitive current thinking on Nazi history.
Presented full frame as originally broadcast in 1997.
The Road to War: Great Britain,
Italy, Japan, U.S.A. - a four-part series that
reveals how each of four countries ended up being drawn into the
war, utilizing interviews with eyewitnesses and original
archival footage. The material is particularly interesting when
viewed sequentially to see the obvious links between each
country's situation, but offers not a great deal that is really
new. Presented full frame as originally broadcast. |
Dunkirk - a three-part
series that follows events from May 25 to June 4, 1940
concerning the evacuation of British troops from the continent.
The series thoroughly illuminates why the evacuation became
necessary and how it was carried out, utilizing new personal
accounts very effectively. Unfortunately, the programs also
resort to excessive new dramatizations of events that detract
from the reality of what we learn otherwise. Presented in
anamorphic widescreen 1.78:1, as originally broadcast.
War of the Century - a
four-part series that examines Germany's campaign against
Russia. One of the most brutal conflicts ever fought between two
nations is revealingly brought to life through access to Eastern
European archives and personal accounts from both German and
Russian participants. This is another of the box set's
highlights. Presented full frame as originally broadcast.
Battle of the Atlantic - a
three-part series focusing on the struggle between German
U-boats and Allied shipping in the Atlantic. Eyewitness
recollections from former U-boat and Allied crew members
highlight the material, and dramatic reconstructions are again
used although judiciously and generally to good effect.
Strikingly narrated by Bill Paterson, the material is presented
in anamorphic widescreen 1.78:1 as originally broadcast.
Horror in the East - a
two-part series tracing the war in the Pacific and probing the
reasons behind the brutality meted out to Allied prisoners of
war there. British and Japanese research is blended effectively
to provide an incisive documentary that provides what will be
new information and perspective to many. The series relies on
eyewitness remembrances and archival footage. Narrated by Samuel
West, the material is presented full frame as originally
broadcast.
Battlefields - a four-part
series that addresses four of the major campaigns of the war: El
Alamein, Monte Cassino, Operation Market Garden, and the RAF
bomber offensive against Germany. The series is hosted by
Professor Richard Holmes who retraces the original locations and
utilizes eyewitness accounts to add immediacy. The presentations
are surprisingly bland, however, and some dramatic recreations
are not particularly persuasive. Presented in anamorphic
widescreen 1.78:1 as originally broadcast.
D-Day: Reflections of Courage
- a 90-minute program that recreates the background to and
events of June 6, 1944. Originally broadcast in 2004, it uses
eyewitness accounts and dramatic reconstruction to good effect
in what is overall a revealing portrait of a bloody and
ultimately decisive day in bringing the war's end in sight.
Presented in anamorphic widescreen 1.78:1 as originally
broadcast.
D-Day to Berlin - a
three-part series that chronicles the offensive that took the
Allies from the beaches of Normandy to the war in Europe's
victorious conclusion. The recollections of Allied and German
soldiers, archival footage, and some dramatic reconstructions
are effectively blended. Presented in anamorphic widescreen
1.78:1 as originally broadcast.
Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State
- a six-part series narrated by Linda Hunt telling the story of
the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Another of the box set's
highlights, the series draws heavily on over 100 eyewitnesses
including former Germans who were personally involved. Archival
footage and dramatic and computer reconstructions are
effectively used to complement the personal recollections.
Presented in anamorphic widescreen 1.78:1 as originally
broadcast.
In a mammoth set such as this one, there's obviously something
for everyone interested in World War II. The best of the
presentations are The Nazis,
War of the Century, Battle
of the Atlantic, and Auschwitz:
Inside the Nazi State, but most of the others will
have resonance for given individuals despite their lapses in
presentation. Much of the latter lies in the degree of dramatic
reconstruction employed. From my personal viewpoint, such a
technique can too often detract from the raw appeal of personal
remembrances. Dunkirk
suffers the most in this regard, while Auschwitz
and Battle of the Atlantic
(of those series that employ the technique) use it to best
effect. But that's a minor quibble; all the series demonstrate
an impressive attention to detail and present their material in
an authoritative and compelling fashion, usually employing
narrators who draw the best from the words they're given. The
DVD presentations appear to faithfully present the material in
its original aspect ratios, anamorphically enhanced where
appropriate. The images are generally sharp and bright, always
allowing for the innate deficiencies of archival footage. The
sound, generally Dolby Digital stereo, is unremarkable though
fully adequate for the task. English sub-titles are provided.
Not content with its over 30 hours of documentary content, the
set also includes about four hours of supplementary content that
includes opening words from Laurence Rees on the first of The
Nazis discs; a 50-minute documentary on merchant
seamen on the Battle of the Atlantic
disc; a 45-minute documentary on the Indian army and a 60-minute
documentary on the war in Burma (now Mianmar) on the Horror
in the East disc; 30 minutes of eyewitness accounts,
20 minutes of making-of featurettes, a photo gallery, fact files
and excerpts from the original score on the D-Day:
Reflections of Courage disc; and six follow-up
discussions with historians and scholars on the Auschwitz
disc.
Many of the series on the box set are also available as
stand-alone releases (only The Road
to War, Dunkirk,
and Battlefields are not)
for those who may only be interested in a few selected titles.
Otherwise the box set is clearly the more economical and
attractive way to go, and is highly recommended.
Barrie Maxwell
barriemaxwell@thedigitalbits.com |
|
Barrie
Maxwell - Main Page |
|
