The BBC Tudors Collection: Elizabeth
R/Shadow Of The Tower/Six Wives Of Henry VIII (1971, 70, 72/BBC DVD Set) + Doc Martin Collection (2006 – 2009/Acorn
DVD Set)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: B-/C- Episodes: B/B/B/B-
There are
more box sets of British TV than you might imagine and they have remained
popular even as Blu-ray has joined DVD. Well-read
people seem to enjoy having such sets because it gives them something
substantial to go through, thus they continue to be issued and sell well. Here are two of the latest examples.
To
capitalize on the amazing critical and commercial success of the Showtime
Network’s hit series The Tudors, we
have The BBC Tudors Collection. This DVD set collects three dramatic
mini-series covering much of the same material from the same era and of the
same stories. They all happen to come
from early 1970s, a particularly prolific period for the network and TV in
general.
Elizabeth R (1971) features a stunning
performance by the amazing Glenda Jackson in the title role in what was a very
big, popular, celebrated success in its day that is the equal of any other
telling to date including the Kate Blanchett feature films (reviewed elsewhere
on this site) and this 2005 Anne-Marie Duff mini-series we covered at this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3274/Elizabeth+I+%E2%80%93+The+Virgin
Still
powerful, smart and as intense as any version, I liked this production as seeming
to have the feel and realism of what the time and the people might have been
like. Anyone impressed by other versions
should view this as a must-see, also starri8ng Robert Hardy and Ronald Hines
among the great cast. Extras include a
Photo Gallery, exclusive interview with Jackson,
new readings of historical documents by Jackson
to celebrate this series and historical backgrounds notes by author/scholar
Alison Weir.
Shadow Of The Tower (1970) is the most direct telling
of the Tudors story here with James Maxwell as King Henry VII (a title he takes
in 1485!), more insanity and drama awaits all in what is another very strong
mini-series including another strong supporting cast including Peter Bowles and
Geoffrey Palmer adding to the richness of the series. Again, I bought this as being as authentic in
feel as any version I have seen to date and it will surprise fans of the
Showtime series in how good it really is.
Extras
include an informative 24-page booklet with production notes inside the DVD case,
while the DVDs include an earlier 50-minutes long version of this story with
Maxwell in the same role called The Tower Of London and Hooray
Henry! featurette about the history behind the mini-series with
historian Dai Smith.
Finally
we get The Six Wives Of Henry VIII
(1972) which is a sometimes chilling look at the infamous tale of the next King
Henry played very effectively by Keith Michell as the six episodes cover the
events around him and each wife until she is eliminated. I thought this was also delivered with
superior acting and like the other series, well directed and shot for what are
now analog video productions. Angela
Plesence, Patrick Thoughton and Basil Dignam are among that cast. Extras include Cast Biographies, Character
Portrait Gallery and a 90-minutes long Other
Boleyn Girl that is not the feature film but is worth seeing. For fans, the Natalie Portman/Eric
Bana/Scarlett Johansson feature film is on Blu-ray as we reviewed at this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/7087/The+Other+Boleyn+Girl+(Sony+Blu-ra
We
recommend you watch the three series in chronological order, each here as 4-DVD
sets. The 1.33 X 1 on all three shows
were shot in professional PAL analog videotape with some outdoor footage in
16mm, all offering flaws and showing their age, yet these were shot very
professional with lighting, fine locations, decent production design and eye
for color that allowed them to hold up better than they might otherwise. Maybe some more work could be done to fix
these, but they are pretty good otherwise.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono on all three have been cleaned up the best
they can be and fare slightly better than the image at times. The release of this collection is very
welcome.
The Doc Martin Collection includes all four seasons of the
show, the last three of which we have previously covered at these links:
Two
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8814/Doc+Martin+%E2%80%93+Series+2
Three
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/9617/Doc+Martin+%E2%80%93+Series+Thr
Four
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10052/Life+On+Mars+%E2%80%93+The+C
These are the same sets included in this new box, with Season 1 (a double DVD set with no extras) new to us and I have to
say that the show has a little better of a start than I expected considering
how the later seasons just went about their police procedural way. I wish the show had built better on its
start, but this is a show you should see from the start just the same. Martin Clunes is good in the title role from
the start, carrying the show all the way.
Note this is not dubbed a ‘complete collection’ because there may be a
later series or telefilm revival with or without Clunes, but anyone taking over
from him had better be good or it will not work.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image on the first two seasons is a little
softer than I would have liked it to be, but it does get better on the later
two seasons if still softer than expected.
A Blu-ray set to compare would be interesting. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is more
consistent on all four sets, though none have any hidden Pro Logic surrounds;
the show is well recorded just the same.
Fans will want the whole set, while others might just want to start with
the first season.
See them
both and decide for yourself.
Incidentally,
for all three seasons of Showtime’s own Tudors
series, here are the links:
One
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6716/The+Tudors+%E2%80%93+The+Comp
Two
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8477/The+Tudors+%E2%80%93+The+Comp
Three
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10757/The+Tudors+%E2%80%93+The+Fina
- Nicholas Sheffo
