Freud (1984
TV-British Mini-Series/BBC DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C+
Episodes: B-
I am no
fan of David Suchet’s work as Hercule Poirot, but there is no doubt he is a
fine actor otherwise. I do not remember
seeing his performance as Sigmund Freud for the 1984 BBC TV Mini-Series Freud, but despite its length, he is
really good in it and now, all six episodes are available in a new DVD
set. He plays him at an old age and (in
flashback) his younger years, all with seamless conviction.
Directed
by the enduring Moira Armstrong, it boasts a solid supporting cast including Peter
Jeffrey, Claire Davenport, Michael Kitchen, Miriam Margolyes, Hugh Thomas and
Michael Pennington. Carey Harrison’s
teleplay is good on drama and scientific detail, but in a post-Freudian world,
the show puts a little more stock into what he did than maybe it should and
supports the myth of his work as total problem-solver and unchallengeable. Still, it is an ambitious production that
holds up better than expected and is worth a look for those who are interested.
The 1.33
X 1 image was shot on a mix of film and PLA analog videotape. The tape can look strained at times, but this
is not bad, though the age of the material and mix of it reminded me
unintentionally of a documentary, though the material does not play like
one. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono also
shows its age but is on the clean side despite some distortion and sonic
limits. Extras include a new Suchet
interview and his Production Archive.
-
Nicholas Sheffo
