dfddwm-106-336810 Reviews

This Country (2017–2020)

One of the best fly-on-the-wall sitcoms.... side-splitting

[10/10 · 4 January 2022]

... filmed in spoof documentary style with lashings of reality TV and almost-fake community compassion (courtesy of the local Reverend played perfectly by Paul Cahidi) this show will have you doubled up in laughter. On the other hand it contains scenes from modern life and references to it which would be all too depressingly common, even personal once or twice, if it were not for the complete panache and handle Daisy and Charlie Cooper have on their respective characters. A very pleasing aspect of the series as a whole is its completeness. Unlike many TV sitcoms which either peter out or over engineer a hyped up finale, it just doesn't end in TV Land, but actually concludes in a way that is entirely related to the beginning ensuring that the ending, while sad, is satisfactory and you feel firmly planted in This Country as our country now.

I do hope the Coopers go on to more success and that the actor who played the cheeky naive vicar pops up again in a future comedy or anything really...

Highly recommended.

Cardillac (2005 TV Movie)

Sumptuous opera film from a fabulous opera house

[10/10 · 28 December 2021]

This sumptuous production deserves to be given the full justice on film it receives here- not least because as a mid 20th Century work by Hindemith, a composer it takes time and patience to understand or appreciate, it is rarely performed. Another good reason, and one of the benefits of the way this opera was filmed seamlessly integrating shots of the behind the scenes technical wizardry and scene changes with the main action on stage, it displays the state of the art workings of the world class Bastille Opera.

The singing is up to standard throughout, but not comparable to the reference Cologne audio recording from 1968 with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in the title role reprised from the highly successful Munich production of a year earlier under Joseph Keilberth. In this respect Alan Held in particular fails to convince vocally as Cardillac the psychotic goldsmith while the rest of the cast sing their roles strongly but without enough nuance.

This seems to have been filmed as a record of the production without being a "live" recording in the strict sense of the word so both realism and superb sound quality with lively interesting camera angles are achieved without compromise. The colourful elegant sets are gorgeous in Parisian Art Nouveau style. One is unlikely to see a version of this opera produced on this scale ever again... if at all.

For this reason, despite my reservations (which can be considered "nit picking" from a devotee of this work) this film must be awarded a clear ten out of ten. You really have to have a receptive ear to modern classical music, though here Hindemith is remarkably tuneful and accessible, but I would suggest this should make an interesting gift to the friend or relative who enjoys Madam Butterfly or Rigoletto and should lead to an interesting conversation afterwards!

Duke Bluebeard's Castle (1988 TV Movie)

Superb dramatised opera film - THRILLING!

[10/10 · 26 December 2021]

While my favourite audio recording (out of the hundreds available!) is the earlier Hungaroton with Gyorgy Melis and Katalin Kasza and the Budapest Phil conducted by Janos Ferencsik - an authentic all Hungarian project with appropriate eery enveloping acoustic - and I have seen it on stage at the ENO in London, absolutely nothing compares with this superbly crafted film oozing with artistry and high production standards.

The singers follow the Hungaroton reference cited above in the strong virile genuine bass of Robert Lloyd and Elizabeth Laurence's high soprano which convey both menace and frayed nerves respectively tinged with on the one hand grave conscience and on the other uncontrolled curiosity.... (the lip synch is more than adequate)

The excellent stereo (on my system anyway!) DVD sound is a step forward in quality and allows for Bartok's fine orchestrations (he was the Twentieth Century master of orchestral colour) to clearly float above the action on the screen. While the stage production is fairly static and can drag in my humble opinion this filmatic visualisation and its careful subtle camera work provides welcome shifting the point of view between the two protagonists while the different tableaux "behind" the locked doors - each becoming more horrific and psychologically twisted - is brought to life with startling effect!

Have purchased and enjoyed many "filmed" operas available on DVD this particular one easily is my FIRST CHOICE!

A desert island DVD. Hopefully where is not a single locked door.

Aussie Gold Hunters (2016– )

Consistently good and varied "Mens" TV

[10/10 · 22 December 2021]

While losing some of my favourite characters from the earlier seasons such as the world-wise boss of the Dirt Dogs Vernon Strange, the latest episodes still consistently entertain. There is an irritating amount of repetitive dialogue and a predictable trajectory in some of the story line (save the day big nugget finds - what a surprise!) which suggests a certain amount of artificial scripting and scene padding. Also a sense of humour would not go amiss amongst some of the hunters whose single minded determination becomes tedious after awhile. In this sense the redoubtable Shane and Russell offer welcome comic relief proving that in the great Outback there is always room for the really intrepid and adventurous however eccentric and lacking in resources. I enjoyed their antics a lot, not so much the younger team of Rob and Turbo who come across as a hardly mature pair of unwashed slackers living in a world of fantasy. A major question for me hanging over the whole raison d'etre of the series concept is the environmental one and climate change. If you want to study how human activity continues to adversely impact the planet then this show is good subject matter. On the other hand it is great undemanding television.

Madame Rosa (1977)

Unforgettable strong French drama

[10/10 · 14 September 2021]

Am I the only one who mourns the passing of Channel Four and its culture mission in its formative launch under Jeremy Isaacs? Quite apart from classical music and dance, the late night schedule included films such as Madame Rosa and La Maschera, La Nuit de Varennes and Collard's Les Nuits Fauves. Acclaimed film based on an acclaimed novel (part autobiographical) from an author with the ego and genius of a Latin Hemingway, it turns on the plight of a child on the backstreets of Marseilles and the down to earth support both physical and emotional offered by the ageing Madame Rosa played by Signoret in what must be the complete summation of her fabulous movie career. Slice of life would be a description of the plot with all its complexity and richness and gnawing sense of incompleteness - though this movie is complete and fulfilled. It's recent emergence from Kino on BLU RAY and DVD, unfortunately only in the Regions A and 1 format, after a long absence, perhaps 30 odd years since I watched it spellbound on Channel Four TV, is to be applauded to the heavens. I still am spellbound.

The High Chaparral (1967–1971)

Best TV Western Series ever made

[10/10 · 23 August 2021]

By the time the Bonanza production team got to the High Chaparral they had more or less perfected the trick of compressing exciting and believable characters in tight relevant plots, expert screenwriting, sharp dialogue, interesting sets and filming. There are themes: generational strains, sibling rivalry, relationship problems, racial equality, fairness and the philosophy of hard work and independence that lies at the heart of 1870s pioneers in the West. The mixture of veteran film actors such as Leif Erikson and Cameron Mitchell as well as well known guest stars such as Anthony Caruso with new faces like Mark Slade and Henry Darrow, plus a supporting cast team of interesting characters led by Bob Hoy and Don Collier offered a solidity range and scope not seen before on television. The results for many of us lucky to grow up with this show were thrilling and a loyal following of fans that continue to grow year on year. While the actual location of much of the filming, especially the outdoor shots which were a real pleasure in the show, The Old Tucson film studios (just outside the city) containing the iconic HC Ranch and outbuildings, languishes in a post covid financial limbo, this wonderful creation will continue to live in the minds of people of all ages and generations yet to come forever.

Thank you to everybody who helped to create and assist this marvelous piece of television history. Wonderful!

A Town Called Hell (1971)

Off beat and wacky. Great cult movie.

[10/10 · 6 August 2021]

It must have seemed sensible enough on paper and I imagine the main ingredients of revolution, conscience and betrayal must have ticked boxes when it fell into the hands of Robert Shaw noted actor of stage and scteen, author, playwright with profound Left Wing republican ideals and sympathy for the underdog.

I would have loved to see his reaction to the final cut!

With a plethora of stars and memorable scenes and moments this is up there with Captain Apache for watchability and due to its level of violence and almost saidistic brutality possibly more current. Above all the director creatively plays with the whole spaghetti (paella - it was shot in Spain?) western and its codes. The unforgettable drunken bar scene introducing the nefarious people's traitor Paco, played by Michael Craig, to a furious and diabolical up tempo Southern ditty has lived in my imagination since I first saw the film.

If a film can have that effect and a director can execute something as mesmerising as that then it rates highly in my book. One could bemoan the squandering of such spirited actors on what appears smallish stereotyped almost "bit" parts: but the overall effect is greater than the sum of its parts.

Throughout alternate flashes of Shaw's psychopathy and turning on the boyish Irish charm offer continuity against a bewildering, and fast moving bizarre montage.

Did he know what he was getting into?

The Longest Memory (1997 TV Movie)

Beautiful, thoughtful and controversial TV drama.

[10/10 · 1 June 2021]

Much more than an inter-racial Romeo and Juliet story set on a Caribbean slave plantation - questions the whole nature of historical and community memory. An uncomfortable questioning. But the visuals are strong with a superb cast of actors some well seasoned (a magnificent Daniel Massey in one of his rare later appearances as the rigid cruel plantation owner) some making their first marks, Paloma Baeza and Kolade Agboke as the "star crossed" lovers, and an early performance from Peter Mullan as the de-humanised slave driver. Each character is three dimensional and convincing - the most tragic, and possibly the most contentious by the end of the unfolding tragedy, is taken by Joe Seneca who confesses to his own part in his son's downfall within the plantation regime. I think this latter side to what is basically a moving art film with outstanding production values, from the "golden age" of Channel Four around the time of Jeremy Isaacs' leadership, beautiful filming and a highly evocative soundtrack from Barrington Pheloung, aroused considerable criticism which has resulted in the film being consigned to the deep archive in FilmFour's cellars after just two showings on TV. I feel this is a great shame since it is a well paced film that also has the power to ask questions about a historical subject whose results are still very much living with us today. We can't have enough of this kind of beautiful thoughtful television drama.

Elvira Madigan (I) (1967)

Had tremendous impact at the time.

[10/10 · 17 May 2021]

Whether it still has the same power is a matter of opinion. The DVD picture quality does not compare with the original film which was rather soft focus Eastman type colour. The sound track, with it's subtle overlays of the sounds of summer, birds, insects buzzing and twigs snapping - somehow that doesn't come across so well as it does, or did, in the cinema. The magical stunning ending with the frozen image of Elvira releasing the butterfly and gunshot... followed by a second gunshot... suspended in time, well that simply doesn't have the same impact outside the picture house. It's a true art house movie with high production values that are as vulnerable and delicate as the subject matter. However, on re-watching the film on video I was able to appreciate the wider social context and commentary which is pointedly antagonistic, rigidly class based and basically "loveless" - in fact the complete polar opposite of the the star struck lovers. The chamber music scene, the tavern scene, the encounter with a less than talkative automaton woodsman, the unsympathetic army pal... they point to a social dead weight pressing down on the couple. Similarly, romantic scenes such as Elvira's practising her tight rope walking on a clothesline and the watching children's faces, or the forlorn Sixtus after a row born out of desperation staring into the water of a stream and seeing a piece of note paper float by: "Forgive me!" Yes, even on the DVD it moves us to cheer!

An infinitely superior movie about young love to Hollywood's "Love Story". The Mozart/Vivaldi soundtrack, to be found on DG in both LP and CD versions, adds the final poetic seal of wonderful movie making.

A Third Testament (1976– )

The sort of serious TV entirely missing today

[10/10 · 10 May 2021]

Produced at the time of Muggeridge's late born again Christian phase and predictably evangelical these profiles nevertheless consistently inform, educate and stimulate thought. The style of presentation which eschews the speed, excitement of a travelogue is somewhat vintage. I find Muggeridge here serene while still managing to be provocative. This has an accompanying book and is available as a two disc DVD. It follows on from his other TV work which alas the BBC has not thought fit to release on DVD, for example his famous and well known documentary on Mother Theresa of Calcutta, or the lesser known and now largely forgotten mini-series with Alec Vidler: Paul Envoy Extraordinary and numerous other television programmes such as Lourdes. So for anyone interested in Muggeridge this is a fascinating and indispensable document that adds to his later collected writings and views.

The World at War: Red Star: The Soviet Union - 1941-1943 (1974) Season 1, Episode 11

Broadly still accurate unsurpassed documentary

[10/10 · 30 January 2021]

The narrative and interpretation given in this episode remains accurate and in line with the broad consensus of historical views. The "two years" of "co-operation" between Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany alluded to in another review was the default result of the West, France and Britain, rejecting Russian overtures for a military alliance against Hitler immediately before 1939. In any case, this particular episode in the series covered the period of German invasiin and defeat in Russia and the costs (on both sides) involved. As such it is a thrilling, if that word can be used, gripping and statistically accurate account of what was perhaps the most crucially defining theatre in the whole war. As A J P Taylor remarked, and as the number of people surviving with authentic experience of these events dwindles, not only do bizarre conspiracy theories flourish (eg. Washington had prior knowledge and was somehow "in" on the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbour) but a certain revisionist backlash moulded by political motives sets in. Fortunately, the current state of scholarship and the supremely solid foundation of research and production values for which the World At War are string enough to resist such pressures. Fantastic documentary series, unsurpassed, as valid and instructive now as then.

Scent of Mystery (1960)

More please...that is more info about the 8 track sound system

[13 September 2014]

I have been tempted by the Belock/Everest Records/Todd AO link up in terms of LPs, Around the World in Eighty Days, and highlights from Mike Todd's Broadway shows and the Night in Venice, where I think one part of it was filmed in Todd AO. You can hear the front 5 channel sound compressed into remarkable standard 2 channel stereo on the 80 Days LP.

I know the 6 channel Todd AO sound was Westrex and entirely independent of Belock recording but the later development of 8 channels held the possibility of rear stereo effects, the 6 channel format having mono rear sound, but in this case of smello vision one of these channels was also used to steer the scent effects.

I have spotted a Scent of Mystery soundtrack LP from Everest Records and wonder whether it is worth getting in terms of quality of the music on this film.

This may have been a cinematic dead end. But the real bad thing that happened was the tragedy of Mike Todd's premature death in that plane accident.

This is a most interesting discussion and I thank the others for their helpful comments, especially the guy who speaks from first hand experience and who commented on the great sound...that's why I am curious about whether it supplied rear stereo and what the prospects of the LP. I imagine this all predates any form of dolby encoding so the notion of being able to extract a pro logic surround sound from a two track stereo source did not exist.