ITV 50 - 50 Years Of ITV Entertaining The Nation (Box Set) (DVD)

...celebrate 50 years of the ITV channel, the set is made up of 8 discs in all, all key episodes from well-known dramas of the last 15 years or so. These include:

Cracker - One Day a Lemming Will Die
Brief synopsis: A young boy is found hanging from a tree in the middle of a wood. It is not at first clear whether he committed suicide or was murdered. Either way, his death seems to be linked to the fact that he was gay.
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...the great dramas shown on ITV over the last few years.

Just a couple of criticisms - the boxset was supposed to be celebrating the last 50 years of ITV, but all the dramas included were from the last 15 years or so. I'm surprised there wasn't more of a mix of older dramas, of which I'm sure there is any number. Another is, of course, the price. When you can get choice episodes like these free with a newspaper, it does make this set ... more

Introduction
I should have known better. My sister's birthday is in February and I thought I was being very organised by buying her a present nearly a month early. As soon as I saw this, I knew she'd love it. Unfortunately, so did I and after a week of resisting temptation, I gave in and watched it myself. And I have to admit it was worth it, even though I now have to get my sister something else…

The discs
Released last year to celebrate 50 years of the ITV channel, the set is made up of 8 discs in all, all key episodes from well-known dramas of the last 15 years or so. These include:

Cracker - One Day a Lemming Will Die
Brief synopsis: A young boy is found hanging from a tree in the middle of a wood. It is not at first clear whether he committed suicide or was murdered. Either way, his death seems to be linked to the fact that he was gay.

Opinion: Robbie Coltrane, as Fitz, shines as always in this episode and cannot be faulted. His relationship with DCI Billborough (Christopher Eccleston) is superb, as is the gripping storyline. The only blot on the landscape is the ending, which isn't entirely satisfactory - if you like everything tied up at the end of the mystery, then you could be disappointed. 5/5

Sharpe - Sharpe's Rifles
Brief synopsis: Sharpe is appointed to go into enemy territory to find a missing British agent. But he is thwarted in his mission by the men for whom he has responsibility. And who are the two mysterious Spanish underground agents? Are they really on the British side or are they on Napoleon's?

Opinion: This is the first time that I have ever seen Sharpe. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it - I generally don't enjoy watching anything to do with war. However, I enjoyed the story and Sean Bean as Sharpe totally won me over. He is a superb actor and stood out a mile. Everyone else paled into significance beside him. 5/5

Prime Suspect - Inner Circles
Brief synopsis: A man is found dead in suspicious circumstances and Jane Tennison suspects that there is more to his death than initially meets the eye. In order to dig out the truth, Tennison has to hob-nob with some of the most powerful people around and work out what games they are playing.

Opinion: This was the only disappointment of the set, partly because I already had it and partly because it wasn't one of the better episodes. Helen Mirren as the tough, chain-smoking Jane Tennison who has to fight discrimination whether she turns is excellent. However, the story is slightly disappointing - I found it hard to follow and lost interest a couple of times. 3/5

Kavanagh QC - Nothing But the Truth
Brief synopsis: A young man building a swimming pool in the garden of a wealthy housewife is accused of her rape. Yet he claims that the sex was consensual. Kavanagh QC, a well-known criminal advocate, is called upon to prove the young man's innocence.

Opinion: Well, it is John Thaw. He is sadly missed. His role as Kavanagh is not quite as outstanding as his role as Morse, but then very little can compare to that. The storyline is excellent; gripping from start to finish. In general, I don't like courtroom-based dramas, but there is enough action outside of the courtroom to keep me happy. 4/5

A Touch of Frost - Appendix Man
Brief synopsis: Inspector Jack Frost is on the point of resigning from the Force when he becomes intrigued by the discovery of the fingerprints of a man believed dead in the flat where a suspicious death has occurred. He becomes embroiled in the case, which proves to be linked to art theft.

Opinion: Dare I say this? I'm not actually that keen on David Jason in this role. There is something smug and annoying about Jack Frost that I struggle to get over. Perhaps it is seeing David Jason in a serious role that I cannot get used to. This episode is quite a good one, although the ending is rather disappointing. 3/5

Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles
Brief synopsis: Following decades of bizarre deaths in the Baskerville family, Sir Henry Baskerville returns home to take up his inheritance. But Holmes believes that he may be targeted and arranges for him and Watson to protect Sir Henry. Will Holmes be able to save Sir Henry from a seemingly certain death? And what is the howling that can be heard across the moors during the night?

Opinion: This is the best adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles that I have ever seen (and the version with Basil Rathbone is pretty good). Jeremy Brett is the definitive Sherlock Holmes. Edward Hardwicke as Watson is also perfect - none of the comedy that Nigel Bruce, for example, brought to the role. Just as Conan Doyle meant it to be. The story, of course, is superb - it wouldn't still be around over a hundred years later if it wasn't. 5/5

Poirot - The Adventures of the Clapham Cook
Brief Synopsis: A woman approaches Poirot about finding her missing cook. Poirot's first reaction is to turn the case down, but becomes strangely interested in the case. What can be so intriguing about a missing servant? And can there be any link with a recent bank robbery?

Opinion: This is an Agatha Christie short story and I was initially doubtful that it could be successfully made into a feature-length episode. However, it worked out very well. David Suchet as Poirot is excellent - far superior to Peter Ustinov in the same role - and sticks closely to Christie's description of Poirot. Hugh Fraser as Captain Hastings is also superb. Great acting. 4/5

Inspector Morse - The Dead of Jericho
Brief synopsis: A women with whom Morse is hoping to have an affair is unexpectedly found dead in her own house. Morse suspects murder and decides to investigate further.

Opinion: John Thaw is outstanding as Morse - this is by far his finest role and is without a doubt the one for which he will be remembered. Kevin Whately as Sergeant Lewis does a great back-up job. It will be interesting to see how the new series featuring just Lewis will stand up. The story, like most Morse stories, is complicated and full of red herrings, but nevertheless, is ultimately satisfying. 4/5

The packaging
The 8 discs are neatly packaged in good quality material, which is folded four ways. This can then be inserted into a box. The cover is decorated with pictures of the main characters from each of the dramas.

Technical bits
Classification: 15

Running time: 758 minutes

Features: Unfortunately, there are none, apart from the usual scene selection.

Conclusion
This box set was real treat. I bought it primarily because my sister loves crime fiction as much as I do and I knew she'd like the Cracker, Prime Suspect, Frost, Poirot and Morse as much as I did. I did think that including Sharpe was quite strange - after all, all the other episodes are crime fiction - but actually I found it a pleasant change. My only regret in keeping the set for myself is that I would eventually like to buy the Cracker and Prime Suspect series and the two episodes in this set will probably be included in that. But on the whole, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this excellent set, which is a reminder of the great dramas shown on ITV over the last few years.

Just a couple of criticisms - the boxset was supposed to be celebrating the last 50 years of ITV, but all the dramas included were from the last 15 years or so. I'm surprised there wasn't more of a mix of older dramas, of which I'm sure there is any number. Another is, of course, the price. When you can get choice episodes like these free with a newspaper, it does make this set rather expensive and it is not something I would have ordinarily bought for myself. I would have expected at least some extras to make it worthwhile.

I bought the box set from HMV for £29.99 and it had to be ordered first. It is also available from www.bensonsworld.co.uk for £23.99.
 

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