The Gold Robbers – The Complete Series (1969/PAL/Region Two/2/Network U.K. DVD Import Set)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Episodes: B

 

 

PLEASE NOTE: This DVD set can only be operated on machines capable of playing back DVDs that can handle Region Two/2 PAL format software and can be ordered from our friends at Network U.K. at the website address provided at the end of the review.

 

 

Just before British TV went to color permanently, some great shows were made in black and white, but like their U.S. counterparts, if they did not go to color before they’re run was finished, they were forgotten.  One such show is a remarkable action, mystery and detective show called The Gold Robbers, made and originally broadcast in 1969.

 

Composed of 13 hour-long shows, the pilot opens with a well shot and edited sequence in which a robbery of a huge amount of gold bars is carried out and the criminals barely get away with stealing the very, very heavy fortune.  This is shot in 16mm film and referenced throughout the series, mostly shot on tape.  Then the investigation begins as DCS Cradock (the great Peter Vaughn) and DS Tommy Thomas (Artro Morris) being to look into how this was achieved, who and how many people were involved.

 

Each episode involves the duo uncovering another piece of what turns out to be a puzzle, unraveling a piece at a time and the writing it very smart, the acting impressive and by the end, the makers have not lost track of the set-up, intent or missed a beat throughout.  That is not easy, but this is a great show fans of smart television and these genres will want to go out of their way to catch.

 

Producer John Hawkesworth wrote some of the shows and the additional cast includes Richard Leech, Michael Wynne, Jeremy Child, Frederick Bartman, Peter Copley, Donald Morley and even a turn by Ian Hendry.  Avengers veteran Don Leaver was among the directors and is so good that it is fair to say that it is a minor classic of British TV.

 

 

The 1.33 X 1 image was shot in black and white analog PAL videotape (with very limited 16mm) and can be soft and limited in depth.  Flaws include staircasing, aliasing, some video noise, video banding, some tape scratching, tape damage and even PAL cross color despite the fact that these are all black and white.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is about a generation down throughout and can be distorted, but it sounds better than these look, which is a plus.  Max Harris (the 1964 Sherlock Holmes TV series, the underrated Open All Hours, reviewed elsewhere on this site) did the terrific score.  The only extras are a telefilm length version of the last two episodes edited together as a final even for rebroadcast and stills, but some are in color and show us how good the actors looked, plus some of the black and white stills look better than the episodes.

 

 

As noted above, you can order this PAL DVD import set exclusively from Network U.K. at:

 

http://www.networkdvd.net/

 

or

 

www.networkdvd.co.uk

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo