Painted Lady (British TV/Mystery/WGBH DVD)

 

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

 

 

NOTE: This out of print WGBH DVD title has been reissued by Acorn Media and you can see more at this link:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8220/Painted+Lady+(1997/British+Mystery

 

 

Helen Mirren is a jazz vocalist from the past suddenly trying to solve a murder related to the dark side of the world of art dealing in Painted Lady, a one-shot, two-part show that is ambitious, but not ambitious enough.  For one thing, the art world is never totally flushed out, then buying Mirren as a great Jazz singer stretches credibility further.  And this is one of the best actresses of her generation.  Instead of enhancing the mystery tale, they distract from it and the 204 minutes go on and on more than nay mystery should.

 

To show how different this show was, it was broadcast on the PBS/WGBH series Masterpiece Theater, instead of their more logical anthology series Mystery!  Even they knew this was an unusual affair, but we’ve seen worse.  At least it is ambitious, if confused.  You might want to see it just for something different.  Iain Cuthbertson, Iain Glen and Franco Nero also star.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image is a bit soft and dated, but is at least color consistent.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has Pro Logic surrounds, which makes the show more engaging, though the music comes up very short and is unmemorable for the most part.  Extras are very thin, including a weblink for DVD-ROMs and a brief behind the scenes piece.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo