Melissa
(1974/Acorn Media/British Mini-Series/BBC)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: C- Episodes: B-
Uncovering
another decent gem from the BBC library, Acorn Media has issued the entire 1974
TV Mini-Series adaptation of Frances Durbridge’s Melissa, the smart, twisted tale about a man whose wife turns up
dead to his shock, which becomes a different kind of shock when he is accused
of the killing. We know he is innocent,
which leaves the who and why of this mystery.
As he
investigates on his own, things get worse, but instead of the usual bad formula
you might find in such a plotting today, this takes its time to fill out the
situation, characters and world in which this takes place. The result is more mystery, suspense, clues
and questions from the last golden age of British TV.
Peter
Barkworth, Ronald Fraser, Moira Redmond, Lyndon Brook, John Horsley and Ray
Lonnen make up the exceptional cast, delivering exceptional performances that
just play on each other in a way that just increases the tension of each
show. I was pleasantly surprised by
this, but since it is from the period of British TV it is, I should not have
been. You’ll enjoy it too.
The 1.33
X 1 image can be a bit rough, looking like a second-generation digital copy,
but color is good there is a disclaimer at the bottom of the back of the
case. We have seen much worse in
HD. The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is
stereo-boosted mono and plays pack nicely, offsetting the image flaws
somewhat. The all-text extras include
cast filmographies and Durbridge biography.
- Nicholas Sheffo
