First Among Equals (Acorn Media DVD/British TV Mini-Series)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C- Episodes: B-
Jeffrey
Archer’s examination of the rise of four friends to power in the British
Government makes for some enduring quality British TV in First Among Equals (1986) in one of the last great British
Mini-Series of the last golden age of their TV.
Tom Wilkinson, James Faulkner, David Robb and Jeremy Child play the
friends who will soon find themselves in conflict, competition and at each other’s
throats in this 10-episode drama.
Smart,
dark and nuanced, the acting and writing are totally credible, from the witty
to the raw, spanning over 20 years of British history and the promise that one
will become a Prime Minister. Whether
this is all true, partly true and/or told with some hybrid characters and
situations, it becomes quickly compelling as soon as you being to watch
it. It is worth your time and a welcome
back catalog release.
The 1.33
X 1 image is a little soft and was shot in older color PAL analog video, but
looks pretty good for its age considering the circumstances and condition of
video at that time, though it is not sterling.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is a bit compressed, but that does not hurt
the overall presentation, though the makers should have left it a little more
open from whatever source they had.
Extras include Archer text bio and text cast filmographies.
- Nicholas Sheffo
