Hadleigh – The Complete Series (1969 - 1976/Network U.K. Import DVD Set/PAL/Region 2)
Picture: C
Sound: C+ Extras: D Episodes: B-
NOTE: This PAL Region Two DVD is only available in the U.K. from our friends at Network U.K. and can be
ordered exclusively from them at the links below.
After the short run of the later cult success Adam Adamant Lives!, Gerard Harper
found his most successful role of James Hadleigh in an even shorter series
called, Gazette, but that led to a
much more successful spin-off in Hadleigh. It was an hour-long series that ran for four
inconsistent seasons and The Complete Series is now out on DVD in England from Network U.K.
Series about the rich tend to either shift in the middle
of their run (Hart To Hart, The Jeffersons) for the worse repeating
themselves and loosing their energy or just simply jump the shark beyond repair
(Dynasty, Dallas) and Hadleigh is more like the former. The first two seasons are well written,
clever and smart, while the latter two have the title character moving back
into an estate house with his mother (!?!) and the show becomes too stuffy and
confined to be believed. The switch
between the second and third season is so abrupt that the writers and makers
simply forget the previous seasons existed or mattered, dropping a very
interesting character and storyline.
This leaves Harper stuck with lesser material and the show never
recovered.
Nigel Hawthorne and Richard Vernon show up, as well as
Michael Billington (U.F.O., reviewed
elsewhere on this site) and Jane Merrow in the peak of the show at the end of
the second season. Harper is fine in the
role, especially early on when he is more able-bodied and unpredictable. Too bad the shift made this a lesser show
later, but it was nice while it lasted.
All 52 hour-long shows are included on this set.
The 1.33 X 1 image was shot on analog PAL videotape with
some outdoor 16mm shooting and is on the soft side throughout, but color has
its moments and we get some good shots, while the Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono fares
better despite showing its age with some distortion throughout. I like the first theme song by Alan Moorhouse
better than the stuffy, dull one by Tony Hatch, who had done so much good work
for Petula Clark. There are no extras.
As noted
above, you can order this British PAL DVD import set exclusively from Network U.K. at:
http://www.networkdvd.net/
or
www.networkdvd.co.uk
- Nicholas Sheffo
