The Paper Chase – Season Two (1983 – 84/Shout! Factory DVD)
Picture:
C- Sound: C Extras: D Episodes: B
Four more
years after its remarkable-but-cancelled first season, The Paper Chase became one of the first series in TV history to be
revived years after its cancellation due to the respect of the show and the
feeling broadcast TV just could not support a quality program like it the way
public television could. However, it was
the rise of cable TV and the Showtime Network that led to its revival. Public TV could not afford to fund it, but
Showtime could and with Fox, did a fine job of reviving it. As a result, the series was reintroduced and
ran for three more seasons.
Season Two hailed the return of John
Houseman to the role of Professor Charles W. Kingsfield, Jr., James Stephens as
James Hart, Tom Fitzsimmons, James Keane, and just about all the same locations
standing. Though some of the shows were
only in the vaults as edited versions, all 19 hour-long shows are included here
over 6 DVDs and the show holds up surprisingly well, still a product of the
1970s in many ways yet not exactly the same show. New cast members include Jane Kaczmarek and
Michael Tucci (from the film Grease).
Name
guest stars this time include Janine Turner, Charles Fleischer, Michael
Shannon, Ty Henderson, Anne Lockhart, Alex Courtney, David Caruso, Ilene Graff,
John Randolph, Eddie Barth, Arthur Rosenberg, Mady Kaplan, Lora Staley, David
Paymer, Gregory Sierra, Paul Koslo, Alan Feinstein, Don Pedro Colley, Eric Server,
Severn Darden, David Opatoshu, Martha Scott, Marilyn Jones, Dana Elcar, John
Rubenstein, John Lovitz, Duncan Ross, Timothy Busfield and Brent Spiner.
The 1.33
X 1 image is a big disappointment and even a little softer than the last set,
as these filmed shows (likely 35mm film) were all finished on analog NTSC video
and that is the copies used here.
Unfortunately, these copies have digititis throughout and even some
digital blocking. Hope film prints
survive in the vault, or this is a lost series.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is at least second generation, can have
backgrounds noise and be lower in volume than one might like. Dialogue this time is more of an issue
because of the condition of these transfers, but is usually clear for its age. There are no extras.
For more
on the show, read our coverage of Season
One at this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8399/The+Paper+Chase+%E2%80%93+Sea
- Nicholas Sheffo
