Wartime Britain Collection (Heat Of
The Day/Housewife, 49/Island At War/Acorn Media DVD)
Picture:
C/B-/C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C- Main Programs: B-
Acorn
Media has issued a new box set that includes a 3-DVD mini-series and two other
programs in the same space as the three-disc set originally issued and dubbed
it their Wartime Britain Collection.
With the new addition (and DVD debut) of Heat Of The Day, we have covered the previous releases, which are
named and followed by the links to the original review coverage:
Housewife, 49
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6672/Housewife,+49+(Acorn+Media+DVD)
Island At War
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/1774/Island+At+War+(British+Mini-Series)
That
leaves Heat Of The Day, which has
been out of print since its U.S. VHS was cut.
A welcome addition to this set and DVD, this Spy drama is more drama
than anything else and stars Michael York as a British soldier whose lack of
loyalty is exposed by a mysterious man (Michael Gambon) to a woman (Patricia
Hodge) who has believed all these years that they had a great relationship
built on trust and true happiness. I
expected more action when I saw it back in 1989 and though that aspect was
disappointing, it is as good as any telefilm in this set and has some other
good points I had forgotten. It still
has a somewhat predictable path, but is very literate and has aged better than
I would have imagined 21 years ago.
Picture,
sound and extras on the previous editions remain the same, while the new
program is offered in 1.33 X 1 image that is not bad for an older
transfer of the 16mm filmed materials.
Color can be good, but the image can also be plugged up a bit and lack
detail at times. The Dolby Digital 2.0
Mono is not bad, but shows its age in some compression and slight harshness at
times, but is consistently decent enough throughout all three releases. Extras on Day include three filmographies for the main actors and good text
on Pinter.
- Nicholas
Sheffo
