The Doombolt Chase – The Complete Series (1978/Network U.K./PAL Region 2 DVD Imports)
Picture:
C Sound: C Extras: C- Episodes: C+
PLEASE
NOTE: This DVD can only be operated on machines capable of playing back DVDs
that can handle Region Two/2 PAL format software and can be ordered from our
friends at Network U.K. at the website address provided at the end of the
review.
A British
action show aimed at teens, The Doombolt
Chase was a limited run TV series set at sea with an unusual amount of top
rate talent behind it. With Science
Fiction and even Spy elements thrown in, it does its best to get teens
involved, but can be more restrictive in its narrative than expected. Can the son and friends of an arrested,
respected vessel commander clear the man’s name in the face of a darker plot
ensuing?
Though
done intelligently, it is not Jonny
Quest meets Return Of The Saint
meets Doctor Who like it could have
been, but it is interesting and ambitious, even when it does not always
work. As for behind-the-scenes talent,
no less than Peter Graham Scott and Robert Fuest (both Avengers alumni, plus Fuest has a distinctive film resume and did The New Avengers) directed the six
hour-long shows, while Don Houghton (Doctor
Who, Sapphire & Steel) wrote
the series teleplays. The cast includes
no less than Peter Vaughn, Frederick Jaeger, Donald Burton, George Coulouris
and Ewen Solon in a convincingly cast show.
A curio worth a look, it is finally out on DVD.
The 1.33
X 1 image is a little softer than one would like for a show shot on film, but
this has a few good moments and you can see some money was spent that shows up
on screen. Not bad considering the
budget limits. The Dolby Digital 2.0
Mono is also down a generation or two, so be careful of playback volumes and
volume switching. Stills are the only extra.
As noted
above, you can order this DVD import exclusively from Network U.K. at:
http://www.networkdvd.net/
or
www.networkdvd.co.uk
- Nicholas Sheffo
