The Beiderbecke Trilogy: Complete Series (The Beiderbecke Affair / the Beiderbecke Tapes / the Beiderbecke Connection) [Region 2]

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Product Description

United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Booklet, Box Set, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Multi-DVD Set, Scene Access, Uncut, SYNOPSIS: The Beiderbecke Affair (1985) Follow the exploits of Jazz nut Trevor Chaplin (James Bolam), and his long-suffering girlfriend Jill Swinburne (Barbara Flynn). Whilst trying to track down a set of missing records they encounter a mystery platinum blonde who weaves a complex web of intrigue that soon escalates to dealing with dodgy businessmen, 'black economies' and council corruption. The Beiderbecke Tapes (1987) Feature length mystery with Trevor and Jill as they continue to embroil themselves in all sorts of clandestine meetings and intrigue. Nuclear waste in the Yorkshire Dales, sinister conversations and a missing barman take Trevor and Jill on a whirlwind mystery from the Dales to Amsterdam and Edinburgh. The Beiderbecke Connection (1988) Trevor and Jill are now parents to a baby boy, however their old pals Big Al and Little Norm prevail upon them to give sanctuary to a homeless refugee. It is not long however before they are again caught up in a complex deception of a musical kind featuring the music of jazz supremo Frank Ricotti. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, ...The Beiderbecke Trilogy - Complete Series - 6-DVD Box Set ( The Beiderbecke Affair / The Beiderbecke Tapes / The Beiderbecke Connection )

The Beiderbecke Trilogy: Complete Series (The Beiderbecke Affair / the Beiderbecke Tapes / the Beiderbecke Connection) [Region 2] Review

The Beiderbecke Trilogy is a collection of three series of a light-hearted British mystery/comedy/drama. It gives us each of the short series: The Beiderbecke Affair, The Beiderbecke Tapes, and The Beiderbecke Connection. It was made by Yorkshire TV, and set in that part of the U.K, I imagine; it was created by the award-winning Alan Plater, one of Britain's more prolific, entertaining writers, based on his own novels. The entire series was broadcast in the U.S. on public TV. Be forewarned, however, neither the visual nor the audio quality is what you would expect in a contemporary work: this series was made quite some time ago. Also, unfortunately, there are no subtitles. And the cast, from stars James Bolam and Barbara Flynn - each of whom has frequently appeared in entertainments set in this part of the world, Bolam in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, among others; and Flynn in Cracker: The Complete Collection, and Cranford: The Collection (Cranford / Return to Cranford), among others --down to the bit players, has been encouraged to trot out their local accents. It makes for tough going for some of us, who may miss some of the witty byplay among the characters. But the plot is easy enough to follow.

The entertainment centers on a pair of wisecracking Leeds schoolteachers (and we don't often see Leeds on our side of the pond), caught up in some amateur sleuthing. Jill Swinburne (Flynn) teaches English and wants to save the world. Trevor Chaplin (Bolam) is a befuddled but witty everyman, who teaches woodworking and loves jazz, particularly Bix Beiderbecke, a 1920s American jazz great. Dudley Sutton (Lovejoy: The Complete Collection) has a supporting role as Mr. Carter, history teacher, at the dilapidated local school, known as San Quentin High, where they work. Further adding greatly to the fun is Terence Rigby (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) as Big Al. And Dominic Jephcott (The Scarlet Pimpernel), who begins the series as Detective Sergeant Hobson, ends it as Detective Inspector Hobson, PhD, and says, memorably, that he finds above all, the "most dark impenetrable mystery to be the psychology of Yorkshire." Other notable supporting stars are Beryl Reid, (TINKER TAILOR), Colin Blakely(Love Among the Ruins [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ]) and James Grout.

THE BEIDERBECKE AFFAIR is about the "grey" economy (the buying and selling of "legitimate" merchandise, without the bother of taxes, nor the upkeep of a shop).Trevor purchases some Beiderbecke jazz records--and I do mean vinyl records--from, oddly enough, a beautiful blond selling door to door. This unorthodox purchase, predictably, does not go as he expected. And then Chaplin discovers that the people he's bought the records from are under police surveillance. In short order, he and his partner Jill, find themselves making midnight assignations on multi-story car parks. They find they must deal with corruption and collusion between big business, the local council and the police.

THE BEIDERBECKE TAPES, the second series, was to me the weakest of the three. The tape, supposedly of Beiderbecke music that is at the center of the story is two degrees removed from any sort of reality. And there's just not much going on.

THE BEIDERBECKE CONNECTION, the third series, was the most enjoyable to me. It's much more reality-based, for a start. In it, Trevor and Jill, now settled down, and parents of a darling baby boy, agree to take in the Russian refugee Ivan, who is not so terrible, for the night. But Ivan comes trailing a significant back story that interests the police, and influences the couple's lives.

Of course, the mysteries move along in a leisurely, gentle British fashion that may be too slow for some viewers. But the banter's consistently wry and witty. So is the rollicking sound track, inspired by Beiderbecke's work, by the BAFTA award-winning musician Frank Ricotti (the BAFTA is the British Oscar equivalent): on the track, furthermore, we hear solos by jazz great Kenny Baker. Alan Plater's credits include THE LAST OF THE BLONDE BOMBSHELLS; OLIVERS TRAVELS, and A VERY BRITISH COUP. There is no onscreen violence, nor sex, for that matter. All concerned keep their clothes on, which is probably just as well, as all concerned are at least middle aged. And for some of us, a middle aged romance is really rewarding. The script is as light in weight as the production is light of heart, not to be taken too seriously, served up with heaping helpings of charm and whimsy. It may remind a viewer of the zany mysteries of the 1930s and `40s, Nick and Nora falling a couple of ranks socially and economically, but still having fun. Most viewers will too.

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