 |   Format : Box set, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC Publisher : Acorn Media Company : Acorn List Price: Our Price: $32.41 You Save: $17.58 (36%) Used Price : $22.99 |
Description
In 1960s Britain, an upstanding detective takes on a dangerous world
Award-winning actor Martin Shaw (Judge John Deed, The Professionals) stars as Commander George Gently--an incorruptible, uncompromising cop transplanted from London’s Scotland Yard to England’s North Country in the mid-1960s. Gently’s reputation for honesty and relentlessness makes him almost as feared among his colleagues as he is among criminals. But he finds an odd ally in John Bacchus (Lee Ingleby, Nicholas Nickleby)--an overeager, opinionated young sergeant who plays fast and loose with police procedures. Together the two tackle cases involving murderers, drug dealers, gun runners, and more.
Based on the long-running series of novels by Alan Hunter, these feature-length modern dramas boast clever writing, stylish direction, and strong casts, including guest stars Richard Armitage (Robin Hood), Phil Davis (Vera Drake), and John Kavanagh (The Tudors). The powerful mysteries unfold against the beautiful backdrop of rural Britain, a region just beginning to feel the rumbles of the era’s social and cultural quakes.
DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE text interviews with Martin Shaw, Lee Ingleby, and writer/executive producer Peter Flannery and a biography of Martin Shaw.
Amazon.com
The British love their mystery miniseries, but this new one, George Gently, has special historical flair for those curious about just how wide the generation gap was in Britain pre-cultural and sexual revolution. Each of Series One’s three feature-length dramas, based on novels by Alan Hunter, are set in 1964, a year rife with political cover-ups, biker gang conflicts, kids popping "dexies" to fuel all-night dance club parties, and elders, like Commander George Gently (Martin Shaw), scrambling to alleviate the rampant crime situation. In episode one, "Gently Go Man," the Commander is about to retire when his wife is killed, sparking his renewed dedication to catching thugs. Relocating from London’s Scotland Yard to rural Northumberland, where he suspects criminal Joe Webster (Philip Davis) may dwell, Gently teams up with dapper detective Sergeant John Bacchus (Lee Ingleby), who admires Gently but more casually approaches infiltrating youth culture for information. The series is propelled by the father-son relationship that builds between the two officers, as they successfully solve the murder of young motorcyclist, Billy Lister (Christian Cooke). Billy’s gang, including the fiery Lawrence Elton (Shaun Evans) and sensitive Ricky Deeming (Richard Armitage), unravels as sexual tensions between the boys are exposed, pointing to the necessity of an upcoming sexual revolution that theoretically occurred to prevent future tragedies such as those relayed in this story.The subsequent two episodes, "Bomber’s Moon" and "The Burning Man," have more political bent, as Gently and Bacchus team up to solve the murder of Wilhelm Schmeikel (Christian Oliver), linked to various underground organizations. Schmeikel’s children, Gunter (Wolf Kahler) and Trudi (Nathalie Boltt), play key roles in each drama. Once Gently’s Criminal Investigation Department nemesis, Empton (Robert Glenister), is assigned to the case, the mystery increases exponentially as corruption infiltrates the effort. In the harrowing episode, "The Burning Man," Schmiekel is found with a charred stomach full of egg, chips, and an eternity ring with the woman's name, Wanda, carved on it. Turns out Wanda (Pooky Quesnel) is the most multi-dimensional character in Series One, as she reluctantly aids the police with manipulative finesse, maintaining a cloying, sex-crazed persona that spices up these extremely hard-boiled tales. Though Gently is a fabulous character, not to mention a brilliant detective, the crimes he is solving are so complicated that one must pay close attention to avoid being completely left behind. For crime mystery lovers, this will be a plus, while for others, watching George Gently Series One may feel like one is enrolling in detective school, so bring a notepad. --Trinie Dalton
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Customer reviews
Wonderful pairing of Gently and his Sargent 
by .. Mr. Mac (TX)
We had previouly seen Martin Shaw in the "Daglish" series as one of the actors for the Commander. Very stoic and a bit unfriendly, but on the track when others didn't see it. In this series he is just as irritating but just as inciteful as ever. He has set out to retire in a small village, but remains. His Sargent is the local copper trying to get out and up in the force from the backwater. As Gently is by the old book, the sargent if a bit of however you can is alright -- ends justify the means. His unorthodox means help solve their cases, all the while Gently is caring for him and guiding him. And probably saving him! They are delightful foiles for each other. If you like "Daglish" and other British mysteries like "Lindley", Morse, Frost, etc., where there is great interplay between the inspector and the argent, you will like these.
Gripping drama with great cast. by .. skunktrain (So. California, USA)
This was a thoroughly enjoyable drama with a great cast. I especially liked Martin Shaw (who has aged very well) who plays the title role of George Gently, and "Robin Hood" star Richard Armitage as the charismatic and ambiguous biker Ricky Deeming. Also of note is Lee Ingleby as Gently's young (and brash) partner.
The dramatization apparently takes a few liberties with the original novel (I daresay might be a little more politically correct) but holds its own and is full of twists and turns. It holds the period flavor (early '60s) well. Worth a look, especially if you're a fan of any of the lead stars.
Wonderful series by .. Laraine Pavarini (Scarsdale, New York United States)
I ordered this series because Martin Shaw was portraying the main character> I thought he was outstanding as Adam Dagleish and I have found that he is equally superb in this series. Would like to see more of his work formatted for American TV.
Go Gently Into the Human Condition by .. John F. Rooney ()
Quite some years ago I fell in love with British police procedurals, and among my favorite authors was Alan Hunter who created George Gently, a police sleuth in northeast England. June Thomson (Inspector Rudd), Jonathan Ross (Inspector Rogers), and W.J. Burley (Inspector Wycliffe) were turning out very good cop crime novels in those days.
Actor Martin Shaw portrays Gently in a series of English feature-length television programs. In "Bomber's Moon" Gently has to solve the murder of a German businessman whose drowned body is discovered near his sailing yacht. The German has returned to the neighborhood where he lived as a P.O.W. during World War II. Most people seem to have genuinely liked the generous German who bought drinks for the locals in their pub.
There are a number of suspects and red herrings. Just as we are convinced of the guilt of one suspect, another one pops up. It seems as if a number of people were at the scene of the crime that night.
Gently has a sergeant assistant named Bacchus who plays fast and loose with protocol. I think the filmmakers have tried to make Gently into a hardnosed and edgy character like Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse in another TV series. Morse has his conventional Sergeant Lewis as a strong secondary character, and Gently has the more confrontational and dodgier Bacchus as his sidekick.
"Bomber's Moon" is well-done, gripping, suspenseful, and very well-acted. All of the suspects and other roles are portrayed by strong actors, and the viewer gets the feeling of real personalities and real backstories in these subsidiary characters. The production rises above its detective series origin and deals with human problems in an intense way. An interesting device is used: as witnesses/suspects are recounting their stories, the director uses reenactments (like flashbacks) for visualization of the stories.
The time period is the mid-sixties with WWII not that far in the past. The outdoor shots of Northumberland are telling. You may find the Gently books are out-of-print in the States, but they are well worth finding. They're entertaining reading.
In due time I'll supply reviews of the other two dramas in the package.
Lovingly crafted detail of the 60's and great detective stories! by .. Jeri Massi (Raleigh, NC United States)
If you like Foyle's War, you will like the George Gently series. I am truly hooked on both. George Gently, whose wife has just been murdered in what appears to be a British gangland revenge hit, removes from London to rural Northumberland. He encounters the cocky, intuitively brilliant and slightly tarnished DS John Bacchus, who may have scored his rank by marrying the chief inspector's daughter.
These are truly hard boiled detective stories, and they get a little bit detailed, so you do have to pay attention. Then again, the cast of characters are rich, complex, perfectly acted, and truly memorable, in the model of hardboiled fiction. It's a joy to see Gently's perfect ethics kick into play as he faces the temptations of bribes and seduction. I like good guys, and George Gently is a slightly more granite and chiseled version of Foyle from FOYLE'S WAR.
Bacchus, on the other hand, needs a strong hand to rein him in. Then again, grasping, materialistic, and enticed by the easy stepping stones of corruption, John Bacchus also amazes and pleases the reader (and Gently) with the occasional act of brilliance, and every now and then a truly heroic and completely confident act of police finesse. It's this interplay of Gently mentoring Bacchus and yet Bacchus coming back with truly valuable contributions to their efforts that truly engage you and make you feel like these are stories worth watching.
Every detail of the 60's is lovingly crafted into the stories. There is a lot of visual beauty and reminders of that decade of such change and turmoil.