George Gently: Series 1
starring: Martin Shaw, Lee Ingleby, Richard Armitage, Philip Davis, Shaun Evans
directed by: Euros Lyn
directed by: Euros Lyn
List Price: $49.99
as of 03/21/2010 22:17 EDT
Amazon.com's Price: $47.49
You Save: $2.50 ( 5%)as of 03/21/2010 22:17 EDT
Product Description:
Studio: Acorn MediaRelease Date: 11/11/2008
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
Studio: Acorn MediaRelease Date: 11/11/2008
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
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Yes, George Gently has subtitles!
I guarantee you that George Gently has subtitles! Please do not believe some of these other reviewers - who have not purchased, don't own it, and don't have any way of knowing one way or another what is true.
Rating: - It's sort of the show I wanted Frost to be....
When I first read about "A Touch of Frost" starring David Jason, I imagined that it would be something like this production turned out to be. Gritty and believable, and not overly melodramatic.This probably isn't a great deal more authentic than Frost, but there's a certain feel to it that is missing in some other programs. The lead is played by Martin Shaw, whose work I had not seen before.Evidently there was only one series produced for this, a real loss for those who love the way the Brits ... Read More
Rating: - Supersleuth.
George Gently sort of creeps up on you!The plots are believable and the acting very good. One is definitely left wanting more. Why, then, isn't this series better known and continuing? It deserves to be.
Rating: - Go Gently Into the Human Condition
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 ... Read More
Rating: - Love it!
I love it, I thought I wouldn't like it at all.I wish there was a series 2.I have to agree with the other reviewers that Acorn puts out a poor product.I wish they would switch companies for their releases.But, the series itself is wonderful and worth the aggravation of dealing with the Acorn product.
- Yes, George Gently has subtitles!I guarantee you that George Gently has subtitles! Please do not believe some of these other reviewers - who have not purchased, don't own it, and don't have any way of knowing one way or another what is true.
Rating:
- It's sort of the show I wanted Frost to be....When I first read about "A Touch of Frost" starring David Jason, I imagined that it would be something like this production turned out to be. Gritty and believable, and not overly melodramatic.This probably isn't a great deal more authentic than Frost, but there's a certain feel to it that is missing in some other programs. The lead is played by Martin Shaw, whose work I had not seen before.Evidently there was only one series produced for this, a real loss for those who love the way the Brits ... Read More
Rating:
- Supersleuth.George Gently sort of creeps up on you!The plots are believable and the acting very good. One is definitely left wanting more. Why, then, isn't this series better known and continuing? It deserves to be.
Rating:
- Go Gently Into the Human ConditionQuite 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 ... Read More
Rating:
- Love it!I love it, I thought I wouldn't like it at all.I wish there was a series 2.I have to agree with the other reviewers that Acorn puts out a poor product.I wish they would switch companies for their releases.But, the series itself is wonderful and worth the aggravation of dealing with the Acorn product.
