Official Synopsis:
The iconic award-winning English director, Ken Russell, is best known for his flamboyant style, his attention to detail and for being a controversial and visionary artist. Russell's approach was determined by a desire to knock the dust off the biofilm genre: "The whole idea had degenerated into a series of third-rate clichés. I wanted to dress people in old clothes and do it in a totally unreal way, and thus make it more real than ever, and in the process send up this new civil service/academic way of doing films." This collection includes two early films starring Oliver Reed, The Debussy Film and Dante's Inferno about Dante Gabriel Rossetti, as well as Always on Sunday about Henri Rousseau, Isadora: The Biggest Dancer in the World, A Song of Summer about Frederick Delius, and Dance of the Seven Veils about Richard Strauss. These early films paved the way for his brilliant career that has spanned six decades.

  
Our Take:
Ken Russell has had a very odd career. After his early film output included hits such as The Who’s Tommy, Altered States, Women In Love, and Lair of the White Worm, he just sort of… fragmented, taking on seemingly random projects on screens big and small. His last noteworthy film in terms of any kind of media attention was 1991’s Whore with Theresa Russell, but it got much more controversial notices for its name than anything else.

Ken Russell at the BBC features six early works of the noted director’s from various BBC shows, and it serves as a film compilation of sorts, as most of the episodes run around an hour or so. The included stories are Elgar, The Debussy Film, Always on Sunday, Isadora Duncan, The Biggest Dancer in the World, and Dante's Inferno. BBC productions are noted (especially during this time period) for their low budgets, but Russell brings his talent to work, and it’s clear to see that this wasn’t a man who was going to be hampered by money or more earthbound constraints. We see hints at the delirium and passion that Russell would bring to his later works in each of these stories. I’m not the biggest Ken Russell fan in the world, but this set certainly serves as a primer in the beginning of his filmography, so fans should love this rarity collection.

Sadly, while you do get six short films, there are no extra features on the set.

Official Synopsis:
Peter Cook and Dudley Moore were a major part of the new comedy era in the '60s and '70s. Their great partnership was formed when the pair wrote and conceived Not Only... But Also. They would talk into a microphone and then record and review their impromptu speech, developing parts that had promise and discarding the rest. The scripts were not written in stone. Half of the charm of the show is the pair's adlibs and the laughter they fought to hold back as they tried to make each other crack up. These six episodes have been compiled from what remains in the BBC archive. This classic comedy featured some of the cleverest sketches ever to appear on British television and included terrific guest appearances such as John Lennon.

  
Our Take:
I knew absolutely nothing about Not Only... But Also... before this DVD crossed my desk. Like most Americans, I remember Dudley Moore primarily from the Arthur films (and for some reason, Micki & Maude), but haven’t had much exposure to him otherwise. It turns out that Not Only... But Also... was a British sketch comedy show from the ‘60s with Moore and Peter Cook. The duo was best known for starring together in Stanley Donen’s Bedazzled, among other films. It also turns out that the majority of the three seasons of this show that were created between 1965 and 1970 have been completely lost by the BBC. As in, erased. The six episodes that are on the new The Best Of... The Rest Of... Not Only... But Also... DVD are cobbled together from leftover bits that the BBC has pulled together over the years.

This is a shame, as the show is quite funny. Fans of The Benny Hill Show (or even Monty Python) will find a lot to laugh at, as the spoof/absurd humor of the show really is pretty funny. Obviously, comedy from four decades ago in another country results in some skits that don’t translate well (or were never funny to begin with), but by and large I found myself chuckling more often than not.

There is only on extra feature on the disc, and it’s called Success Story (30 minutes). It’s a 1974 BBC documentary on the duo of Moore and Cook while they were on Broadway.

Official Synopsis:
Architectural historian Dan Cruickshank embarks on a five-month, 34-country world tour visiting his selection of the eighty greatest buildings, artworks and other man-made treasures that define human civilization. This eclectic global treasure hunt takes in the Parthenon, Machu Picchu, King Tut's burial mask, a samurai sword and even a Volkswagen Beetle with ventures as far afield as Easter Island, the Mud City of Chan Chan, space age Shanghai and the temple of Borobodur in Java. In revealing the stories behind the treasures, Dan comes face to face with the legacies of great ancient civilizations, learning something of human aspiration, about the secrets of life and death, and ultimately about himself.

  
Our Take:
I love the BBC’s travel and nature programming. From Michael Palin’s tours of the world to Planet Earth and Blue Planet, nobody covers the planet and all its inhabitants like the BBC. Dan Cruikshank is a slightly odd man who possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of the world. In Around the World in 80 Treasures, Cruikshank canvasses the world to teach us about 80 of the greatest man made wonders in existence. He gives us the history of each treasure and fills us in with interesting facts and tidbits about each one.

There are too many treasures to list here, but Cruikshank gives equal time to all of them, whether big or small. So you’ll get to learn about some places you might already know of, such as The Great Wall of China, the Parthenon, or the Nazca Lines in Peru (one of my favorite segments), but you’ll also see him in Angkor Watt, Machu Picchu, Chan Chan, and The Summer Palace in Beijing. It’s a terrific mix of big and small. Plus, you’ll never look at the VW Beetle the same way again. Cruikshank’s personality and quiet delivery take some getting used to, but the show is filled with terrific photography, beautiful scenery, and interesting facts. If only the DVD included some extra features.

Official Synopsis:
Follow the hysterical misadventures of Audrey fforbes-Hamilton (Penelope Keith), formerly Lady fforbes-Hamilton of Grantleigh Manor, and Richard DeVere (Peter Bowles), the nouveau-riche wholesale foods magnate who purchases Grantleigh after Audrey finds herself bankrupt. Decamping to the tiny Old Lodge cottage, Audrey keeps a close and disapproving eye on the manor's new owner. It's a recipe for absolute hilarity that never loses its freshness. This collection includes all 20 original episodes from the program's immortal 3-season run plus the 2007 Silver Anniversary Special and a bevy of bonus features!

  
Our Take:

To The Manor Born: The Complete Series - Silver Anniversary Edition is basically a compilation of existing DVD collections, but if you’re a fan of the show, it’s the best way to get everything in one place. Previously, the show was collected into a Complete Series box set, with the Silver Anniversary Special available just recently on its own disc. This release collects the whole kit and caboodle into one handsome box set.

For some reason, when I was a kid, PBS seemed to broadcast a lot of BBC shows. I remember that shows like Good Neighbors, Doctor Who, Fawlty Towers, and To The Manor Born ran often in my house. Good Neighbors (known as The Good Life in the UK) was my favorite at the time, but because I loved that show (and was especially fond of Penelope Keith), I eventually gravitated towards To The Manor Born, which also starred Keith . Of course, as a child, I didn’t really get the show, but I was eager to go back and revisit on DVD as an adult. It’s pretty funny stuff, with all the trappings of riches and fortune encompassing what is, at heart, a romantic comedy. Of course, some of the humor is dated, and some of the humor doesn’t carry over from England to the U.S. (the political commentary is lost on me), but the show is pretty enjoyable.

The Silver Anniversary Special sees Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles reunite 25 years later for a one-off episode. It’s a cute little outing that isn’t as good as the original show, but it’s nice to see that the actors clearly hold the characters that made them famous in their native land in such high esteem. After all, this is the show that held a ratings record in England for some 16 years.

Extra features in this box set include:

* 1979 Christmas Special.

* Funny Turns - Profile of Penelope Keith.

* Turning Points - Peter Bowles reveals the turning point of his career.

* Four Radio Episodes.

* The Making of the Silver Anniversary Special.

As always with BBC products, there are no discs in their latest batch of releases that aren’t enjoyable, and there’s a little something for everyone. Ken Russell at the BBC serves up a heaping dose of drama while The Best Of... The Rest Of... Not Only... But Also... gives us classic screwball comedy. Around the World in 80 Treasures is a fascinating travelogue/documentary, while To The Manor Born: The Complete Series - Silver Anniversary Edition is the ultimate collection of one of Britain’s most well-loved sitcoms of all time.

RECOMMENDED!

Overall Picture:
Movie (Russell/Not Only/Treasures/Manor): B/B+/A-/A
DVD (Russell/Not Only/Treasures): C+

DVD (Manor): B+

- Mike Spring

Editor