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Post by Joe Haynes on Nov 22, 2012 9:46:57 GMT
Just saw on AcornDVD's facebook group that Z-Cars is to be released on DVD in early 2013! This is my top most wanted DVD. Really hope its the early years!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2012 10:23:55 GMT
That'll be very good news if it happens! As I can't imagine them bringing everything out in order, I'd like to see certain volumes focus on different eras of the show. The later episodes, while not as groundbreaking as the early ones, have been almost totally forgotten but contain some gems in there. One of my top wants too!  |
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Post by Joe Haynes on Nov 22, 2012 12:38:19 GMT
A volume by volume release would be good. Also seems that a Dixon Volume 2 might be released at the same time
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Post by John Green on Nov 22, 2012 13:35:17 GMT
Very nice.Wonder if they'll start with the colour episodes?
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Post by pelham cort on Nov 22, 2012 21:53:55 GMT
they might start with the black and white ones with restored and vidFIRED episodes
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Post by John Green on Nov 22, 2012 22:13:39 GMT
Of course,it's going to be the ones that didn't come out on the video,or get used on any retro showing which people are going to be keenest to see.
Am I right in thinking that Acorn don't do a lot of extras?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2012 10:14:02 GMT
They don't no. They don't do VidFire either, unfortunately. At least some are finally coming out though. But if they aren't releasing the lot from episode 1 (too many to contemplate, I'd think), then I'd prefer a cross-section of the different eras, rather than concentrate on just the early b/w series. It's been a kind of accepted wisdom (wrongly) for too long that the colour episodes were rubbish and the original run was all that counted.
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Post by Rob Moss on Nov 23, 2012 10:24:17 GMT
Yes, if we can't have a complete set, I think a "Goodies" approach is best, where each release has a representative sample from as many different years as is possible. Let's face it, there may end up only being one release...
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2012 13:43:32 GMT
Yes, if we can't have a complete set, I think a "Goodies" approach is best, where each release has a representative sample from as many different years as is possible. Let's face it, there may end up only being one release... Agreed. With over 300 existing episodes there is absolutely no way the complete Z Cars will ever be released. I myself would much prefer a sampling of episodes from it's entire run, say one each from each year (excepting of course 1968 and 1971 where no episodes exist at all) That would make a nice 14 episode set... pick good representatives, showing the various different regular cast members that came and went over the years so we can sample each era and see the ever changing times. I've enjoyed all the colour episodes I've seen - some wonderful strong pieces of drama there so it annoys me that Z Cars generally gets given short shrift, implying it was "only" good during the Barlow era. Of course it was great in those early years but you can't knock the later years either. They hold up as much more compelling drama than practically anything being made today. What I suspect we will get are bog standard transfers of 1962 to 1965 episodes with zero restoration. Vidfire? It deserves it but no way are they gonna spend the time nor money applying that or giving them a much needed clean up. And, what's the betting on the 3 episodes from the sole VHS release and that old chestnut "Happy Families" being featured? |
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Post by John Green on Nov 23, 2012 19:02:43 GMT
I keep thinking that only a dozen or so episodes exist.Of course,I can see why one might think that.
No sensational guest-stars who'd help sales? (I'd like to see those with Doctor Who companions,if they exist,though I doubt that they'd be much of a draw).
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2012 20:34:39 GMT
I keep thinking that only a dozen or so episodes exist.Of course,I can see why one might think that. No sensational guest-stars who'd help sales? (I'd like to see those with Doctor Who companions,if they exist,though I doubt that they'd be much of a draw). Yes, the heavy emphasis on the first series does create a misleading impression of how much is in the archives! Guest stars? Loads of them! Seemed most actors and actresses of the era would do an episode or two along the way. They often trot out clips of the one with a youthful Judi Dench which is a charming episode. Doctor Who companion wise, I think most of the pre-1980 companions will have done an episode or two. Elisabeth Sladen did 2 before joining DW and one of those definitely exists. This is the big problem though... the BBC have kept it locked in the archive for so long, one can't tell for certain who exactly appeared in it or when and if they appeared during 1968 or 1971 then you're sunk! Leonard Rossiter did a short stint in 1964 and John Thaw for a handful of episodes... would be nice to see at least one of their episodes... I've certainly never seen any. Something like this would make a nice extra... www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft1wmD3fAxc |
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Post by John Green on Nov 23, 2012 22:34:17 GMT
Hi,Phil.
I think it creates more of a misunderstanding of what's missing from the archives!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2012 15:36:10 GMT
This is great news indeed. I just hope it's not a rehash of the 35 episodes that came out three or four years ago on 'Classic DVD Collection. (Incidentally, for anyone that doesn't know about them they're still being advertised for sale at £15 plus postage. The production is a bit amateurish and two of them are cut short, one after seven or eight minutes and the other two-thirds through, but they're still worth getting. They include several later episodes with four or five in colour. Just google search Z cars and scroll through to find the site.)
To answer one of the queries above sadly all the Leonard Rossiter episodes are among the missing, but two or three with John Thaw remain.
I'm 82 so I was lucky enough to see many of the originals. Unfortunately I was on shift work for most of the sixteen years so I probably only caught around a third, bit I agree with Phillipgruber - the later series were just as good as the ones from the Barlow era.
As for guest stars, here's a few to be going on with. Jean Alexander, Paul Eddington, Glenda Jackson, Rodney Bewes, Brian Wilde, Thora Hurd, Patrick Mower, Windsor Davies, Fulton McKay, Linda Bellingham, Keith Barron. Johnny Briggs.
Will someone notify here if and when the DVDs come out, please.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2012 16:09:55 GMT
Can you post under a real name please, as per forum rules? Thanks.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2013 11:14:02 GMT
Sorry. Real name is Bernard Stocks
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