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Dixon of Dock Green: Collection Three (TV)
R2 - United Kingdom - Acorn Media Review written by and copyright: Matthew Crossman (17th May 2015). |
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The Show
 “Good evening all.” Dixon of Dock Green was a hugely popular BBC television programme running from 1955 until 1976. The titular character George Dixon (played by Jack Warner) had originally appeared in the film ‘The Blue Lamp’ (1950). At the conclusion of that film George Dixon was shot and killed by the criminal Tom Riley (played by Dirk Bogarde). The reception for the film was good and it was decided by the hierarchy at the BBC to resurrect the character of George Dixon for a television series called ‘Dixon of Dock Green’. The programme produced 432 episodes of which only 32 episodes still exist in their entirety with a further 19 episodes existing in extract form only. This was due to the BBC’s policy of wiping tapes that they thought had no further commercial use and would unlikely to be repeated. This action was to impact upon many other BBC productions most notably Doctor Who. This two disc set from Acorn Media UK represents the final series of ‘Dixon of Dock Green’. These are the final eight episodes of the programme that were ever broadcast. For this final season Jack Warner’s character George Dixon is now in his police collator position. Jack Warner was 80 years old at the time of filming and despite still managing to put in some very good performances his character basically just sits behind a desk and answers the telephone whilst the rest of the cast do the ‘heavy lifting. Disc 1 ‘Domino’ (49.03) - A yacht docked at Dock Green brings mystery and intrigue and the possible murder of a young woman but all is not as it seems. (First broadcast 13/03/1976) ‘The Job’ (49.58) - An investigation into a big time gangster has it’s waters muddied when a man is fished out of a river and his Wife seems strangely unperturbed. (First broadcast 20/03/1976) ‘The Vagrant’ (49.18) - A down and out wino is not all who appears to be and is not being targeted by someone out to kill him. (First broadcast 27/03/1976) ‘Everybody’s Business’ (49.05) - A landlady of a house suspects one of her tenants of a crime whilst failing to see the true crime happening right under her nose. (First broadcast 03/04/1976) Disc 2 ‘Alice’ (49.31) - Alice wants to be the best violinist in the word, but it seems her talents lie elsewhere. (First broadcast 10/04/1976) ‘Jackpot’ (46.17) - A brow beaten husband gets the chance to life the life of his dreams. (First broadcast 17/04/1976) ‘Legacy’ (49.38) - Sticking tape on a dead body is the only clue to a stolen hoard of jewellery (First broadcast 24/04/1976) ‘Reunion’ (49.08) - A reunion of nine police officers is arranged but who is the mysterious tenth guest? (First broadcast 01/05/1976) The episodes are all enjoyable, if standard mid 1970’s fare. The plethora of ‘famous’ faces that pop up are fun to identify (the likes of Bill Teacher from Eastenders and Paul Darrow of Blakes 7 fame to name but two) and most episodes have an air of the who done it about them that keeps the episodes interesting to the last. The regular cast are all likeable and do a good job. A nice slice of 1970’s television.
Video
Aspect ratio of the episodes are 1.33:1. The episodes appear to have no work done to them at all. The internal, studio shots were all ‘filmed’ on video tape and consequently the picture is slightly on the soft side. The exteriors for the show were shot on 16mm film and hence are slightly grainy but overall the quality of the picture is fine.
Audio
The Dolby digital stereo soundtrack is clear and perfectly serviceable. English subtitles are included.
Extras
There are three audio commentaries in all. The first is on the opening episode ‘Domino’. Stephen Marsh, who played PC Harry Dunn talks us through this episode. The second commentary is for the episode ‘Alice’. Michael Bryant talks us through this episode, an episode he directed. The final episode to have been granted a commentary is ‘Legacy’. Giving the commentary this time is Ben Howard who played Detective Constable Len Clayton. Most of the commentaries provided are not scene specific, and that’s a good thing. All three reminisce about not just the episode they are talking about but the series as a whole and the way it was filmed. ‘Good Evening All: A Tribute to Jack Warner’ (15.27) - As the title says this is a tribute to Jack Warner, the actor who played George Dixon. Surviving cast and crew members remember Jack Warner and their recollections are interspersed with clips and photographs from the TV show. Personnel Files Interviews - The first interview is with Nicholas Donnelly who played Sgt Johnny Wills (8.01), this is followed by an interview with Richard Heffer who played D.S Alan Brunton (4.58) and finally there is an interview with Gregory de Polnay who played D.S Mike Brewer (8.33). All have interesting recollections of the TV show and it’s interesting to see how the look today. Picture Gallery - A series of black and white photographs from the programme (0.48).
Overall
Anyone in their forties might just remember this television programme from Saturday night. It came on around 6.30pm and was a staple for many families down the years. It’s an interesting social document of the 1970’s. I had forgotten many of the things seen in these episodes like the old police panda cars and it was fun to see them again. The episodes themselves were well constructed. The scripts were tight and the storylines enjoyable with many having a final twist not revealed until the very end. I thought that at just under 50 minutes these episodes of television of a bygone age might drag a touch but quite the contrary. Acorn have produced a fine package. The video does have it’s imperfections but considering most people would have watched these originally on televisions sets no bigger than 20 inches or so and probably in black and white I think it would be churlish to complain too much. The extras are a nice touch, and quite unexpected, and goes to show the fondness for the programme that many still have for it. A pleasant walk down memory lane.
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