George Gently Series 1 DVD with Martin Shaw, Lee Ingleby, Richard Armitage (NR) +Movie Reviews +Used DVD available for Swap

Gripping drama with great cast.

skunktrain | So. California, USA | 10/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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 pairing of Gently and his Sargent

Mr. Mac | TX | 01/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Wonderful series

Laraine Pavarini | Scarsdale, New York United States | 01/12/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Lovingly crafted detail of the 60's and great detective stor

Jeri Massi | Raleigh, NC United States | 06/01/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Go Gently Into the Human Condition

John F. Rooney | 09/25/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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.

"

Search - George Gently: Series 1 on DVD

Movie Details

Similar Movies

Similarly Requested DVDs

Movie Reviews