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Dempsey & Makepeace: Complete [DVD] (Network - 2008-08-01) 9 Discs (1550 minutes) Region: 2 - Suitable for 12 years and over Starring: Glynis Barber, Michael Brandon. Usually dispatched within 24 hours Customer Reviews (Average 4.5 from 7) : Hilly sasys Rating:5 I was hooked on this series as soon as it aired on TV way back in the eighties-still has not lost that magnetism-a lovely trip back into a great era-one of the best next to Sweeney of course-but with the added glamour! Fun, British Action-Drama Cult Classic Rating:5 This excellent DVD box set collection of the cult-classic, British action-drama series, Dempsey And Makepeace, contains all 30 episodes produced. The series spanned three seasons, filmed between 1984-86. Anyone who enjoys a bit of nostalgia and classic 80's TV then this box set is most definitely for you, and for all fans of Dempsey And Makepeace, this is simply essential! The plot of the thoroughly enjoyable and fun 92-minute pilot episode, Armed And Extremely Dangerous, is where Jim Dempsey (Michael Brandon), a rather thuggish, street-wise New York cop uncovers scandalous corruption within his force which swiftly see's him edged out and transferred to London's SI10 police unit for his own safety. There he is set to work with the beautiful, aristocratic Harriet Makepeace (Glynis Barber), a high-flying Cambridge graduate and daughter of an English Lord. The pair don't hit it off with both having considerably diverse methods and views on police work. As the series progresses, a mutual attraction between the dynamic duo becomes all too apparent with the ethos of the show constantly drawing on a will-they, wont-they premise, making the show all the more engaging. The other regulars in Dempsey And Makepeace are the no-nonsense, firm but (usually) fair Chief Superintendent Spikings (Ray Smith) and the likeable Sergeant Chas Jarvis (Tony Osoba). THE COMPLETE FIRST SERIES DISC ONE: The first disc contains the previously mentioned pilot, Armed and Extremely Dangerous where Dempsey and Makepeace uncover a smuggling racket. Lots of high action and daring, impressive stunts and the continual clashing of the duo makes for compelling viewing, despite the rather convoluted plot which both Michael Brandon and Glynis Barber admit on the audio commentary for the episode that they too found it difficult to follow! Thoroughly entertaining never-the-less. The Squeeze is where a security van carrying over half a million pounds is raided by hijackers and one of the security men, clearly in on the game, is later murdered. There is also audio commentary on this episode from both stars. The Squeeze climaxes with Dempsey and Makepeace trapped in a car crusher! Lucky Streak sees a robbery and murder in a London Casino and Dempsey and Makepeace are once again at loggerheads with the differing nature of how they carry out their duties. DISC TWO: Disc Two opens with Given To Acts Of Violence where notorious gang leader, Frank Egan plans the perfect crime; a daring robbery and a rather ingenious way of disposing the money. Makepeace, hilariously, has to go undercover, posing as a high class prostitute and finds herself having to land an airplane to safety. More impressive action in this episode that'll have you on the edge of your seat at times! Hors De Combat is one of my personal favourites of series one where two rival underworld gangs declair war on each other and Dempsey falls for the seductive charms of a sadistic contract killer! Nowhere To Run sees a terrorist group shrewdly smuggling arms into the UK in order to break one of their members out of prison. Dempsey also goes undercover as a photographer. Finally disc two closes with Makepeace, Not War where a warehouse-robbery investigation puts the duo on the trail of a drug smuggling ring. DISC THREE: Disc three contains my other three personal favourites of series one. Blind Eye is excellent, depicting high level corruption in the police force being undercovered and in connection with this, a young boy is kidnapped as ransom while spikings is nearly blown to pieces when travelling on the underground tube, Dempsey relives a way of stealing cars and Makepeace, once again, resorts to having to pose as a prostitute. Cry God For Harry sees Dempsey and Makepeace heading off to stay at Lord Winfield's (Makepeace's father) country estate to investigate the robbery of a collection of priceless antique jade. This leads to the duo having to sword fight to defend themselves! Finally disc three and series one comes to a close with Judgement, an episode with a far more serious nature as Makepeace's best friend is raped and then brutally murdered aboard a train. Alternately sad, poignant and in some moments, fairly shocking. Certainly sees the first series end with a bang. Also of note on this first series box set is an interesting interview with Michael Brandon and Glynis Barber as they reflect on the series success and reveal many amusing anecdotes about the making of the series - such as the fact that in The Squeeze episode they were, indeed, filmed in a real car crusher! All episodes from S1 were written and produced by Tony Wharmby. THE COMPLETE SECOND SERIES DISC ONE: The second series explodes into action with Silver Dollar where a petrol station is blown up by masked raiders and a major corporate company is blackmailed. Wheel Man is a personal favourite of mine from series two where a meticulously-planned diamond robbery is being planned and the gang seeks a getaway driver. Dempsey goes undercover as the gangs new driver while Makepeace poses as a journalist to trap the leader of the gang. Love You To Death is another of my all-time favourites of the entire series where rock music singer Suzi Quatro guest-stars as a deranged stalker, obsessed with Dempsey and prepared to kill him if need be. Special features on disc one includes a nostalgic clip of Michael Brandon and Glynis Barber being interviewed by Gloria Hunniford in October 1985 as the second series was currently being shown on ITV while there's another interview from January 1997 on This Morning with Richard and Judy during the time Dempsey and Makepace was being re-run on cable tv. DISC TWO: The second disc opens with No Surrender, featuring Dempsey and Makepeace involved in a violent bank siege (a young Jamie Foreman, an excellent British actor, is one of the gang members) while Tequila Sunrise is more focused on the duo's rocky relationship and after a drunken, wild night out, Makepeace takes Dempsey home! Then disc two draws to a close with Blood Money where an Arab antique dealer is viciously murdered. DISC THREE: Set A Thief is the third discs opener where a top model is murdered in a hit and run, while The Hit sees a colleague of the duo, shot to his death, and a professional assassin planning on killing a top official. In The Dark is where a right-wing group attempt to over-throw the government with counterfeit money and The Bogey Man features Dempsey coming up against a violent criminal that manages to outsmart him on seemingly every turn. THE COMPLETE THIRD SERIES DISC ONE: Disc one, and series three, begins with a two part story, The Burning, two of my very favourite episodes of the series where Dempsey's New York past finally catches up with him and his life becomes under threat by an old enemy. The complex relationship between Dempsey and Makepeace is touchingly drawn upon. Then Jericho Scam is where Dempsey is framed for a robbery and goes on the run. DISC TWO: The Prize Fighter is fun as the dynamite duo find themselves exploring the perils of illegal bare-knuckle fighting while Extreme Prejudice is one of the weaker episodes in the series where Dempsey is thrust into a life and death situation. Then Bird Of Prey sees Dempsey and Makepeace face their old enemy, Joe Lymon, who they hesitantly call upon for help following the kidnapping of a young girl. DISC THREE: This last disc is consistently excellent and some of the best in the series, particularly Out Of Darkness, which is indeed darker than usual as Makepeace trys to catch a serial murderer while The Cortez Collection features the investigation of a South American drugs gang. Mantrap sees Dempsey and Makepeace on the trail of a criminal mastermind and then finally disc three ends, and the series itself, with Guardian Angel when after seeing Dempsey nearly murdered, Makepeace decides to quit the force and her strong personal feelings for Dempsey are soon discovered. This excellent last episode also saw Michael Brandon move into the director's chair. Among the special features in this third box set are two episodes of Takes Of The Unexpected alternately starring Michael Brandon and Glynis Barber, plus a vintage interview with Glynis Barber from 1987. More than anything the overall electric chemistry between Michael brandon and Glynis Barber completely shines through and it's their engaging performances that really carry the series. Unlike a lot of other cop shows of the time, a lot of the reason why people watched and loved Dempsey and Makepeace was the often explosive interaction between the two leads. Though some of the plots were pretty wafer-thin and the action laughably far-fetched, again this is always redeemed by the enjoyable performances from Brandon and Barber. This dvd box set is certainly excellent value for money, attractively packaged and boasting good picture and sound quality. A must-have for fans. Ian Phillips April 2010 DVD Review Rating:5 Deliver of DVD's was very quick and I am very pleased with the quality of the DVD's. Telly like it should be Rating:5 I remember watching this on TV and it just as good now as it was the first time round!!!! Great storylines and the chemistry between Michael Brandon and Glynis Barber makes this a programme not to be missed. Dempsey the all american cop is totally out of his comfort zone in London, he believes in shoot first,ask questions later. Some great one liners from Brandon! "Not the way we do things here, its against the law" he is told repeatedly. Makepeace, a lady in every sense of the word, its her job to keep him under control,and catch the baddies too, not an easy task. If you enjoy good stories with plenty of action, you will enjoy this It is the FULL series Rating:4 Don't mind what the negative reviewer says: there ISN'T a 4th series!!! So, the 4 series ARE here and it is COMPLETE!!! |
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