Father Brown Series 1-8 [DVD]

It's really great having all Series 1 through to 8 together of the wonderful Father Brown.I think most people will gain more info about Father Brown from the many reviews for each of the series, although I am guessing many people may already have seen it on BBC. That said I guess, being aired on daytime TV, many others may not be aware as to how delightful the seies is.I guess some people will have their favourite series but I love them all.There is a wonderful charm about every series and I can watch them over & over.For anyone not yet seen Series 8, I love the series finale featuring all three inspectors (2 now Chief Inspectors) in the episode.Congratulations to Dazzler for a really great HD transfer on all series & I am very pleased to advise that ALL series carry both a Stereo sound track and a DTS Master 5.1 surround sound track. This includes Series 7 - I don't know if they re-released any of the single series 7 blu-ray release but that, unfortunately, was initally (at least) released with only a stereo sound track - I suspect it was rushed release as all other individual Series on Blu-ray had both versions. This is, as I say, corrected for the complete box set. For anyone with a surround set up the 5.1 sound really does provide a wonderful sound stage with subtle ambient sounds such as birds tweeting and dogs barking as well as sounds from other rooms etc. being used to great effect.One minor point that people may need to be aware of is that this full set includes 26 physical discs which come in one compact plastic case meaning 2-3 discs are mounted on the same 'spindle' making accessing the discs a little fiddly, as well meaning it can be relatively easy for discs to come loose.

Here we have the whole of series 1-8 in two very awkwardly arranged boxes, with no table of contents. Let me deal with the negatives first. You have to work through each of the eighteen DVDs and skip those you may have seen on TV. In Series 4, the programme takes a real downturn with Jack Deam taking on the role of Inspector Mallory (hence the four, rather than five stars for this review). Deam, from Children's TV, spoils every scene that he is in (and that is a great many scenes!) by playing the part as some sort of pantomime villain (anyone remember the James Finlayson characters in Laurel & Hardy Films?!). Considering the nature of this ensemble nature of the programme, this is a very considerable drawback. Another negative is the fact that whoever was employed as religious advisor, does a very poor job: in the Tridentine period, stoles were never worn by priests outside of the chasubles, candelabras lit when nothing was taking place on the High Altar, and a 'Clavinova' (electric keyboard) in the sanctuary area (they hadn't been invented in the 1950s!). This is clearly NOT a RC Church - could they not have found one, because if you are RC these many faux pas will spoil your enjoyment? Bad research! Now for the positives: some delightful acting and Fr Brown himself, once you get over the rather morose way it is played by Mark Williams, gives delight. The other characters (apart from Beam) are well cast and well acted, and the stories are good: Flambeau's episodes are particularly good. You get a decent mystery in each forty-five minute episode without the rather tedious 'padding out' details contained in 'whodunnits' such as Inspector Frost and Midsummer Murders.

Loved father Brown on tv, now I have all on DVD great. Fast delivery by Amazon again thank you. One thing to supplier and packers opened rap on DVD case lot of disks loose they sould take more care to secure them.

Oh dear! If this had been programmed for children’s television it might have been okay. But honestly! Despite superb production standards and a talented cast the simplistic plots and formulaic writing are dreadful. The episodes are too short for any proper narrative development. I’ve watched 8 of the Blu-ray complete box set and curse myself for spending almost £50 on this simple-minded series based on Amazon’s enthusiastic reviews. We live and learn.

but the packaging designer for this needs to start thinking! The whole package is a fumbling mess to use. Also, there is no legible list of programmes that simply show the series and episode number and name. Unfortunately the BBC are sloppy and don't show series/episode numbers on T.V. guides either so there is only one way to find out if it is a repeat on TV :- WATCH it or record it. Mark Williams you are wonderful !!

The box set arrived in good condition and was delivered the next day.Father Brown is one of my favourite tv series and now I can watch it any time I want.

I just finished watching this and I am gutted that there are no more episodes. I adore the fifties, the cars, the style, the characters. Excellent cast and brilliant mysteries. I'd love more episodes of Father Brown.

No problem with the series lots of tongue in cheek one liners and fun.but the design and packaging of the discs is absolutely stupid you will be extremely luckyto get through to the end of this series without damaging some discs.Stacked on spindles and no episode listings either extremely poor design for £50.00No doubt the BBC will put it down to cuts and funding.