Starsky And Hutch: The Complete Collection [DVD] [2006]

Just received these and at £15.99 nobody can complain at the price. It’s a great series if you like this program I strongly recommend these. Now wether Amazon will show this or not I don’t know but just to mention I really wished Amazon would take these drivers of theirs in hand. Yet again it said the package was handed to the resident when it clearly was not it was just left on the step. These drivers just lie unfortunately that’s the only down side to Amazon. Sorry Amazon it has to be said. I’m sure thousands of people feel the same way.

In my teens Starsky and Hutch was compulsory viewing on a Saturday night, being a huge part of the BBC schedule. So popular was the series that many episodes were transmitted less than 24 hours after first showing in the U.S. with some evenings repeats having to be run because the film simply hadn't made it across the Atlantic in time or the subject matter of the episode was considered too close to the knuckle for British viewers despite its post-watershed transmission time. Some episodes never got shown on British television even when repeats were shown in the early 00's, others got edited to remove sensitive content, so it's great to finally have the complete run of 93 episodes over four series in one place in their complete form.The titular characters were played by Paul Michael Glaser as the dark-haired Starsky and David Soul as the blonde Hutch, the former setting a fashion trend with a signature belted cardigan which every teenage boy wanted; the latter having a string of UK hit singles including two No.1's on the back of the show's popularity. Unusually for the 1970's they were quite demonstrative towards each other physically, with frequent hugs and signs of mutual trust and respect. As important as the two main characters was Starsky's customised Gran Torino car, nicknamed 'The Striped Tomato' and featuring a distinctive white flash along the side which kept model toy makers in the money for several years churning out replicas. The major supporting characters were also value for money: informant Huggy Bear, played superbly by Antonio Fargas with his trademark catchphrase "Word on the street"; and acerbic police chief Captain Dobey played by Bernie Hamilton, never one to hold back on revealing his feelings with a huge bellow whilst always emotionally seeming to be on or over the edge of boiling over.Re-watching this show after many years it's immediately apparent that the story lines were almost always of high quality, particularly in the first two series where the dialogue and action crackle, especially between the two major characters who play off one another excellently. Some of that action, in particular the violence was toned down from series 3, with character relationships coming more to the fore. The ensemble cast always appear believable, the action scenes set around the fictional Bay City, California always managing to convey the excitement of the chase, the shootout or the punch-up. Pretty much the only thing to have aged are the fashions, although the mid-70's vehicles now appear classic. This is lovely to see again and has stood the test of time, I've been drawn into the episodes all over again with a similar enthusiasm as I had watching in rapt attention on original TV transmission, and that surely shows what a quality action series this is.

This show is a lot better than most today. Definitely recommend.

Apologies For This Belated Review,However I Would Like To Make a Point Regarding Several Commentsabout These Episodes Being,"Cut",Even In The U.S People Have Commented On The Episodes are,"Cut""Syndicated" Prints,Well This Set Contains The Original,"Unedited" Versions,"The Same Versions WereRe.Released In The U.S By,"Mill Creek"/Sony In Their,"Complete Series/Season Sets", I Do Know ThatSome Years Back Channel 5 Re.Ran The Series,"Wich Clocked In Roughly Around 60 Mins Including ads"These Episodes Run Approx 49 Mins and are The Same Prints That Were Shown on That Re.Run.When Originally Shown On BBC.1 In The 70s/They Ran Approx 45 Min,"and Were Edited" and at TheMoment It Is Currently Being Shown On The Sony Channel,Be Warned They are Seriously Edited,Whatyou Have Here Is All 4 Complete Seasons The Way It Was Originally Filmed and Meant To Be Seen,(Well Im Pretty Sure Anyway),I Do Know That Forces TV Screened The Series Last Year and "Again"The Episodes Were edited. Includes The Episodes,"Vampire" Plus The Episode,"The Fix" "Wich Never Originally Aired In The UK When The Series Was First Shown Over Here",Plus Lots Of Well Known Faces..LindaCarter,"Pre Wonder Woman",Martin Cove,"Pre Cagney and Lacey",Adrian zmed,"TJ hooker" KristyMcnichol,"Thoroughly Delightful" and Anthony James,"Guant Whispery voiced actor Usually cast asDeranged/nasty Villians".."Playing a Creepy Cult Member In an Story Clearly Enfluenced By TheManson Murders" as Well as Veterans Stephen McNally,Scatman Crothers While Richard lynch "Like Anthony James" Was Mostly Cast as Deranged Psychotic Villians, Though James Keaches Turn as an Unbalanced Mental Patient Should Not Go Un Credited, We Also Get AppeaerancesFrom Richard,"Jaws" Keil,"Who Had Worked Extensively In Movies and Tv Since The Eearly 6Os"The Multi-Talented Chuck Mgann,Veronica Hamell,Michael Conrad,"Both Would Later WorkTogether In Hill Street Blues","Michael Also Appeared In The Original Pilot Alongside ThePreviously Mentioned Richard Lynch" and Country Singer Lynn Anderson Puts In an Appearance"Wich Im Sure Was Her Only Ever Acting Role",As Well as Alex Rocco,(A Regular Face On AmericanShows Throughout The 70s and 80s) and Actress/Singer Songwriter Lynn Marta,(Possibly HerMost Notable Film Appearance Was alongside Jhon Saxon In Clint Esatwoods 1973 Joe Kidd)Though In This Show Made Several Appearances Including Playing Budding Country Star/CabDriver,"KC" in The Episode,"Quadromania"David Soul Of Course Would Prove Himself a Capable Singer as Well,"Capaitalising On His PopularityIn The Show", Having a String Of top 10 Uk Hits In The Mid 70s.."Dont Give Up On Us/Silver Lady/It Sure Brings Out The Love In Your Eyes/Going In With My Eyes Open Etc..".I Know,I Was Born In 1970".Excellent Story Lines and The Series Definitely Set The Standard For The,"Buddy" Cop Show,Both ActorsWere Also Able To Direct Several Episodes and Were Brilliantly Supported By Antonio Fargas and BernieHamilton..a CLassic,The Only Gripe Is The Somewhat Flimsy Card Packaging,Shame Sony,"UK" Did NotPackage The Discs In a Sturdy Plasitc Box as Mill Creek Did With Their Release,Plus Its a Shame TheyCould Not Have Done/Included a Decent Documentary On The Making Of the Show,Print Qualityis Surprisingly Good,"Sony Channel Recently Screened The Previous Mentioned,"Quadromania" and The Print Quality Was Quite Damaged Sporting Scratches,Black Spots and In SomeScenes The Colour Appeared,(Bleached) and Faded".To date The Series Has Not Been Released On Blu Ray,(Either In The Uk Or In The US) Regards Barry J, "kent" GB/UK