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Channel 4's brand new graphic five part period drama, based on the life of magistrate and classic author Henry Fielding. This drama follows his quest to clean up the streets of Covent Garden in the 1800s.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
59 of 59 people found the following review helpful
So far this Channel 4 drama has proved to be a fascinating insight into the professional life of Henry Fielding - the author of Tom Jones and creator of the Bow Street Runners- an early version of the police force. According to Channel 4's site, for once this is not a dramatisation of a particular book, but a drama created from the contemporary records. Drawing on information such as Harris' Lists- a guidebook to the whores of London.
Ian McDiarmid displays his usual consummate acting (well from someone who ranges from the evil emperor in Star Wars to the butler in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels- what would you expect?) Iain Glen ably supports as his blind brother John. What is so fascinating is how totally out of their depth they are when faced with murderers and scary Irish gang leaders. I really like the touch of using a 3D map of the contemporary city to set the changes of scene in context. Worthy historical drama.
Ian McDiarmid displays his usual consummate acting (well from someone who ranges from the evil emperor in Star Wars to the butler in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels- what would you expect?) Iain Glen ably supports as his blind brother John. What is so fascinating is how totally out of their depth they are when faced with murderers and scary Irish gang leaders. I really like the touch of using a 3D map of the contemporary city to set the changes of scene in context. Worthy historical drama.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
This series first shown on Channel 4 is a real delight for anyone interested in history, the police force or gritty crime dramas. For once an historical crime series has been made that has the grittiness of more modern programmes. The acting is excellent and the storylines are strong.
Welcome to the dark underbelly of London where crime is rife and only the City's watchmen exist. Enter the Fielding brothers who created the Bow Street Runners, the precursor to todays CID. This series, created by using accounts from the time show that the Fieldings had enough trouble to keep getting a budget as they did fighting the criminals of the day. In an age where to even mention a police force in London would have been seen by the Mob to be despotism, this series shows the fine line that had to be trod by the Bow Street Runners just to solve a case, let alone bring someone to the Tyburn Tree.
Let us hope that another series wil be made, as this is really a gem, and the kind of series that has kept myself and others enthralled.
Welcome to the dark underbelly of London where crime is rife and only the City's watchmen exist. Enter the Fielding brothers who created the Bow Street Runners, the precursor to todays CID. This series, created by using accounts from the time show that the Fieldings had enough trouble to keep getting a budget as they did fighting the criminals of the day. In an age where to even mention a police force in London would have been seen by the Mob to be despotism, this series shows the fine line that had to be trod by the Bow Street Runners just to solve a case, let alone bring someone to the Tyburn Tree.
Let us hope that another series wil be made, as this is really a gem, and the kind of series that has kept myself and others enthralled.
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
The best historical TV series for years !
Ian and Iain are marvellous as the Fieldings.
I hope there's another series soon.
So glad it's available on DVD
Ian and Iain are marvellous as the Fieldings.
I hope there's another series soon.
So glad it's available on DVD
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Exceptional Costume Drama
City of Vice is a 2008 television series originally screened on Channel 4 featuring Ian McDiarmid and Iain Glen as Henry and John Fielding at the formation of the Bow Street... Read more
Published 10 days ago by MLA
City of vice
After seeing the DVD Tom Jones by Henry Fielding and finding it so witty, I was looking forward to know more about the two brothers Henry and John Fielding. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Laila M. S. Awad
Superb tales of Henry Fielding and his Bow Street runners
A superb set of stories of the early days of the Bow Street Runners / Police. A great cast, supporting characters, and very enjoyable stories. Not a dud tale in the set. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. A. Buckle
Fantastic!
If you have read previous reviews, then there is no need to recap. However, I will say that this series is incredible. A stellar cast headed by Ian McDiarmid and Iain Glen. Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2010 by Buffalo22
A good opportunity squandered
My wife and I, avid watchers of film adaptations of eighteenth century drama, were impressed by the favourable reviews of this production, and bought the double DVD set. Read more
Published on 5 Sep 2009 by Triestino
As close to the 18th Century as you'll get without a TARDIS
Well researched, well acted and well staged, without sacrifice to modern correctness or language - yes, this is the other side of the coin, and the language then was rough, as was... Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2009 by Thinker
"Unhand the lady and **** off back to Clerkenwell!"
City of Vice has a great true-life pitch - the efforts of brothers Henry and John Fielding (the author of Tom Jones and a celebrated blind magistrate, played by Ian McDiarmid and... Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2009 by Trevor Willsmer
CSI meets Hogarth
This series is a gem at a bargain price! Using a CGI map of mid 18th Century London to let the viewer get thier bearings it drops you straight into a chamber pot of no holds barred... Read more
Published on 2 May 2009 by XIII Warrior
Very well acted
A little gem of a series with excellent dialogues, tremendous actors, good plotlines and although dealing in the sordid, a delicate and unvoyeuristic approach many should emulate.
Published on 19 Jan 2009 by H. Lacroix
Exceptionally COOL!
Wow... Now what can I say about this little gem... anyone know when series 2 is on!?
I loved this series and it is worth every penny. Read more
I loved this series and it is worth every penny. Read more
Published on 31 Dec 2008 by Cathy Jones
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