Danger UXB: The Complete Series Special Edition [DVD] [1979]

Ah! Remember the days when television drama relied on well written scripts and quality acting to maintain interest as opposed to flashy editing & bombastic music? Seems so long ago now, doesn't it? With DANGER UXB we have a perfect example of just how good drama on a television budget can be. It's the sort of programme where you really are interested in everything being said & done on screen - How people waited a whole week for the next episode is beyond me!

Of course, those not in the know may wonder how the subject of "World War Two bomb disposal" can maintain a series of this length - The answer: Very easily. No two episodes are alike and the characters easily maintain the viewers interest. The direction is also superb and creates palpable tension: When BRIAN ASH defuses his first bomb in episode 1 I knew he was going to survive. Despite this knowledge my heart was racing as he did his work. I really did marvel at how those brave men did the job for real back in those days and my (already considerable) respect for them became even greater.

This is a quality series - 13 episodes charting the career of Lieutenant Ash and 347 section bomb disposal throughout the war. Anthony Andrews is perfect in the lead, moving from a newcomer utterly out of his depth to a weary veteran by series end. Excellent (And I mean REALLY excellent) support is provided by Maurice Reoves, George Innes, Kenneth Granham & Ken Kitson (and many more!) - I can't emphasize enough how well the cast draw us into their world.

What is so riveting is the fact that several regular cast members are killed off during the series (I won't say who!) and so we are really drawn into the "live every day like it's your last" philosophy that people HAD to adopt back then. The episode BUTTERFLY WINTER, as well as being educational, features the death of one of the most likable regulars and I was shocked & upset by it.

An excellent series and a superb DVD set, packing all 13 episodes onto 4 discs along with an interesting documentary that features many of the cast & crew. Anthony Andrews is interesting to listen both here and on the audio commentary for episode 1: He knows his stuff and says the things you want to hear. Add to that the fact that he appears to have a painting of himself in the attic that keeps changing - He hardly appears to have aged at all these past 25 years.

A highly recommended glimpse at an often overlooked aspect of the Second World War.

Cracking drama, based on fact, from the late 70's.
Tells the story of the unexploded bombs dropped on the UK during the Second World War and the men that defused them. A little known fact is that many bombs were dropped with the intention that they would remain unexploded until touched or after a pre-set time delay. This strategy adopted by the Germans was designed to bring maximum disruption to an area after the air raid was over.
The defusing of these bombs became a strategic battle between the German fuse designers and the British inventors tasked with finding methods to make the bombs safe. There was no volunteering for bomb disposal, you were posted to it no questions asked.
The period set designs are spot on and the acting good. I have read the Danger UXB book that accompanied the Channel 4 documentary series (early 2000's) and I have to say that the chronology of events in the drama follow the actual 'as it happened' events closely.
The episode about the 'Butterfly' bomb is set in a small country town, when in actual fact the real event happened in Grimsby. There was a war time 'D' notice posted on Grimsby that effectively shut the town down for a week. Not a word was released in the press and so the Germans had no idea of the disrupted effect these bombs had. They were not tried again in the UK.
This series make for a watchable drama based on very real modern history events, without the gushing hollywood treatment that HBO in the USA would apply it. Pitty it hasn't been re-run on TV, although I think UK Gold have the rights.

A real good series

As good or better than many made today. I would totally agree with the other review. I would stress that each
episode really is different and interesting.

As regular characters are killed off, it really does rack up the tension, and in the last episode you do wonder if
the main character, Ash, played by Anthony Andrews, will survive or not.