Dempsey And Makepeace - The Complete First Series [1985] [DVD]

 

 

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As a spotty teenager I had a few "TV crushes" in the 1980's: Jane Badler (The evil lizard woman from "V"), Debbie Shore (Children's ITV presenter!) and GLYNIS BARBER from DEMPSEY & MAKEPEACE. Now I can re-evaluate this Anglo-American co-production from a more 'mature' perspective *blush*

DEMPSEY & MAKEPEACE was pretty much the end of an era that began decades earlier with classic ITC series such as THE SAINT, DANGER MAN and other such gems (Evolving via THE SWEENEY and THE PROFESSIONALS along the way). Subsequent to this show, attempts to create a similar format were always ruined with the introduction of borderline soap-antics (when the definition of "characterisation" came to mean "boring domestic angst").

I certainly won't insist that DEMSPEY & MAKEPEACE was "quality television", but I will say it was always a lot of fun to watch. Snobby critics hated it of course, but the show was still a huge hit with the viewers. This is mainly thanks to the personalities of the two leads - Michael Brandon slips into the shoes of a NYPD cop with ease - It's a clichéd role that should fall flat, but thanks to Mr. Brandon's performance we do actually find ourselves liking the character.

Glynis Barber is of course the "glam" role, but despite the scripts playing off her (considerable) good looks a little too often (Getting her stripped to her undies or ogled/groped while undercover) she carries it off well. Despite being there "for the lads", it's to her credit that the character is as memorable - When MAKEPEACE has to land a pilotless plane in one episode I actually started to share her panic, so convincing was Glynis' performance!
I have to mention Ray Smith as "Spikings", their chief. Once again a potentially clichéd role is given extra dimension in the hands of a good actor. Gordon Spikings is a "Guv'Nor" for this series in every sense of the word.

This series has pace, excitement and some crazy plot notions, but all of these fit into the old "action thriller" universe with surprising ease (With the exception of the worst female impersonator ever apparently fooling Dempsey in the episode MAKE PEACE NOT WAR!) - It's never meant to be profound or world-changing, just enjoyable and glossy, something television doesn't really do anymore.
If I have to criticise the show it's purely for the fashions. 80's clothes had the uncanny ability to make the most attractive people look amazingly tacky (The normally lovely & classy Catriona MaColl in HORS DE COMBAT looks awful thanks to the clothes she's forced to wear!) but that isn't a complaint specific to this series. Having said that, Glynis Barber transcends her wardrobe and looks stunning in just about anything they put her in (But then I'm biased!)

Apart from this stumbling block, DEMPSEY & MAKEPEACE stands up pretty well and is just as much fun today (More so perhaps, thanks to the lack of anything similar on screens now!).
This boxset is good value, with all ten season 1 episodes on three discs. The quality is a little grainy compared to modern standards of film, but I find that adds to the atmosphere.
There isn't much in the way of extras, but a nice 15 minute interview with the two stars (Still married after 20 years!) demostrates that they both had a lot of fun making it and Glynis Barber still looks great!

The 80's British hit-series Dempsey and Makepeace have finally arrived on DVD, courtesy of NetworkDVD. Running only three series and a total of 30 episodes, D&M was shortlived, but what a show it was! Starring Michael Brandon as Jim Dempsey and Glynis Barber as Harriet "Harry" Makepeace, the series combined fast car-chases, big explosions, gun-ho policework and martini-dry humor with the awesome chemistry between Brandon and Barber. The result: the best British crime-fighting TV series ever.
This first release has all ten episodes of the first series. The first two episodes can be run normal or with bonus commentaries by Brandon and Barber. An added bonus is an 18 minute interview with Barber and Brandon, on how they lived through Dempsey and Makepeace. This interview shows the lead actors having aged extremely well (with Brandon possibly looking even better than he did back then) and telling great tales about the making of the show and more. Even the fourth main character of the show (Dempsey's .357 Magnum) turns up again and Brandon ends the interview pointing it at the camera and telling the viewer (in very much's 'Jim Dempsey' style) to FREEZE!
Highly recommended!

I cant believe this series was never repeated on telly. I was too young to fully appreciate it the first time round but loved the show. The characters rub each other up the wrong way but are clearly attracted to each other which makes this not just your average cop show. the action scenes are brilliant and the stunts wouldnt look out of place in a hollywood movie.I hope series 2 and 3 are released as the show gets better and better (pitty there wasnt a 4th series) Perhaps Glynis and michael would consider a reunion show?. I like the commentary and the interviews and would hope the commentaries are carried on to the 2 and 3 series if they are released. Great entertainment

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5.0 out of 5 stars cut episodes
i have all 3 series of dempsey and makepeace and they're very good but i have found out that these versions of the episodes are the daytime tv versions and are not uncut at all... Read more

Published 18 months ago by Andrew Beet

5.0 out of 5 stars a unique series
A classic cop show in which a tough but good natured American policeman Michael Brandon is sent to England for his own safety after refusing to become entangled with some corrupt... Read more

Published 20 months ago by Mem

5.0 out of 5 stars classy!
when LT Jim Dempsey meets Harriett Makepeace it isn't exactly love at first sight. though there is an attraction crackling under the surface. Read more

Published on 1 Oct 2007 by Bj Lucas

4.0 out of 5 stars Would have given it 5 stars in '85
My what a difference 20 years makes. This first series of Dempsey and Makepeace was groundbreaking in the mid 80s. A pretty Englishwoman firing a gun!! Read more

Published on 10 Nov 2006 by M. C. Cresswell

4.0 out of 5 stars Loved it then, love it now
I watched this series from the very first, but the American stations just didn't do it justice. The humor was wonderful, the plots average, the chemistry between the characters... Read more

Published on 26 July 2006 by L. S. Tucker

5.0 out of 5 stars Dempsey & Makepeace
An excellent set of stories, with good plotlines that have echoes in what's happening today. The stories are exciting and fun, with the byplay between the 2 stars made even more... Read more

Published on 3 April 2006

4.0 out of 5 stars A Rank from a Yank
In the States, DEMPSEY AND MAKEPEACE was more obscure than in the UK. TV shows here have "seasons" (as opposed to the UK's "series"), and D&M was syndicated to... Read more

Published on 17 Mar 2006 by Pelaphus

5.0 out of 5 stars It was about time !!
Awesome! I wait 20 years for this DVD set ! (Got old crapy TV copies in beta, and in french !!). The commentaries on the first two episodes are a delight. Read more

Published on 16 Mar 2006 by dancharp

4.0 out of 5 stars The First Series Of The Fun 1980's British Action-Drama Series
This excellent DVD box set collection of the first season of the cult-classic, British action-drama series, Dempsey And Makepeace, also contains some interesting extra features... Read more

Published on 13 Mar 2006 by Ian Phillips

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the 20-year wait!
Fabulous. The best crime-fighting duo since The Avengers with far more style than any of the American shows of the time, or any British shows since. Read more

Published on 12 Mar 2006

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