From A Bird's Eye View - The Complete Series [DVD]

This short lived comedy series originally created in 1969, and transmitted in Britain in 1970-1971 was another series produced by ITC with ATV.
They had been successful with shows such as Danger Man, Man of the world, The Saint, Department S, The Baron, Man in a Suitcase and Randall and Hopkirk.

The formula for this success was to create something that they could sell to other countries with America being the main focus. They often used American actors as well as a American style of production and a reasonable budget. All of the series had been action and adventure in nature, but here ITC tried to break into Comedy.
This was a situation comedy that paired two established comediennes in an Anglo American series.
The series was also directed by Ralph Levy who had been successful with American comedy shows such as "I love Lucy". Also it had a helping hand from American actor and producer Sheldon Leonard as Executive Producer.

Actress and comedienne Millicent Martin plays the part of Millie, and American actress Patte Finley plays the part of Maggie, and together they take main lead roles as two air stewardesses.
Their boss is Mr Beauchamp played by Peter Jones who appeared in countless British TV series in the sixties and seventies.
Millie is impulsive, scatter brained and well meaning. Maggie is more down to earth. They work together and share the same apartment. The two girls get into all sorts of farcical situations.
Also the series has two other regular characters, Ms Fosdyke, who is the secretary for Mr Beauchamp, and Millie's Irish uncle Bert.
The two girls are always trying to impress their boss who is always less than impressed. Both girls get into a mess each episode, and desperately try to cover it up or put things right.
Millicent Martin uses her singing ability as well as her comedy timing in some episodes. She brings her old time musical and showbiz style to the project. She was already a favourite for some people in Britain through successful shows such as the weekly satire show "That was the week that was". She also had been in her own TV series in Britain with "Mainly Millicent". She had also appeared on Broadway and American Theatre as well as London's West End. So this series had a strong cast and a great deal of potential.
Unfortunately this series was not a big hit in America or Britain and production stopped.
There were only sixteen episodes. The series isn't a side splitting one. It is short on big laughs, and the laughs are a bit predictable. But it does have comedy and serves as a series of short humorous adventures. What the series lacks in terms of generous hilarity, it makes up for in other ways. It is fun, it is farcical, the two characters are likeable, it has interesting story lines. There is an element of glamour and style with the air stewardess situation.
Also it now has nostalgia with its fabulous sixties fashions and design.
I remember watching this series as I was growing up, and liked it for its novelty and escapism from the usual TV schedule.

This is an entertaining series with a great deal of charm. It is a unique experience.
The complete series is here in this DVD set which is neatly presented in good packaging. The picture and sound are good even though there has been no restoration or re mastering. The series is in colour and there is a great sixties theme tune.
As with all Network releases there are sadly no Subtitles for the Hard of Hearing.

I bought this set knowing nothing more than the episode on the ITC50 set, it's a silly comedy show featuring a couple of female leads and some interesting guests. It would be nice if the picture quality had been properly restored but I suppose in a niche program like this there isn't the money to do it, that said it's more than watchable.