Public Eye - The Complete 1971 Series [DVD]

This series begins where the last one ended, with Marker in Brighton, taking his first steps back into the enquiry agent field again, following his imprisonment for handling stolen goods at the end of series 3. Marker is finding the going tough, trying to start off again in the same town as his parole, so when he spots an opening in Windsor, he takes it, and moves to start up there, despite his landlady displaying a kind of affection for him, which some might interpret as turning his back on an impending cosy situation.

On the surface, it is not easy to see what Frank Marker get's out of life. Not for Frank the securuty of a partnership, or word processors, mobile phones, computers which might be utilised by modern day enquiry agents. For Frank it is the trademark raincoat, lurking in alleys, always running out of coffee whilst typing up reports on a battered typewriter, struggling to pay his phone bill. Then at the day's end it is off for a solitary pint, then back home to his small flat and megre dinner, usually eaten while reading up on some subject dealing with his current case.

Frank is a lone wolf who does not take to company easily...There is a line in an earlier episode which might sum up his situation; In taking on other peoples problems, it helps to take your mind off your own. That is Frank Marker's life, sometimes getting into the dirt, working for worried wives who think their husband is straying away from home, credit checks, helping to find lost persons, some of whom don't want to be found. It is a fact that Marker strives to see the best of people, seemingly to want to prove doubting spouses wrong, genuinely doing his best to help people, at times resulting to cunning technique to get information. But prison life has hardened Marker, and the shodow of bitterness is never far from his shoulder from this point..

Although each episode deals with a variety of different characters who employ Marker, the show is very much a one man virtuoso vehicle for Alfred Burke, who plays the part with great dignity, and sympathy. If I have one gripe, the subsidary characters are not always well developed, example the girl who runs nearby antique shop. We do not even get to know her first name..But then, Marker does not often get that far with people. Such is the power though of Burke's portrayal, attention is focused on the main character, typically the weaker episodes are those which Marker appears less often.

Right from the opening credits the Marker theme is established.. The classic theme music, a plaintive Trumpet vying with a Piano for a sad melody, against an ostinato strings, shots of Marker traipsing the streets in his raincoat, lurking in the alley, pausing to see if he has been spotted, draw the viewer into the seedy world of the private detective, the world of Frank Marker..

In style it's more similar to Series 6 (for those who've seen it) than Series 4. In both Series 5 and 6 Frank Marker (Alfred Burke) is working on his own in Windsor with occasional informal help from Percy Firbank. However, like the fine Series 4 which was released last year, there is still a lot of attention to Marker, with more focus on his prison background and uneasy relations with the law than in the later Series.

The relationship with Firbank is a real highlight, with Ray Smith in wonderful form. His contacts with Frank are sometimes fraught and nowhere is this best seen than in the highly impressive "John VII. Verse 24" where Firbank is suspected of corruption.

Almost every episode is great, personal favourites being "And When You've Paid the Bill, You're None the Wiser" and "Slip Home In the Dark". However many others are close behind. Five are in black and white but these are probably even a little better than the colour ones. "Who Wants To Be Told Bad News?" will certainly be thought-provoking. This is a rare focus on race for the programme and offers a complex, sensitive and skilfully-handled tale of an alleged Indian con-man.

There are only a few minor quibbles. One or two endings could be a little better. Only one episode fell slightly flat - "Transatlantic Cousins" - chiefly due to its cartoon-like Americans - but even that has good points.

Throughout viewers will be able to see many familiar faces as well such as Barry Foster, James Bolam, George Sewell, David Suchet, Glynn Edwards, Peter Sallis, Colin Baker, Gareth Thomas, Lesley Anne Down and George A. Cooper.

A fine array of extras, including the ABC story from 1966 "Don't Forget You're Mine", a previously lost episode recovered in audio form, photo gallery and PDF scripts and episode guides are added attractions. The episodes themselves though would be enough - in my view this is the finest example of TV drama I've seen. It really is an essential purchase - you won't regret it!