Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Reviews
Product Description
Its seedy London setting and sharp humour prefiguring Minder, which launched just six months later, this light-hearted ATV drama series centred on the exploits of the eponymous small-time crook first encountered in the 1975 thriller The Hanged Man.
The series finds Turtle and his accomplice, retired hooligan Razor Eddie, in accidental possession of a van containing eighty safe deposit boxes - the proceeds of a major bank raid. From top-secret documents to mysterious chemical formulae, the highly valuable contents are soon being sought by their former owners, with a new adventure unfolding as each box is opened.
The lovable petty thieves may have a new source of income, but they also find themselves dodging the law, in the form of the relentless but continually thwarted Superintendent Rafferty, their fellow lawbreakers, and some altogether more sinister characters.
Devised and written by Edmund Ward (The Main Chance) with guest appearances from Antony Sher, Joss Ackland and Peter Bowles, among many others, its no surprise that this fresh, witty and original series has garnered a considerable cult following.
Product Description
Its seedy London setting and sharp humour prefiguring Minder, which launched just six months later, this light-hearted ATV drama series centred on the exploits of the eponymous small-time crook first encountered in the 1975 thriller The Hanged Man.
The series finds Turtle and his accomplice, retired hooligan Razor Eddie, in accidental possession of a van containing eighty safe deposit boxes - the proceeds of a major bank raid. From top-secret documents to mysterious chemical formulae, the highly valuable contents are soon being sought by their former owners, with a new adventure unfolding as each box is opened. The lovable petty thieves may have a new source of income, but they also find themselves dodging the law, in the form of the relentless but continually thwarted Superintendent Rafferty, their fellow lawbreakers, and some altogether more sinister characters.
Devised and written by Edmund Ward (The Main Chance) with guest appearances from Antony Sher, Joss Ackland and Peter Bowles, among many others, its no surprise that this fresh, witty and original series has garnered a considerable cult following.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By Razor Eddie
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Anyone of a certain age has fond memories of TV shows that on re-watching don't quite live up to expectations. This is an exception. The contrasting characters of Turtle and 'Razor' Eddie, one a scheming coward, the other a laconic hardman, gell perfectly. Attwell as Eddie is perfect. A polite charmer who at the moment it's required oozes menace. The big surprise is John Landrey as Turtle. Bags of energy in his performance. It's a shame that he seemed to disappear of the acting map.
Presentation is surprisingly good. Well done to Network DVD for sourcing this supposedly long lost item. Worth every penny.
Presentation is surprisingly good. Well done to Network DVD for sourcing this supposedly long lost item. Worth every penny.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By brevila
Format:DVD
I can remember the original broadcast of this series and my disappointment when it was pulled after the second series.
When I found it to have been transferred to DVD I had to have it, as with this type of thing, I expected that it would fall short of my expectation, I was pleasantly surprised, the transfer is excellent and every episode is a delight, if you remember this series and are in two minds whether to shell out the not inconsiderable cost, take my advise and go for it, you will not be disappointed.
When I found it to have been transferred to DVD I had to have it, as with this type of thing, I expected that it would fall short of my expectation, I was pleasantly surprised, the transfer is excellent and every episode is a delight, if you remember this series and are in two minds whether to shell out the not inconsiderable cost, take my advise and go for it, you will not be disappointed.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By ade uk
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Seeing this again after 30 years plus was worth the wait, I had forgotten the series name until saw the cover and recognised "razor Eddie"
Great story's, characters that Minder seemed to have borrowed, from aunt Ethel to the police chief and the gin swigging ten year old Jason.
Iam sure one day a remake may happen, but like Randall and hopkirk the original is the best.
As another reviewer wrote lots of violence, but never seen, great direction.
As far as 70s comedy drama go this is my favourite and the DVD transfer quality is excellent.
Great story's, characters that Minder seemed to have borrowed, from aunt Ethel to the police chief and the gin swigging ten year old Jason.
Iam sure one day a remake may happen, but like Randall and hopkirk the original is the best.
As another reviewer wrote lots of violence, but never seen, great direction.
As far as 70s comedy drama go this is my favourite and the DVD transfer quality is excellent.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A. J. Sturgess
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
First, the cost ...
At the time of writing this review, you're being asked to pay around £30 which is way out of line ... but that will be because the re-release of this old series was limited in terms of both timescale and numbers of DVD's issued. Presumably it has yet to have a major re-release.
Now for the series ...
On the surface it would seem to be a no-hoper: The acting when actors have to affect accents such as American or Corsican are truly awful. Some of the incidental characters are also acted pretty poorly - and as for extras in 'The Robin' (Turtle and Eddie's pub) they're a collection of every thug-like bit-part actor you ever saw in films and TV series made in the 60's or early 70's.
BUT NONE OF THAT MATTERS - in fact, they enhance the humour, even though that was probably never the intention.
The repartee and one-liners shared between the major characters, especially Turtle, Eddie, Inspector Rafferty and George are truly funny - and become funnier as the series and characters bedded themselves in and were continually developed by Edmund Ward, the writer of every episode. Of especial merit is the non-acting of Ruby Head whose impassive expression is a perfect foil for the strings of one-liners, put-downs. anecdotes and niggles that she forever spouts.
Perhaps the style that best describes the delivery of all the humour is the way that none of the actors make much of it. They almost throw away their lines and never dwell on anything as if trying to raise laughs.
Being such an old series, events are not continually swamped with background music or canned laughter - everything is played dead straight and the whole series is an absolute gem.
As for my original niggle - the cost ...... Read more ›
At the time of writing this review, you're being asked to pay around £30 which is way out of line ... but that will be because the re-release of this old series was limited in terms of both timescale and numbers of DVD's issued. Presumably it has yet to have a major re-release.
Now for the series ...
On the surface it would seem to be a no-hoper: The acting when actors have to affect accents such as American or Corsican are truly awful. Some of the incidental characters are also acted pretty poorly - and as for extras in 'The Robin' (Turtle and Eddie's pub) they're a collection of every thug-like bit-part actor you ever saw in films and TV series made in the 60's or early 70's.
BUT NONE OF THAT MATTERS - in fact, they enhance the humour, even though that was probably never the intention.
The repartee and one-liners shared between the major characters, especially Turtle, Eddie, Inspector Rafferty and George are truly funny - and become funnier as the series and characters bedded themselves in and were continually developed by Edmund Ward, the writer of every episode. Of especial merit is the non-acting of Ruby Head whose impassive expression is a perfect foil for the strings of one-liners, put-downs. anecdotes and niggles that she forever spouts.
Perhaps the style that best describes the delivery of all the humour is the way that none of the actors make much of it. They almost throw away their lines and never dwell on anything as if trying to raise laughs.
Being such an old series, events are not continually swamped with background music or canned laughter - everything is played dead straight and the whole series is an absolute gem.
As for my original niggle - the cost ...... Read more ›
By Dee Shelley
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have just finished watching these episodes and I so wish they had made more, they are very well writen and have such great characters. I had seen some of these when they were first on the television and enjoyed them then, sadly these memories are often best left that way as when you watch them now they do not live up to your imagination, these do and better. Do not think about it buy them and you will not regret it, they are a pure pleasure.
Format:DVD
Edmund Ward's grasp of comic incident and dialogue is as firm here in Turtle's Progress as his flair for nail biting gritty drama is in The Hanged Man (the series in which the two characters originally appeared) and the film 'Kings and Desperate Men' which starred Patrick Mcgoohan. For one writer to be equally adept at comedy and drama is unusual and noteworthy.
Some of the other reviewers have commented on the price. I think I paid about £25 - £30 for my copy and it's worth every penny just for razor Eddie's laconic asides, especially when he has just dealt with some unfortunate thug off screen - 'Never try for a drop kick in an enclosed space. Your head's too close to the wall.' Michael Attwell as Razor Eddie is simply superb - the coolest character that ever swaggered across the small screen. And John Landry as Turtle gives an energetically comic performance, all nervous ticks and uneasy smiles - a joy to watch. Also, because Ward has packed the writing so densely with comic asides you can watch each episode several times without tiring - there's always some gem you missed on first viewing.
Terrific value at almost any price.
Some of the other reviewers have commented on the price. I think I paid about £25 - £30 for my copy and it's worth every penny just for razor Eddie's laconic asides, especially when he has just dealt with some unfortunate thug off screen - 'Never try for a drop kick in an enclosed space. Your head's too close to the wall.' Michael Attwell as Razor Eddie is simply superb - the coolest character that ever swaggered across the small screen. And John Landry as Turtle gives an energetically comic performance, all nervous ticks and uneasy smiles - a joy to watch. Also, because Ward has packed the writing so densely with comic asides you can watch each episode several times without tiring - there's always some gem you missed on first viewing.
Terrific value at almost any price.
By peter taylor
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
a much under-recognised series which deserves to be better known. well written, well cast and well acted, it combines good story lines with appealing humour. Certainly amongst the top sit-coms that I've seen, and of a high, consistent standard across the whole series. A great pity there wasn't more
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top Entertainment
They don't write them like this anymore, it's quick, funny, and completely entertaining. From a golden age of quality TV, a 'must have'.
Published 5 months ago by Mr.B.Jenner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Razor Eddie is Brilliant!
Turtles Progress is such a well written series. Great, inventive story lines that really have lasted the test of time. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Ronnie
5.0 out of 5 stars
sometimes nostalgia is what it seems to be.
I have a fading memory of the original series which has stuck with me all these years. When the series became available it was a must-have. Read more
Published 7 months ago by M Hisbent
1.0 out of 5 stars
Old Series.
I remember this series when it was first on TV, and really enjoyed it. One thing I liked was the fact that all the violence took place off camera, just a few 'noises'. Read more
Published 7 months ago by RosieInLondon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely delicious
I saw this series when I was living in the UK in 1979. What a gem. Of course, anyone who has seen it knows that it's worth the money just for the theme song. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Robin Wolfson
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Film & TV > Television > Drama
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
