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Callan - Series 1 [Box Set] [DVD] [1967]
 
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Callan - Series 1 [Box Set] [DVD] [1967]

DVD ~ Edward Woodward
3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Actors: Edward Woodward, Russell Hunter, Lisa Langdon, Anthony Valentine, William Squire
  • Directors: Tony Robertson
  • Format: Box set, PAL
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 3
  • Classification: 12
  • Studio: Clear Vision
  • DVD Release Date: 3 Sep 2001
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00005NTKU
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 58,349 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Introduced in "A Magnum for Schneider", the hour-long 1967 Armchair Theatre episode of Callan written by James Mitchell about a disillusioned British secret agent of the same name (starring Edward Woodward), went on to offer four popular (if downbeat) series, a spin-off movie remaking the original story and a some-years-later wrap-up play "Wet Job". Remembered for its very distinctive opening titles, with a swinging broken-light bulb and a memorable theme tune, the series adopted a Deighton-LeCarré approach to the grim, treacherous, grubby business of Cold War espionage and made a TV star of the intense Woodward as the sweaty, sometimes conscience-stricken, sometimes robotic Callan. Even in the 21st century this still seems as strong, its complex stories and impressive performances outweighing a low-budget mix of video and film in the production that makes it seem less "professional" than other shows of the time.

A great deal of the series opener is devoted to bringing on new regulars. There's a fresh Mr Hunter who, like Number Two on The Prisoner--with which Callan shares series editor George Markstein--was a title not a name, so several actors held the position over the course of the show. There's also the trendily mulleted thug Cross (Patrick Mower), who would go spectacularly off the rails in the next series and a half. In a dramatic device that has long since fallen out of fashion in television, Callan episodes tend to wind up by leaving the audience to work out all the connections of the plot while Callan himself sits gloomily and ponders the wretchedness of his squalid world. --Kim Newman

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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews
5 star:
 (11)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (4)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.9 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Well, not exactly., 17 Oct 2004
By Dennis E. Sisterson (London, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
An excellent, gritty series - but don't be deceived by the packaging- this is NOT the first series, merely the first COLOUR series. Two seasons before this were made in black and white. By starting in the middle, we miss out on a lot of background and character development. A case for the trades descriptions act, I think.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Label it correctly, 10 Feb 2008
By David White - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
The most confusing product description on Amazon that I've ever come across. The main review describes the 1967 Armchair Theatre episode, but doesn't say if this is actually on the DVD. The customer reviews make it clear that this is the first _colour_ series, so this is actually series 3, which was 1970, not 1967, as the DVD title claims. So what exactly is on this DVD? Is that too much to ask?

Labelling this series 1 is highly misleading. Most Callan fans would love to have the real series 1, since most or all of it is apparently lost. Naturally, those looking for it will be drawn to this page, only to be disappointed. And it's only the customer reviews, not the published product, that reveal which series this really is.

P.S. My rating is based only on the Amazon page. I'm not willing to buy it till I know what's on it.
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The great British spy series returns ..., 13 Oct 2003
"Callan" first appeared on British screens in the 60's as a one off play but was soon commissioned as a series when the popularity of its central character was realised. This video contains 3 episodes from the first series to be shown in colour in 1970. Edward Woodward is superb as the reluctant spy who is happier re-creating historic battles with his model soldiers ("they're not toys!" he indignantly insists) than engaging in the murky world of intelligence operations. Russell Hunter also shines as the malodorous Lonely, a petty criminal who is continually co-opted by Callan into assisting him. Patrick Mower makes an early appearance as Callan's ruthless colleague Cross, while William Squire is just right as Callan's boss Hunter, a code name for all the heads of the department.

Viewers may be put off at first by the datedness of the production and the shoe-string budget but this feeling disappears after about 20 minutes when the plot grips you. "Callan" draws the viewer into a strange and intriguing world, half imagined and half real, where nothing is quite as it seems. The plots are complicated and by the end you are likely to find yourself scratching your head and only slowly being able to make sense if it all. But this does not detract at all from the great enjoyment of the stories themselves.

This is nostalgia television at its very best and I would recommend it whole-heartedly. It has stood the test of time very well (better I would say than many later productions). Some viewers though, will be disappointed by the absence of Toby Mears (Anthony Valentine) who appears in the later series which sadly has not, as yet, been released.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars This is NOT series one...
First of all, my one star review does not relate to the series, which is brilliant, it relates to the fact that this so called series one boxset is actually series three. Read more
Published 9 months ago by D. Whitely

4.0 out of 5 stars Yes, The Label Is Misleading...
I bought the box set labelled at Amazon as 'Series Three', and found the episodes within to be exactly same as those listed by another reviewer on this 'Series One' (and many... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Paul Meehan

5.0 out of 5 stars More Callan Please
An absolutely wonderful, gritty, human series, and this tiny selection of the show is very much appreciated and well worth the investment. Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars Callan rules
All I can say is that if you like quality tv with great acting, great writing and believable stories get this DVD. Read more
Published on 13 Oct 2005 by hammerbill

5.0 out of 5 stars More please
This is fantastic stuff. It feels real and dirty which is probably how it was in reality. It is dated although this does not really matter too much as the plots and the acting are... Read more
Published on 13 Sep 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars Callan
This was a great series, Edawrd Woodward at his best, the only question I have , why have they not released the other series ?
Published on 6 April 2005 by arbela

5.0 out of 5 stars Such an intelligiently written programme
When you see a programme of this quality it makes you realise how todays production value obsessed programmes are lacking. Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2004 by J. Clark

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of the Best
Ok so the package is misleading, but this dosn't detract from the quality of the series. This is one of the best UK dramas ever made. I hope they release more. Read more
Published on 27 Sep 2003 by madmadmick

5.0 out of 5 stars The best drama British TV ever made?
The best drama British TV ever made? Quite possibly. Callan set a benchmark for dark, tense, popular drama that wasn't equalled until recent US shows like The Shield.
Published on 5 Jun 2003 by ItsNotMe

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweaty, angry and completely brilliant!
Never have I seen so many sweaty top lips in one hour of television programming! This is however, quite outstanding writing and acting (the set do leave a bit to be desired; 1970,... Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2003 by ki014c1970

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