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Tales Of The Unexpected - The Complete First Series


RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £7.93 (subject to change)

Definately Unexpected
Review date: 2008-09-23 Rating: 8 out of 10

Having recently really enjoyed some repeats of these on ITV3 I was compelled to see if they were available on DVD to collect. The reason being that they are just as enjoyable time and time again, due to the short tales with clever twists at the end. I opted for the first series as I could relate to those episodes I enjoyed watching on ITV3, by recognising characters on the DVD cover. This might be a tip for anyone else deciding which series to buy.

This series features 9 tales, 4 of which I really like, 2 I think are OK and 3 I'm not keen on. As with most things different people will enjoy different episodes. However, if you enjoyed watching first time around in the early 1980s I'm sure you won't be disappointed. These episodes can be watched over and over again quite easily. I enjoyed this series so much I am about to consider buying another series, after reading other people's reviews.

This series has some familiar faces in, such as Emmerdale cast, Brian Blessed (the big guy with the beard from Flash Gordon), Joan Collins, Gail's psycho husband from Coronation Street, whom some of you will also remember as a teacher from Grange Hill, and Julie Harris, who I remember in the black and white version of the film "The Haunting".

Those episodes I recommend are "Mrs Bixby and the Colonel's Coat", The Landlady", "Lamb to the Slaughter" and "The way up to heaven". Enjoy watching as I do regularly.

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Reviews


The Landlady
Review date: 2008-06-24 Rating: 10 out of 10

This episode makes this DVD well worth buying. I was 29 when this came out and I still had chills months after this broadcast. The play shows very well, how loneliness can drive one insanely to an extreme, unspeakable deed. I saw a re-run of it on ITV3 a little while ago, expecting to have become chill-proofed. Nope! It is still very chilling!

Great story telling will always be great.
Review date: 2007-05-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

At the time of writing I have been watching this on ITV3 on Freeview and absolutely loving it. As a kid in the 80's I occasionaly used to watch it last thing on a sunday night at my nan nans and remember finding it a little bit creepy in a strange sort of way. It has a good mixture of crime, comedy and just complete weirdness. Some episodes are dark and some uplifting but always with some kind of twist at the end.

Apart from being a little dated the stories are just as enjoyable and far more imaginative than most of what is on T.V. these days and that for me will always be the most important thing in a programme however old or new. For some reason and I am not sure why but there always seems to be an American featured in it (not that it matters but I have just become curious as to why this is).

Anyway, if like me you love programmes similar to this for example Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits etc., then I would definitely recommend that you give this a chance if you have never seen it before. As with all these type of programmes there will probably be some episodes that you like less than others, but overall there is something for everyone.

At the time of writing I haven't got any of these boxsets so I can't judge the picture quality but trust that it is at least as good as the ones that have been shown on ITV3 and so I will definitely be buying them eventually.

Not as good as I remember
Review date: 2006-04-12 Rating: 4 out of 10

I was about 13 when this series first came on the telly and I used to really enjoy it.

The plots are much simpler than I remember, but as Roald Dhal explains, there's not much scope to pad the plot out in a 30 minute show. The acting is generally good (I think acting as a skill has sadly gone downhill over time rather than improved), and there are some well known names in most episodes looking very young indeed.

The other surprise was how low-budget the original production was. The sets are really quite ropey, with the characteristic deadly silence (no ambient noise) of cheap productions of that era. The episodes are all shot on videotape with the associated lens-flare and streaking along with unrealistic lighting requirements of videotape in those days. Don't expect technical quality anywhere near the same league as The Professionals or The Sweeney (which are excellent), this is definitely a low budget regional telly series more akin to the quality of Crossroads.

DVD Quality: This is just a straight transfer from the original tapes, and although the picture quality is acceptable (see videotape comments above), the sound isn't that great.

Worth 15 quid? Not really. I got bored after two or three episodes, as once the nostagia has worn off, you realise it is just a cheap production from the 70's that should be left as a fond memory. Wait until it's on sale for £4.99 or buy the other DVD with 4 episodes for £7 if you need a nostalgia hit.

always with a twist at the end!
Review date: 2006-03-13 Rating: 10 out of 10

Well worth the purchase, if you like thrillers, horror, suspense and a twist at the end this is well worth the purchase. Takes me back to a Sunday night at 10pm on ITV last thing I watched before going to bed and the weekend being over. On the episode the Landlady the episode has the old Anglia Knight logo and it will really take you back. Well packaged good information on the box.

Product Details/Specifications


Recording label: Network
Manufacturer: Network
EAN: 5027626238841
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2006-03-13
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 225 minutes
Language: English (Original Language)

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