Search - Lovejoy - The Complete Season 1 on DVD

British Cultural Icon Comes to America Finally

Movie Mania | Southern Calfornia | 04/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are a fan of BBC America's Bargin Hunt, you often hear people talk about being a Lovejoy. This is a reference to this witty show about a dashing antiques dealer who often finds more than he is looking for.

This show first premiered in 1986 in the UK but it took another five years before the second season aired in 1991.

In 1989, Ian McShane made an appearance on the US hit Dallas as a shady movie producer that seduces and runs off with Sue Ellen (Linda Grey). Linda repaid Ian by appearing as Lovejoy's love interest in the Series 2 finale. But this is her only appearance in the series. For the US, they used this as the series premiere on A&E.

In the series, Lady Jane was his unattainable love interest. She was beautifully played by Phylis Logan. She is married and definitely above his station but there are constant spartks being emitted by the two. Lovejoy is has two sidekicks a young apprentice, Eric and the old sage Tinker.

This DVD should contains the following episodes:

The Firefly Cage - Lovejoy hires Eric and meets the lovely Lady Jane

The Axman Cometh - Lovejoy's latest acquisition is too good to be true. And somebody wants it back and is willing to kill for it!

The Sting - Lovejoy gets even with his arch nemisis, Charlie Gimbert

Friends Romans and Enemies - Lovejoy goes on the road to find some Roman coins.

The Judas Pair - Lovejoy tries to locate a pair of rare dueling pistols (the title is based on this). Of course, finding the pistols will uncover a murderer.

To Sleep No More - Lovejoy is given a puzzle to a fortune and he tries to find it for a widow.

The Real Thing - Lovejoy goes to a new market place and finds that everything is not on the up and up.

The March of Time - Lovejoy finds some old love letters in a clock.

Death in Venice (2 parts)- Lovejoy goes to Venice to investigate the death of a friend and a piece of artwork.

You'll have to wait for Series 2 to get The Black Virgin of Vladmir - Linda Grey's guest role.

This series was brilliantly wriiten and directed and will keep you entertained for a long time.

Let's hope the remaining five series are not long behind!"

FINALLY!! for US

Deborah MacGillivray | US & UK | 06/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an amazing DVD loaded with all the first season of
Lovejoy.
1) The Firefly Cage
2) The Axeman Cometh
3) The Sting
4) Friends, Romans and Enemies
5) The Judas Pair
6) To Sleep No More
7) The Real Thing
8) The March of Time
9)Death and Venice - Parts 1 & 2.

Included is an interview with McShane (part 1) where he talks about Lovejoy. Gash's grungy divey was tamed by McShane and made him a wee bit more acceptable to telly viewers, but he retained the essence and often used many of Gash's story lines.

The whole cast is great, the series is created with loving care and BBC gives a great package at a super price. Not to be missed by McShane fans or fans of the series.

500 minutes of pure delight!"

Finally!

BG | Davenport, Iowa United States | 04/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Finally, Region 1 gets Lovejoy! This is one of the most beloved BBC series aired in the US. Many fans have been waiting for this release since A&E stopped running the show as "Lovejoy Mysteries" so long ago.

Can't wait!"

Finest entertainment money can buy...

marco | Michigan | 07/01/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"...finest entertainment money can buy; only I can see they didn't break the bank setting this 3 disc set up. I only give this item 3 stars, because the presentation/lack of extras on it is not up to snuff. The sound seems a bit dodgey. I had to turn it way way up and even then, the original production sounds like it was recorded on one mike somewhere back of camera. This could easily have been fixed, and without too much cost to the publisher.

ASIDE from this; and excuse the caps--IT'S ABOUT BL**DY TIME! Lovejoy went off A&E network sometime in the late '90's! That's how we Yanks were only able to watch. I won't bore you with a long, detailed synopsis of the series. I will tell you that I wanted to give the item 5 stars, and despite the presentation, of this set, you'll finally have the first series of Lovejoy. (I believe there are 5 or 6, in total.)

Despite the uneven character of a program discovering its strengths and what it's really about, here in the first series; that uneven aspect is still secondary to the fact that this show, is, without doubt, one of the absolute best pieces of entertainment ever to have appeared on television. It doesn't insult your intelligence. It has one of the best ensemble casts ever; and will rarely let you down for an evening's fun. There's a nice bit of art history thrown in as well, as Lovejoy or buddy Tinker expound knowledgably on the virtues--or lack thereof, in the fakes--of the choice antique items that come their way. It's comedy and drama put into a very tasty balance, by Ian MacShane & company.

The main selling point of the series, I suppose, is that drama and intrigue result when the true value of an antique is revealed--or concealed, for that matter--and thus Lovejoy roots out the villain(s) in the end, in the course of pursuing his own good graft...

Another point I should make is that, after watching A&E's "versions" of the show, I came to feel that there was something missing in them, because at the end of the program, stills of the episode one has just watched, are shown behind the credits. There would always be one still picture of a scene that did not appear in the show. So, certain episodes just seemed, unsatisfying for some reason. Well, in watching the very first episode here, I was SHOCKED by how much was cut out of it to fit in all those nice commercials. (Mostly segues, etc., but still, there must have been nearly five minutes of screen time cut out, and that's quite a bit, considering the nature of the editing on the show, which was brilliant.) So now you'll be even more greatly rewarded by this program, because it's actually COMPLETE.

Everyone enjoys a valuable, rare, "find", that's worth more than the usual fare one is offered, and I'm sure you'll find Lovejoy worth every cent you pay for it. I only just wish it had a more deluxe treatment, here, in this box set..."