Search - Sergeant Cribb: The Horizontal Witness on DVD

Once More Sergeant Cribb Catches Villains In Victorian Londo

C. O. DeRiemer | San Antonio, Texas, USA | 02/24/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Whether it involves brutal, bare-knuckle boxing, hip-swiveling walk races, Victorian houses of pleasure or English boarding schools for privileged boys, Detective Inspector Cribb is unfazed and unimpressed. Although polite, that includes his dealings with his betters.

Sergeant Cribb - Set Two includes six one-hour mysteries, two from the first season from 1980 and four from the second season from 1981. As originally broadcast, according to IMDb, the first season had eight shows and the second season had six.

Cribb, played by Alan Dobie, is a Scotland Yard detective in Victorian London. He's smart, and smart enough to defer to his superiors both in Scotland Yard and in society. He has a wry sense of humor. He'll probably never get promoted. He is very good at his job. He's aided by Detective Constable Thackery (William Simons), a steadfast but none too bright copper. His superior, Inspector Jowett (David Waller), is an elderly gent of the old school, comfortable with his club and highly deferential to royalty.

The mysteries in this set are for the most part clever with solutions that make sense. What makes them interesting, however, is the evocation of Victorian life. In set two we find ourselves in an elegant Victorian bawdy house, a nursery in Windsor Castle and an "old boy's" boarding school. The production values are high, from the details of Victorian working life to the well-tailored tails and gowns of wealthy Englishmen and their ladies at dinner.

One of the pleasures of British mystery series is the acting depth. Almost without exception the acting is first-rate, from the smallest parts of elderly gents and maids to the lead roles. David Waller, for instance, is the epitome of the older, well-fed, complacent English gentleman, stuffy, experienced, supportive of Cribb -- but not too supportive. Then watch his performance as Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin in Edward & Mrs. Simpson (1978). Same man, same physical appearance, but here he is a shrewd politician, not unsympathetic to Edward, and fully prepared to be ruthless in protecting what he sees as the integrity of the crown.

Sergeant Cribb is a well-produced, well acted entry into the category of British TV mysteries. The DVD color transfer is well done. The extras in set two include information about author Peter Lovesey and key actor filmographies."

Great plot - fair production values

Jim Thomas | Greenville, SC | 03/11/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Good plots and casting. Production values only OK."

Missed it for so many years.

Brian Keith O. Hara | bkohatl | 12/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I ran across these dvds and immediately ordered. I've just completed watching all the episodes and loved as much I remembered them back into 1980. Pure fun and enjoyment!"