Search - Hetty Wainthropp Investigates - Complete Collection on DVD

Enthusiastically recommended and unfailingly entertaining bo

Midwest Book Review | Oregon, WI USA | 01/06/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Now in a DVD boxed set containing all four seasons of one of the best British mystery series to every come out of the BBC production facilities, "Hetty Wainthropp Investigates" stars the brilliant British actress Patricia Routledge as a 60-something housewife-turned-detective. Her cases range from missing persons to homicides, all of which she tackles with the aid of Geoffrey (her young apprentice in the detective business) and the occasional assistance of her husband Robert. This boxed set not only contains all of the episodes in each of the four seasons of this popular series broadcast over PBS as part of their "Mystery!" programming, it also features a feature-length bonus program (Missing Persons) that served as the pilot episode, as well as an interview with Patricia Routledge, production notes, photo galleries, and cast filmographies. The thirteen discs comprising this enthusiastically recommended and unfailingly entertaining boxed set has a combined running time of 24 hours and 15 minutes."

A delightful series

T. L. Weiner | Los Angeles, CA | 10/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Patricia Rutledge is a British jewel. The quality of the picture was good but the only complaint I have is that it si very difficult to remove the discs from the package. As I viewed each disc, I put it in another container. Whether she is doing comedy or serious parts, this lady is worth the price of admission"

Your Life Can Be a Hetty/Hyacinth Festival for Weeks

Stephanie DePue | Carolina Beach, NC USA | 09/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Hetty Wainthropp Investigates: The Complete Collection, "(1997) a lighthearted comic/mystery television series produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation, comes to us starring Patricia Routledge, beloved by many for her iconic turn as Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced as "bouquet,"you trailer trash) in Keeping Up Appearances: The Full Bouquet. That's the ever-popular 1990's comedy television series, also made by the BBC. The box set is a wonderful cornucopia, bringing us all 27 episodes of the show, plus the pilot, "Missing Persons," written and produced by David Cook, based on his novel of the same name: the series is based on these characters he created. (The set also includes some episodes not previous seen in the Public Broadcasting System telecast). In addition, the series co-stars Dominic Monaghan as Hetty's young sidekick Geoffrey Shawcross; this was his breakout role, before he became a star in The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Theatrical Editions).

Routledge, a long-term star of stage and screen, who was voted the United Kingdom's all-time favorite television actress in a BBC poll, stars as the 60-something Hetty, who christens herself as a private investigator - without prior police experience, or indeed, any sleuthing experience. Yet she's able to solve mysteries, armed with the local Lancashire no-nonsense attitude, a smart mind, common sense, and plenty of moxie. She's assisted by Derek Benfield (Rumpole of the Bailey: The Complete Series Megaset,) as her supportive husband Robert, by John Graham-Davies as DCI Adams, and, eventually, by Suzanne Maddock as Geoff's girlfriend Janet Frazer. She's frustratingly impeded by Robert's foolish brother Frank (Frank Mills). The series is set, and filmed, in Lancashire in the North of England: you might say it does for Lancs. what Angela Lansbury's Jessica Fletcher did for New England's Cabot Cove. And, of course, what the American television hit did for women mystery fans of a certain age. And, praises be, and here comes the DePue subtitles report; as the series is chock full of delightful local accents and idiom, there are -unadvertised--closed captions, thank you, Acorn.

The production was filmed on site in the area of Bolton, Greater Manchester. There are trips to Darwen, Blackburn, and the Ribble Valley, and even, in "Blood Relations," the last episode, one to Yorkshire: Hetty tartly informs her husband that no passport is required. Scenes at the Women's Refuge in the "Woman of the Year" episode were made at Chaigley Manor, near Chipping. And the hotel scenes in "Daughter of the Regiment," in which Hetty and Geoff hilariously pretend to be Australian, were filmed in the "The Swan and Royal," on Castle Street in Chitheroe; a bit further up the hill from where Woolworth once was. (You can see the town landmark, the library clock, at several points during the episode).

Routledge, of course, is a bit older and heavier than she was in "Appearances" days; and this is a more serious part. But the humor is still there; you can catch many facial expressions that resemble Hyacinth's, particularly when Hetty takes the phone: pay attention in "Child's Play." In "Safe as Houses," Hetty gives us an old vaudeville song and soft-shoe to "Burlington Bertie." In the "Lost Chords" episode, we get to explore "Northern Food for Northern Folk," as one character says. We hear Hetty sing "Cuckoo" in "Daughter of the Regiment." In "A Minor Operation," Hetty admits that she was once on the stage, kicking up her heels in black fishnet stockings. And she uncorks a nice soprano to give us a hymn in "Blood Relations."

Hetty is noticeably younger, and gray-haired, in "Missing Persons," the pilot, made six years before the series. It's also noticeable that all the major male parts have been recast from the pilot to the series: it was filmed six years later, after all. And Hetty's hanging out with a flavorful bunch of people, much lower on the social scale than is usual for the later series: think Onslow and Daisy, rather than Violet and Bruce. "Missing Persons" is quite interesting on its own terms, giving us a close, insightful look at people not ordinarily seen on TV: they're much older than usual: and we get, in addition, a moving look at heartfelt life-long friendship and love among them.


Listen, this series is definitely the next-best thing to more "Keeping Up Appearances." Plus, you get so much for your money: your life can be a Hetty/Hyacinth festival for weeks.

"

A must have for fans

JJ | Connecticut | 01/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This complete collection includes the 1st episode where Hetty gets her start as a private eye. It is interesting to see how the series progresses. The first few episodes are much darker. If you are a fan of Hetty Wainthropp and the marvelous Patricia Routledge you will love this collection."