Review of Persuaders!, The: Volume 4

Introduction

What do the 1970`s mean to you? Is it Raleigh Chopper bikes and fur-lined parkas? Lime green Ford Capri Ghias? Or maybe a pair of playboys with nothing in common but trouble?

For me it`s the latter. I was too young to drive and never had a Chopper. Tony Curtis and Roger `The Eyebrow` Moore woodenly standing on sets painted in lovely pastels that Dulux have never since managed to make so vivid!

Lord Brett Sinclair and Danny Wilde, even their names are historic reminders of the decade that taste forgot, but together they championed good and sought justice in the capitals of Europe.

Video

Amazing. This is the best word I can use. I remember watching some repeats a while ago on a cable channel and the quality of the print then was awful. I was expecting the same here, but Carlton has really gone to town on cleaning up the image.

There is hardly any noise at all and the colours are straight out of a 1970`s Dulux paint chart.

The only slight problem is that at the start of each episode, the quality of the picture is markedly poorer than the rest. There is a kind of wavy effect as though light has hit the negative and only been slightly removed. This disappears after the opening scene of each episode so does not detract from the overall enjoyment.

The picture is full screen 4:3.

Audio

A mono soundtrack is never going to set the world alight, but then again, this is a nostalgia trip, so we should really only be listening to this on the centre speaker alone!

It is difficult to get enthusiastic about it, but it`s all that`s there, so make do and enjoy.

Features

There are quite a few extras on this disc, which is nice to see. They have also been nicely presented.

When selecting the extras option from the main menu screen, the ITC logo and banner is played. Very nostalgic.

There is a stills gallery, bumper titles, which are really just the bits at the start and end of the programme when it was broadcast, John Barry singles and an original theatrical trailer.

The Persuaders was also made into a series of feature films and the trailer from one of those is also included. The image has not been cleaned to the extent of the main feature, but it is still an enjoyable watch.

Conclusion

Excellent, truly excellent. You can`t get enough of bad fight sequences and dodgy `high speed` car chases. Especially when they are carried out in such ridiculous clothes!

The picture is brilliant, the audio is okay and the action is camp! Roger Moore in a kilt? Please!

These programmes were filmed in 1971 and yes, it does show, but what price can be put on keeping this sort of thing alive? Even if it`s just so the same mistakes aren`t made again!