Review of Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased): Volume 5
Introduction
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) is one of the most fondly remembered of the ITC "Golden Age Of Television". These are the original episodes starring Kenneth Cope and Mike Pratt and are not to be confused with the Reeves and Mortimer remakes. Created by Dennis Spooner and Monty Berman, the show lasted a single twenty-six episode season before cancellation (Lew Grade had a rule - if it didn`t sell overseas it was finished).
The four episodes on this disc originally spanned New Year 1969-70 and feature a host of familiar faces in supporting roles, most of whom went on to bigger and better things.
Trivial Pursuit types should note Mike Pratt (Jeff Randall) was responsible for writing the Tommy Steele hit "Little White Bull".
Video
As ever, Carlton have made an effort to clean up the series for disc although the vintage of the source material can never be really immaculate. Having said that, you will never see this great series looking better. Presented in its original tv aspect ratio.
Audio
Only Mono
Features
English HOH subtitles and a small stills gallery.
Conclusion
A fine addition to a series collection, but as a standalone souvenir of a great series not a patch on the first two discs in the collection. Smashing stuff nonetheless.
Your Opinions and Comments
I beg to differ Mark...ten years on and we had that sparkling Blu-Ray rendition on the excellent Network 'Retro Action!' set. An uncharacteristically scant review too. I guess this was because these series got released one disc at a time in them there days....
You were only getting four episodes to a disc in those days, and the completion of the run was never guaranteed - look at Jason King which never got further than an initial disc. Once you'd reviewed one disc, there was only so much you could repeat from disc to disc without looking like you were cut and pasting the whole review.