The Singing Detective
by Jon Amiel
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: David Ryall, Gerard Horan, Joanne Whalley, Michael Gambon, Patrick MalahideDirector: Jon Amiel
Brand: Warner Brothers
Writer: Dennis Potter
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 415 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-04-15
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Model: E1699
Studio: BBC Worldwide
Product features:
- A gripping murder mystery. A lavish musical. An intense psychological thriller. A warped romance. Dennis Potter's legendary, award-winning mini-series is all this and more. Hailed by the Chicago Sun Times as "The greatest production in the history of television," this genre-deying masterpiece is soon to be a major motion picture starring Robert Downey Jr. and Mel Gibson.Running Time: 415 min. F
Movie Reviews of The Singing Detective
Movie Review: Painful Memories, And A Writer's Imagination: Outstanding Masterpiece!
Summary: 5 Stars
First of all, I will write up front that this is not only the greatest television miniseries I have ever seen, but I rank it right up there with one of the greatest films ever! I first saw "The Singing Detective," starring Michael Gambon, in 1991. Years later, when I saw it in a video store, I was surprised, and without hesitation purchased the DVD set without even caring about the price. Thant is how GREAT this TV series is. There are not too many things on TV that have captivated my attention. However, this film certainly did. The films narrative centers on a writer named Philip E. Marlow (Michael Gambon) who has been hospitalized due to a rare skin disease that has left him incapacitated.
Moreover, the viewer is given a glimpse into the mind of Philip E. Marlow as he hallucinates while suffering from this horrible skin condition. We see his thoughts being played out on the film, which in turn, segues into both an offbeat musical and a noirish detective drama. For instance, as Philip E. Marlow undergoes his treatment, we see his life experiences being played out like a dime store Chandleresque detective novel, due to his high fever. In his mind he is a detective investigating a murder, and then when he is startled into his present reality, we see his interactions with the hospital staff and other patients. Further, his interactions with the nurses and doctors are at times funny as hell, and at other times emotionally and dramatically played out--as he feels everyones indifference to his plight. Yet, he is not an easy person to get along with.
We witness his paranoid interactions with the nurses and doctors who are looking out for him, and especially when the nurses must place a body lotion over his entire body, lest his skin condition worsen: And at times this makes his feel awkward and helpless--as his bodily functions have a life of their own. Everything about this film is great--totally flawless. The other actors in the film also rise to the occasion in their supporting roles, and I found their interactions with Philip E. Marlow to be exceptional. The dialogue in the film is not only biting at times, but extremely funny. As the film moves from the past to the present, the viewer not only sees what has possibly happened in Marlow's life, which may be the reason for his present skin disease, but also how in his minds journey he is the creator of who he is in the present. Past and present blend with a creative talent, that only Dennis Potter, who wrote the script, could have accomplished.
Moreover, as the film moves through the life of Philip E. Marlow, we see his childhood, and what has caused him to be the cynical person he is today. Plus, we see that in his hallucinations, he is living his life from the memories of an an old novel he wrote years before titled "The Singing Detective." Eventually, the film ties everything together as both the past and present trauma of Marlow is woven together in a way that gives the viewer an absolutely brilliant ending. However, it is the journey in Marlow's mind which the viewer is privy to that make this film so unforgettable. Everything in the films early episodes are tied together in the end.
I did not know that the autobiographical details in the film were in fact factual accounts of the late novelist Dennis Potter's life, until reading his obituary several years ago when he passed away. The fictional detective, Philip Marlow (played by Gambon) suffers from a debilitating disease called psoriatic arthritis, and indeed so did Dennis Potter. If you like a great story, with noir tossed in and excellent acting, I would highly recommend buying this DVD set. Or rent it. The "Singing Detective" is well worth the watch. The DVD set comes with 3 discs. The first one contains episodes 1-3, the second episodes 4-6, and the 3rd one has bonus features, which contain interviews with Dennis Potter, and a documentary on the life of writer Dennis Potter. Once again, actor Micheal Gambon is incredible in the role of Marlow, and this TV series is without a doubt the BEST I have ever viewed. [Stars: 5+++]
Summary of The Singing Detective
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