The Thin Blue Line: The Complete Line-Up
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: David Haig, James Dreyfus, Mina Anwar, Rowan Atkinson, Serena EvansBrand: Warner Brothers
Writer: Ben Elton
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 420 minutes
Published: 2004-06-01
DVD Release Date: 2004-06-15
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Warner
Movie Reviews of The Thin Blue Line: The Complete Line-Up
Movie Review: "And perhaps a small selection of cupcakes?"
Summary: 5 Stars
Contained herein is the complete "line-up", the full series of Ben Elton's The Thin Blue Line in another essential DVD set from BBC video! The first 2 discs include the 14 episodes that make up series 1 & 2 (Nov 1995-Dec 1996) and the 3rd disc includes over an hour of documentary and interview footage of creator/writer Ben Elton. Elton is best known for his work on Black Adder and the Young Ones. Both of these are essential DVD sets in your Britcom library and TBL is another must own.
The brilliant Rowan Atkinson heads the cast as the "excessively" riggid and by the book (which includes his personal life!), Inspector Fowler, who prefers his constables are as he is "Keen of eye, swift of thought, and regular of bowel". Rowan's performance here is most similar to his character in the Black Adder as far as dialogue goes so if you like that series you'll more than likely love this. The Thin Blue Line, like Black Adder, is a dialogue driven show and Ben Elton uses every chance he can to let the characters (especially Fowler and Det. Inspetor Grim) go off into hilariously wordy tangents. The show is filled with unique characters, each funny in their own right: Sgt. Patricia Dawkins (Fowler's girlfriend of 10 years!), Constables: Habib, Gladstone, and Goody, Det. Constable Kray (Series 1), Det. Constable Boyle (Series 2), and of course the endlessly bafoonish Det. Inspector Derek Grim of CID. The show is mostly based in the police station and occasionally in the field or at Fowler & Dawkins' flat. I fell in love with the show from renting the one lone VHS tape a local video store carried which only contained two episodes. Those episodes were well played believe me, so seeing this released was quite exciting. It also completed my Rowan Atkinson DVD trilogy (Black Adder, Mr. Bean, & TBL)! Here's the contents:
Disc One: Series 1
01. Rag Week
02. The Queen's Birthday Present
03. Night Shift
04. Honey Trap
05. Fire & Terror
06. Kids Today
07. Yuletide Spirit
Disc Two: Series 2
08. Court in the act
09. Ism Ism Ism
10. Fly on the wall
11. Alternative Culture
12. Come on you blues
13. Road Rage
14. The Green Eyed Monster
Disc Three: Extras - "Best of British: Ben Elton" (45 minute documentary), "Smillie's People: Ben Elton"(15 minute interview), TBL Cast Bios, & trailers
Trivia:
*In the first series, Grim's right hand man Kray is played by Kevin Allen. In series 2 the character is replaced by Boyle (Mark Addy). You may recognize Addy from "The Full Monty" or from the U.S. sitcom "Still Standing" where he's married to Jamie Gertz and has a son and daughter. Addy uses an american accent on the show, but once in a while you can hear his british one come through.
*Police Constable Gladstone is played with perfection by Rudolph Walker. Mr. Bean fans may remember Walker from his small role in the first episode where he is the exam giver.
*David Haig (Det. Inspector Grim) also worked with Rowan in the popular British film "Four Weddings in a Funeral" where Rowan plays the nervous and fumbling Father Gerald who presides over his wedding. Haig plays "Bernard St. John Delaney". Priceless scene.
I can't complete this review without a few quotes. Here are three favorites from the man, Inspector Grim:
"Goody-goody, lotti-dotti, namby-hoity, wishy-pamby, toity-washy, dotti-lotti, know it all, public school, stiff upper lip, stiff upper house master, prim & proper, rule brittania...uhh!"
"When you run us up the flag pole, you'll find you're saluting a very different kettle of fish."
"It's my arse on the line and I'm right up to my neck in it."
Summary of The Thin Blue Line: The Complete Line-Up
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