 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I was suggested to see this British tv series. I'd never heard of it before and someone said it was like 'Prime Suspect'. Any British or American viewers who've seen this Drama, would you recommend it? Stars David Jason who I've never heard of before. Also it must have some merit as it's been running for about 15 years. Thanks!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted: |
Feb 25, 2011 - 6:59 PM
|
|
|
|
By: |
johnjohnson
(Member)
|
I was suggested to see this British tv series. I'd never heard of it before and someone said it was like 'Prime Suspect'. Any British or American viewers who've seen this Drama, would you recommend it? Stars David Jason who I've never heard of before. Also it must have some merit as it's been running for about 15 years. Thanks!
A Touch of Frost is a television detective series produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV from 1992 until 2010, initially based on the Frost novels by R. D. Wingfield.
It stars David Jason as Detective Inspector William Edward "Jack" Frost, known almost universally as Jack, an experienced and dedicated detective who frequently clashes with his superiors. In his cases, Frost is assisted by a variety of different detective sergeants, with each bringing a different slant to the particular case. Comic relief is provided by Frost's interactions with the bureaucratically-minded Superintendent Norman Mullett, played by Bruce Alexander.
The series is set in the fictional Midland town of Denton, and is marked by a gritty tone. The role of Frost was notable in changing the public perception of David Jason from a predominantly comic actor to a dramatic actor.
It is believed that Denton is in Oxfordshire, with many references to Reading, Oxford, and in particular, Swindon, especially in the earlier episodes, as the M4 and A417 are often seen, and the map of Swindon was seen in the control room, although a map of Reading was used occasionally. The programme is produced by ITV in Leeds, and most of the outdoor locations are shot in West Yorkshire. Several scenes are filmed in and around the city and district of Wakefield and neighbouring small towns of Pontefract and Castleford, West Yorkshire.
MPI Home Video has released Series 1-14 on DVD in the United States and Canada, with the final series to be released 30 November 2010.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Touch_of_Frost_(TV_series)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks Broughtfan & Psicorpsranger. Sorry that I've never heard of the star of the series before. But don't mind me as I haven't had t.v. for a few years, and I'm constantly playing 'catch-up' with series on dvd.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great post. I had a chance to watch the first three seasons on cable around 2000. The show was dubbed in French, bit it was a really fun ride. I hope to watch it again soon.
David Jason is a wonderful actor in so many ways. He may have comedic talent, but he is also a true dramatic actor.
Cheers!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: |
Feb 26, 2011 - 11:36 AM
|
|
|
|
By: |
johnjohnson
(Member)
|
Thanks Broughtfan & Psicorpsranger. Sorry that I've never heard of the star of the series before. But don't mind me as I haven't had t.v. for a few years, and I'm constantly playing 'catch-up' with series on dvd.
Another I would highly recommend is Midsomer Murders. A detective drama, it focuses on the main character of Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby, played by John Nettles, and his efforts to solve the numerous crimes that take place in the fictional English county of Midsomer, assisted by successive Detective Sergeants - DS Gavin Troy (Daniel Casey), DS Dan Scott (John Hopkins), and DS Ben Jones (Jason Hughes). It is based on a series of crime novels by the author Caroline Graham and was previously adapted by Anthony Horowitz.
It recently celebrated it's thirteenth season in the UK. In early 2009 John Nettles announced he will retire after the 13th series of 10 episodes, at the end of 2010. Neil Dudgeon will replace him in the 14th series playing Barnaby's cousin DCI John Barnaby. The character is first seen in the episode 'The Sword of Guillaume'.
Acorn Media has released 15 DVD sets of Midsomer Murders in North America as well as a 19-disc collection available as The Early Cases. This set, which restores the episodes to their UK broadcast order, includes Acorn's set one, two, three, and five, as well as a bonus disc featuring a behind-the-scenes documentary. The North American releases lag well behind UK releases.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: |
Feb 26, 2011 - 11:41 AM
|
|
|
|
By: |
johnjohnson
(Member)
|
Thanks Broughtfan & Psicorpsranger. Sorry that I've never heard of the star of the series before. But don't mind me as I haven't had t.v. for a few years, and I'm constantly playing 'catch-up' with series on dvd.
Another I would highly recommend is Midsomer Murders. A detective drama, it focuses on the main character of Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby, played by John Nettles, and his efforts to solve the numerous crimes that take place in the fictional English county of Midsomer, assisted by successive Detective Sergeants - DS Gavin Troy (Daniel Casey), DS Dan Scott (John Hopkins), and DS Ben Jones (Jason Hughes). It is based on a series of crime novels by the author Caroline Graham and was previously adapted by Anthony Horowitz.
It recently celebrated it's thirteenth season in the UK. In early 2009 John Nettles announced he will retire after the 13th series of 10 episodes, at the end of 2010. Neil Dudgeon will replace him in the 14th series playing Barnaby's cousin DCI John Barnaby. The character is first seen in the episode 'The Sword of Guillaume'.
Acorn Media has released 15 DVD sets of Midsomer Murders in North America as well as a 19-disc collection available as The Early Cases. This set, which restores the episodes to their UK broadcast order, includes Acorn's set one, two, three, and five, as well as a bonus disc featuring a behind-the-scenes documentary. The North American releases lag well behind UK releases.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I was suggested to see this British tv series. I'd never heard of it before and someone said it was like 'Prime Suspect'. Any British or American viewers who've seen this Drama, would you recommend it? Stars David Jason who I've never heard of before. Also it must have some merit as it's been running for about 15 years. Thanks!
Careful there Dave. A Touch Of Frost is not in the same class as the first Prime Suspect serial.
T-O-Frost is a conventional UK police show. Solid enough I suppose, but plodding and not particularly witty.
Well, incorporating all the comments from those who wrote back regarding 'Frost' in this thread, I've decided to give it a shot. I should have my first discs (of the first series from the 90's, but new to me) in a couple of days. I won't have a problem that a lot of British viewers seem to have mentioned, David Jason's switch from being a famously loved comedy character to this dramatic character.
Thanks also Heath for saying it's NOT comparable to 'Prime Suspect' (series). Helen Mirren's character is one of my favorites from British television.
Heath, how is it plodding?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted: |
Feb 28, 2011 - 10:45 AM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Heath
(Member)
|
Thanks also Heath for saying it's NOT comparable to 'Prime Suspect' (series). Helen Mirren's character is one of my favorites from British television.
Heath, how is it plodding?
Now that you've bought the set, I wouldn't want to spoil it for you any more, but... 
...well, it always struck me as being a bit plodding in a typically English parochial kind of way. A show that was aimed at a particular demographic - late middle-aged folks who didn't want too many shocks at 9pm, who grew up with the VERY familiar and comforting face of David Jason, and who liked their thrills at a steady 35mph. 
Prime Suspect was a very different beast. Certainly very few British TV thrillers have had the impact of PS's first serial with its consistently unnerving and startling tone (and pitch black humour), and Mirren's fantastic heroine. I didn't care much for the sequels, though.
Another truly great TV thriller from the UK is Edge Of Darkness. It's right up there with PS1. It's a famous show (forget the dumb movie version) so you may have already seen it. If not, then please do. You'll probably love it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks also Heath for saying it's NOT comparable to 'Prime Suspect' (series). Helen Mirren's character is one of my favorites from British television.
Heath, how is it plodding?
Now that you've bought the set, I wouldn't want to spoil it for you any more, but...
...well, it always struck me as being a bit plodding in a typically English parochial kind of way. A show that was aimed at a particular demographic - late middle-aged folks who didn't want too many shocks at 9pm, who grew up with the VERY familiar and comforting face of David Jason, and who liked their thrills at a steady 35mph.
Prime Suspect was a very different beast. Certainly very few British TV thrillers have had the impact of PS's first serial with its consistently unnerving and startling tone (and pitch black humour), and Mirren's fantastic heroine. I didn't care much for the sequels, though.
Another truly great TV thriller from the UK is Edge Of Darkness. It's right up there with PS1. It's a famous show (forget the dumb movie version) so you may have already seen it. If not, then please do. You'll probably love it.
'Now that I've bought the set..' That's unthinkable these days, finances being what they are. I rent them from Netflix. (And I like to drive with the top down, so I don't know how I fit into the described demographic )
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UK TV has a tradition of showing very 'soft' drama on a Sunday evening-usually historical adaptations or shows starring ex soap actors that are considered 'family' viewing eg-Lark Rise to Candleford, Wild At Heart, Cranford et al.
That's the sort of show 'Frost' is. I can't really think of a similar US series. It's a bit grittier than say 'Diagnosis Murder' or 'Murder She Wrote' but it has been getting repeated on daytime TV in that time slot so it won't frighten the horses.
Prime Suspect is a very different beast as it was quite a gory series shown late (ish) in the evening usually in 2 or 3 episode chunks during the weekday evening.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: |
Mar 3, 2011 - 4:04 PM
|
|
|
|
By: |
MusicMad
(Member)
|
UK TV has a tradition of showing very 'soft' drama on a Sunday evening-usually historical adaptations or shows starring ex soap actors that are considered 'family' viewing eg-Lark Rise to Candleford, Wild At Heart, Cranford et al.
That's the sort of show 'Frost' is. I can't really think of a similar US series. It's a bit grittier than say 'Diagnosis Murder' or 'Murder She Wrote' but it has been getting repeated on daytime TV in that time slot so it won't frighten the horses.
Prime Suspect is a very different beast as it was quite a gory series shown late (ish) in the evening usually in 2 or 3 episode chunks during the weekday evening.
I've watched most of the Frost stories and found them very entertaining, though the series did overstay its welcome and should have ended a few years prior. Some of the stories carried stronger material than the average detective story - indeed, the episode which dealt with Down's Syndrome (season 3, ep.1: Appropriate Adults) was a first for UK TV. Another (the opening?) episode which centred on a child abduction had a character killing all of her cats!
Whilst his assistants varied there were a few repeats and an episode in which the assistant from the opening episode re-appears (Series 5, ep.4: No Other Love) is intense to say the least, dealing with child abuse and incest. And if the ending doesn't affect you ... you're not human.
Given some/many(?) of these episodes are rated 15 I don't think you can compare the series with most weekly detective shows, even if they are not as hard as, say, Prime Suspect
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted: |
Jul 27, 2016 - 5:35 AM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
|
"Care and Protection" Series one, Episode one. Original Airdate: December 6, 1992
Synopsis(from Wikipedia): "After his superior DCI Allen falls ill, Frost is left to handle the disappearance of Tracy Uphill, who vanished when her prostitute mother was late arriving at the community centre to collect her. He's also assigned DC Clive Barnard (Matt Bardock), the Chief Constable's nephew, who receives a frosty reception from some of his fellow officers. In the course of searching for the girl, they uncover human remains that have been buried for 30 years or more. The remains are those of a bank clerk who had vanished with a large sum of money. When the assistant bank manager is murdered with the same gun used to kill the bank clerk, Frost must determine who else might have been implicated in the robbery. All during this time, Frost's wife is dying of cancer and he must juggle the increasing workload with being by her side."
The premiere episode is a solid and promising start to the long-running series.
I appreciate the gritty look of a rain-soaked, rundown England with crap-looking, early '90s cars, unkempt, claustrophobic building interiors, dreary-looking people with dreary existences, and an overall air of dreary misery.
A Touch of Frost makes use of actual offices and homes, giving the show a naturalistic environment reminiscent of early 1970s films. It's cramped, claustrophobic, and gritty.
The atmosphere is quite good. It's refreshing that this is not filmed in London, instead taking place in the fictional Midland town of Denton.
Here's what Wiki says about the location filming:
It is believed that Denton is in Oxfordshire, with many references to Reading, Oxford, and in particular, Swindon, especially in the earlier episodes, as the M4 and A417 are often seen, and the map of Swindon was seen in the control room, although a map of Reading was used occasionally. The programme is produced by ITV in Leeds, and most of the outdoor locations are shot in West Yorkshire. Several scenes are filmed in and around the city and district of Wakefield and neighbouring small towns of Pontefract and Castleford, West Yorkshire.
Frost himself is an interesting character. In this, his wife is dying of cancer and is gone by episode's end and it weighs heavily on him as he goes about his job investigating two different mysteries.
His crap diet-- most notably a huge bacon sandwhich on starchy white bread--, dry sense of humor, hostility towards his fellow officers and superior, the rigid Superintendent Norman Mullett, is a perticular delight to witness. Frost and Mullett engage in verbal sparring yet Frost doesn't cross the line in terms of blatant disrespect though I'm sure as the series continues, he will.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
