|
-
News
- Features
- Events
Calendar
- Editorials
- Monthly
Zine
- Offworld
Report
- Our Daily
RSS Feed
- Movie/TV
Reviews
> Recent movies
> Movies by year
> Movies by title
- Book
Reviews
> Recent books
> Books by year
> Books by title
- Home
- Worlds
- Biography
- Bibliography
- Appearances
- Reviews
- Blog
- Community
- Press
- Links
Become
an Advertiser
- Web
Site Directory
- Search
the Net
- StephenHunt.net
- WoodenRocket.com
- Check
your E-mail
- Non Sci-Fi
News
|
The Champions: The Complete Series Special Edition DVD boxset
01/10/2006 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
DVD - Region 2. pub: Network 7952408. 9 DVDs. 1595 minutes. 30 -50 minute episodes plus many extras. Price: £59.99 (UK). stars: William Gaunt, Stuart Damon, Alexandra Bastedo and Anthony Nicholls. Buy The Champions: The Complete Series in the USA - or Buy The Champions: The Complete Series in the UK  check out website: www.networkdvd.co.uk
A couple years ago, I reviewed an ordinary version of the complete ITV series of 'The Champions'. Who would have thought this would happen as this time, I have in my possession an extraordinary enhanced version. Apart from the series, it has three audio commentaries, two on the same episode by cast and production team. The two documentaries are new and one of which introduces us again to actors William Gaunt, Stuart Damon and Alexandra Bastedo as they are today, all very much worn with age but as the American lead says its better looking down at the daisies than being beneath them. We see the test footage that got the three together which also answered my question as to why Richard Barrett was never called 'Dick' or other variants, it would have made him sound rather too common. The small amount of merchandise is shown including all the trading cards. I just wish someone would have thought to have shown the contents of 'The Champions Colouring Book' cos although I missed buying it when young, I do remember from flicking through it that it was actually a story of them being called back to the Himalayas. As to stills. With other releases, there about 20. Not here. This boxset has thirty minutes of them, all accompanied by music from the series. I could not believe my eyes at this. Make sure you have plenty of time when you watch them. There is also a 36 page illustrated booklet with details about the series which unfortunately doesn't cover one detail, who did the model special effects for the crashed aircraft and submarines.
Apart from the thirty episodes, we also have a variation of the first episode, 'The Beginning', where they dictate their story onto tape for their boss, Tremayne, before having second thoughts about giving it to him. This variant was to enable it to be shown anywhere in the series. On the very last DVD, there is the combined episodes of 'The Beginning' with 'The Interrogation' as a film compilation 'The Legend Of The Champions'. I thought when I was going to watch it that if the episodes just followed each other, it could be skipped. No chance here. The first episode was mixed in with Sterling's interrogation with a few extra moments that I couldn't remember when seeing them separate. Have I gushed enough? If all of Network's other enhanced boxsets are like this then you have in your hands probably the best archival material on any of the ITV late 60s-70s TV series around. It has been said that the prints have been cleaned up and taken from the original stock. With DVD, you would really have to run the normal and this enhanced edition to find out. Saying that, I thought the sound was a lot higher and those who dwell in multi-speaker rooms are going to be shaken with this set.
So, for those not young enough to know, just who are 'The Champions'? Nemesis agents Craig Sterling (actor Stuart Damon), Richard Barrett (actor William Gaunt) and Sharron Macready (actress Alexandra Bastedo) are sent into red China to get samples of a new bacteria. They get it but are attacked when leaving in their plane. They crash in the Himalayas and although nearly fatally injured are rescued by an old man who has them taken to their hidden city. There they are healed and endowed with super-human potential before being left by their wrecked plane to make their way home. Their missions after that exploit their abilities, much to the puzzlement of their boss, Tremayne (actor Anthony Nichols), and a remarkable success rate.
What makes 'The Champions' significant is they were probably the very first non-super-hero super-humans on British TV and, as far as I can see, probably in the world. Of the ITV series of the time co-produced by Monty Berman, this is the only one which had Science Fiction under-tones. It wasn't glorified but treated it pretty much in a matter-of-fact way also made it very 'real' for the time. The fact that it still holds up pretty much today is a testament to its quality even on a small budget and has great affection to its fans. It's a tireless show which you'll watch time and time again. Great stuff!!!
GF Willmetts
|
|
