Customer Reviews

Banacek - The First Season

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Universal was the leading supplier of tv in the late '60s well into the '70s. Their catalog is vast with classics: Kojak, Ironside, Marcus Welby MD, The Name of the Game (the most expensive series at the time, 1968), Columbo, McMillan & Wife, McCloud, and of course Banacek. I'm a huge fan of this show. Apparently, Universal did not deem this one "important enough" to give it the same treatment some of the others have gotten, so they licensed the DVD rights to Hart Sharp Video (?). Well, what they've done here is taken the old masters and simply transferred them to DVD. No remaster, no sound re-mix to 5.1, nothing. Even the DVD menu looks like something a kid could do on his computer. The transfer displays a somewhat pink image (more apparent in exteriors), seemingly faded from age. At some points even the sound is distorted (reference "Let's Hear it for the Living Legend"). And during the episode "Project Phoenix" (about 18 minutes into chapter 3), as a guy is running down a hill to catch up with Banacek's limo, the picture does a quick fade to black (and in the midst of a music cue, which also fades), then fades back into the next shot! What the %@#$&! Additionally, the DVD extras are limited to a cheesy photo gallery and "TV Guide" crosswords! And, where's the original pilot ("Detour to Nowhere")?? This set should have been treated by Universal as the classic it is, with a box set of all episodes, remastered picture & sound, with extras and liner notes. Fox gets this, and treats their classic shows with the respect they deserve. Just look at what they're doing with the release of "Land of the Giants". It too, was on for only 2 seasons, but Fox is boxing it as one set with a staggering amount of extras. Then there's also the great sets of "Lost in Space" and "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea". And by the way Universal, no I don't work at Fox, but I am a classic tv on DVD fan!

First, let me say that I will probably buy the second season when it comes out because the DVD is still better than the tapes I have of the old A&E showings. But, if you are going to charge money for a TV favorite why cut scenes? I watched Banacek when it orignally aired in the 70's so I knew that A&E cut some great scenes to put in additional ads. I was looking forward to the DVD to see the cut scenes once again. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that while the DVD did restore some of the missing scenes they cut scenes that had appeared in the both the original and the A&E versions! Two examples that long-time Banacek fans should notice:

(1). In Project Phoenix the DVD cut part of the scene where Banacek is in his limo talking to the hobo Paddle. In the original aired version (and even in the A&E version) Paddle says: "Used to be in one of the largest banks in Florida - trust officer. By 10:00 in the morning I'd be sweating, literally. Like I'd been running a couple of miles. That's no way to live, not if you ever hope to see 60." However in the DVD version this entire conversation is cut to "Used to be in one of the largest banks in Florida."

(2). In The Greatest Collection of Them All almost the entire scene beween Banacek and the receptionsit played by Penny Marshall is cut from the DVD version so one is left wondering how Banacek found out that the security guard was at the bar.

Banacek aficionados beware, these are not the compete Banaceks as originally aired!!

This is indeed one of the great TV shows from the Mystery Movie Series. Universal Television will not be producing these DVDs. I just checked the production companys (Hart Sharp Video) website and found that only 8 episodes will be offered in the first season. It appears that the Pilot will not be included with the set. The Hart Sharp website indicated that 8 programs of 72 minutes in length would be offered in this set of DVDs. Nothing was mentioned of the image quality of the transfer. Hope this is helpful.

Well, finally we have Banacek available on DVD. The only other missing link is perhaps "The Name of the Game" of 1960's through 1980's Television sleuths that represent the Golden Age of Television Detectives. Banacek is different. A private investigator of recovery in insurance scam attempts and thefts. The classic of course is our famous weekly series that featured Columbo, MacMillan & Wife, McCloud and the ever changing 4th slot in the monthly rotation. This series was different and interestingly plotted. The location scenery, the '41 Packard, and especially that Used Antiquarian Bookshop of his friend,Mulholland bring some fresh air to the standard formula of murder in other series. Here we deal with aristocrats but unlike Columbo, there is no need for Homicide. Our rich are involved in insurance fraud for Gold coins, Ancient books, Paintings and therefore we can believe the characters here as a little closer to reality. Banacek can be counted on to succeed where other minds fail, get the girl, and live extravagantly at the same time. All within 90 minutes a case! Now, as to the DVD, well, I know it is not top notch but I am just glad to have a copy of these episodes. Perhaps the company felt it was not as important as some other longer running shows. I no doubt will buy the second half when it is released, but it should include the pilot and some sort of commentary would be appreciated.

Finally, the TV I was waiting for years to come to DVD and what did we get, well, a sub-par transfer from the master reels to DVD. I enjoyed the show very much when A&E aired it in the mid 1990's. The picture quality is not what I come to expect from a DVD. The sound is not 5.1 and the cover art/photo are very grainy. Hart Sharp Studios did a very poor job on this one. For Banacek fans, it is a must, but be warned this DVD is not the same quality that other shows released to DVD received. I would have given 5 stars, but picture and sound quality is just not good. I hope that when second season is released that Hart Sharp Studios improves the quality.

The first season is AOK and I was glad to finally get my hands on "Banacek" in DVD form, but I wondered about the missing pilot. Luckily, the President of Hart Sharp Video was kind enough to respond almost immediately to my e-mail. Good news! The rights have been acquired for the pilot "Detour to Nowhere" (the armored car heist) and will be included with the 2nd season in the fall.

Rather than complain about the delay, let's just be happy that they were on top of it and eventually got it done! Apparently, the negotions for the rights were both lengthy and tiresome...but we are the winners for their efforts. If you ask me, these guys deserve Banacek's standard 10% finders fee. Get your orders in through Amazon once they list it...right after me that is! Amazon doesn't show it "coming soon" just yet, but they will. Keep an eye on it, and it will show.

Further, let all male chauvinists delight in the splendor of Banacek's 21st century DVD release! Ah yes...the history of it all...only in 20th century America could you find a Polish male chauvinist TV personality going strong at the same time that Gloria Steinem (of real Polish ancestry) manipulated the free (news) media, holding herself out as the vanguard of the feminist movement. Yes, those were the good old days...

These shows are excellent brain teasers. At the end of each episode, Banacek takes you back to certain clues that he saids helped him in solving the mystery of the missing items. I found this show very interesting and you shouldn't walk away from the tv without put it on pause or you will miss an important clue in solving the mystery. If you are a Columbo or Poirot fan. This set is in your taste. The dvd color quality is excellent. I anticipate the next season.

What an enjoyable detective series this is! If you loved Columbo ( I have the whole series on DVD), fans of the original "NBC Mystery Night Movie" will truly enjoy this first season of Banacek which was part of the alternate line-up featuring Columbo, McMillian & Wife, and McCloud.

A complete opposite to Peter Falk's self-effacing Columbo and resident of Boston's Beacon Hill, American/Polish insurance investigator Banacek is smug, erudite, wealthy, and terribly competent always managing to get his 10% on every recovery while making other insurance investigators and detectives green with envy. Supporting cast is excellent with veteran and accomplished actor Murray Matheson as a rare book dealer and friend of Banacek who assists him in solving a number of capers. Other notable guest stars such as Bert Convy, William Windom, and Kevin McCarthy also appear in the series.

Shot on location in Boston and other interesting locales, Banacek is an engaging whodunit with the protagonist explaining how the crime or, in most cases, the "heist" or "fraud" was completed. Unlike "Columbo" we don't really know who the criminal or the thief is until the last act of the 90 minute episode. (In one episode, Banacek explains how an entire railroad car with a top secret sports coupe prototype inside literally disappears while in transit and under armed guards!)

Tranfers to DVD are decent but not remarkable; Universal's "Columbo" sets look much better, but we are fortunate to have this much talked about but rarely seen series featuring George Peppard in one of his finest television roles. A fine actor who was superb in starring roles in such films as "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "The Blue Max," but never really quite made it to Hollywood's A-list, Peppard was ideally cast in the role of Thomas Banacek. I am looking forward to the other eight episodes in Season 2!

Over the years there have been a number of entertaining series on TV. But, as one looks back, it is clear that only a few TV series -- including Remington Steele and Columbo -- stood out sharply from the crowd as both unique in concept and very well done. Banacek definitely was such a unique and outstanding series. Thomas Banacek (superbly played by George Peppard) was a free-lance insurance investigator with a charismatic personality and a knack for solving seemingly insoluble large-scale cases of theft and fraud -- for a hefty 10% fee. Every episode was both fascinating and enjoyable and the series never became predictable or boring, When this DVD of the first season of Banacek finally became available on DVD I bought it immediately and have played it twice already -- thoroughly enjoying it both times. Although this DVD regretably does not include the outstanding pilot episode the eight episodes which it does include are well worth buying. I hope they release the second season -- hopefully including the pilot -- soon. This series was one of the best.

A lot has been said about this low quality presentation of one of the better Mystery movie series, but a few things have been missed.

First, these are not made from the original masters. They are not even made from the prints used in the later run on late night television or the prints used when A&E ran the series in the mid 90s. These seem to be made from the edited prints the Hallmark network used a few years back.

This is a slap in the face to all fans of the series as Hallmark edited in more commercials (the fade to black then back to the same scene some reviewers have noticed) and removed content to make way for those additional adds. The commercial cuts are a small irritation, but whole scenes are edited or missing from this edition. For example, one of Penny Marshal's earliest TV appearances was on Banacek. She had a wonderful scene that help establish her as a star, and here it is cut to a few lines. There is no excuse for that.

Maybe someday Universal will see the error of its ways a produce a real set of this fine series. Until then fans will have to contend with this, abridged, paperback edition of a classic show.