Product Details

• Actors: Ian McShane
• Directors: Ian McShane, Peter Barber-Fleming, William Brayne, John Crome, Gordon Flemyng
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: A & E Home Video
• VHS Release Date: July 25, 1995
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: 6303522394
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #357,406 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This is the Lovejoy we've come to fear and love. This fourth season episode finds the quick-thinking rascal broke, despondent, and uncharacteristically bored with antiques, but he suddenly comes to life when he plots an old-fashioned auction scam. Whetting his appetite by conning a naive young antique dealer (for a little operating cash), he proceeds to gather a group of retired pros to run a variation of an auction ring, but when a snag threatens the plan he pulls Lady Jane into the "only slightly illegal" scheme as an unwittingly accomplice. Lovejoy has always been at his best with his back against the wall and Ian McShane rises to the occasion with one of his most spirited performances. With a twinkle in his eye and barely suppressed grin on his face, McShane lets his audience know that the antique game is more fun when Lovejoy bends the rules. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars McShane is a charming rogue, December 30, 2003

By 

Deborah MacGillivray "Author," (US & UK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best of the Lovejoy Mysteries - The Ring [VHS] (VHS Tape)

McShane took Jonathan Gash's books are made Lovejoy his own, a kinder, gentler character as it were. The Ring is one of the best episode of the series.

This picks up after Lovejoy is released from Jail (a set up) but he served time anyway with a roomie - a biker named Mavis. Lady Jane, Tink and Eric are concerned because Lovejoy seems rather depressed and not accepting help from them. He goes to an auction and find a series of watercolour in the cottage style. He decides if he can get one sold at a high price he can sell all 22 paintings so he resorts to his old shifty ways to bump the bidding. He goes to his old Ring - partners that conspire to drive up the price. Only one duffer takes a powder at the last instant leaving Lovejoy in the lurch. So he recruits Lady Jane without her knowing. And she is not a happy camper when she discovers how he used her.

It brightly written, with the devilish twinkle in McShane's eye...absolute gems for his fans.