Product Details

• Actors: Michael Keating, Paul Darrow, Peter Tuddenham, Jan Chappell, Jacqueline Pearce
• Writers: Terry Nation
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Bfs Entertainment
• VHS Release Date: November 11, 1998
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302719526
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #321,890 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Intergalactic adventure with an interplanetary resistance group battling for survival against a totalitarian super-power. Roaming a universe of boundless space and restrictive discipline, freedom-fighter Blake, with the crew of spaceship Liberator, is locked in combat with the all-powerful forces of the Federation.

Episodes:
Voice From The Past - Ex-Arbiter General Ven Glynd has information which could put Servalan away forever. All he has to do is gain Blake's trust and confront the Council. Blake is euphoric - a new era of peace is dawning at last. But Avon smells a rat...just why is Blake behaving so oddly?
Gambit - Docholli's been traced to Freedom City, a gambler's paradise, and Blake's convinced he knows the location of Star One. Trouble is, so is Servalan and she's got there before them. Then Vila and Avon wander off to do a spot of gambling of their own...

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Voices" OK; "Gambit" a campy gem, July 13, 2001

By 

Michael J. Mazza - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blake's 7, Vol. 12 - Voice from the Past / Gambit [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Volume 12 of the "Blake's 7" video series contains two more episodes of this British sci-fi series. These episodes continue the saga of interplanetary rebel Blake, his starship Liberator, and his ongoing campaign against the tyrannical Federation.

In "Voice from the Past," Blake is suffering aftereffects of the brainwashing he had suffered at the hands of Federation thugs. He and the crew of the Liberator become entangled in Federation leader Servalan's latest plot. Although there are some good aspects to this episode, I found it to be less than effective. The show struck me as rather stiffly directed and acted in parts.

But "Gambit," the second episode on the tape, is marvelous. In this story Blake and the crew infiltrate Freedom City, a "wild west"-type outpost that is independent of the Federation. Freedom City is an incredibly decadent and baroque place, with a profitable gambling industry. Servalan refers to the place as a "pestilential rat-hole"--ironically, she seems to fit in perfectly! This episodes features some of the series' most outrageous costumes and characters (in particular, Freedom City's foppish leader), and some great guest performances. And as a bonus, the artificial intelligence Orac reveals a surprising new ability. There are some great Avon-Vila moments, and the plot helps build up to the explosive second-season finale (on the next video).

B7 has inspired quite a cult following over the years, and these episodes demonstrate some of the qualities that make the series a classic of sci-fi TV. Check this video out.

4.0 out of 5 stars Blake looses control and Villa seems to be winning?, December 13, 2002

By 

Jacob "RavenLoc" (Virgina, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Blake's 7, Vol. 12 - Voice from the Past / Gambit [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The next exciting vol. of Blake's 7 entitled VOICE FROM THE PAST and GAMBIT
Ex-Arbiter General Ven Glynd is trying to make contact with Blake and the others. He and he alone has information regarding Servalan and her motives to take control of the Federation. Blake thinks this maybe the key to stopping the Federation. Avon wonders why Blake is acting so strange around Ven Glynd and his group. Can Blake figure out who is telling the truth or is this another cunning trap laid out by the Federation for him?
In the next epsidoe entitled GAMBIT
Blake gotten word that a medical officer named Docholli may know where control is. Blake heads for Freedom City a place where gamblers can win and loose fortunes in a mere moment. What Blake doesn't know is that Servalan is already there finding Docholli so she can find control. What both Blake and Servalan don't know is that Travis has found Docholli and seems to be protecting him. All the while Avon and Villa get a rather good idea to use ORAC to get some money while Blake tries to find his man.

4.0 out of 5 stars One great, one average, July 14, 2000

By 

David Cole (Oak Pk Heights, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blake's 7, Vol. 12 - Voice from the Past / Gambit [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"Voice from the Past" takes what was given in the first episode and turns into a great sequel, turning originally two-dimensional one-off characters into 3D masterpieces. It's great to see Blake's prosecutor defect and turn against the Federation! The whole episode deals with Blake, trechery, deception, and more... and perfectly done.

"Gambit" is odd for a Robert Holmes story as he usually writes top-notch stuff. Making ORAC inexplicably shrink for a while is obviously what ruins the story, but the rest of it is not bad by any means. But it is a thorn which sticks in the side of an otherwise typical story with the usual Robert Holmes' gift of making cool characters.

Definitely worth owning, though!