Customer Reviews

Nero Wolfe - The Complete First Season

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have been a fan of Rex Stout for a long, long time. One reason I often dislike seeing books made into movies, or at least feel the movie pales when compared to the books, because often people see things differently. So when a beloved set of characters such as Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin is brought to film, I automatically cringe, because I am rarely pleased with the results. They tried in the late 70's with Thayer David playing Wolfe and Tom Mason as Archie. Excellent casting, but was a little late. Thayer David, a Sydney Greenstreet type actor, was perfect casting for Wolfe - the 1/7 of a ton genius detective that detects while never leaving him home. Only David was already ill, dying of cancer, so the weight loss and lacking of strength sadly hurt his performance. Later it was redone with William Conrad as Wolfe and too sexy Lee Horsely as Archie. Sorry, the series had Wolfe pacing when expounding to suspects and sitting on the corner of his desk. It made you wonder if the writers ever read Stout's books. So, when
Timothy Hutton stepped into Archie's shoes I had mixed reservations. I love Hutton, son of the brilliant Jim Hutton. While you see a lot of his daddy in him, he is definitely his own man, and cuts a smart style when fleshing out his roles.
So I thought, okay, he would make a good Archie. Then I wondered what about Wolfe? They cast Maury Chaykin. Brilliant! Wow, someone actually loved the books enough to follow them.

A&E is to be commended in letting Hutton run with the series for two seasons. They are to be CONDEMNED for canceling it because they deemed it too expensive to make. Shame on them! The series was a class act all the way. A delightful ensemble cast who changed roles episode to episode gave it a theatre feel.

The costuming is great, the acting divine and the stories - well, I actually KNEW what book they were based on! It was HEAVEN.

So A&E I thank you for putting out these wonderful episodes so we Archie Addicts can enjoy them again. And go take a flying leap for canceling what is nirvana in detective land.

Oscar-winner Timothy Hutton directs several episodes of this sparkling series, as well as taking on the character of jaunty gamecock Archie Goodwin, Private Detective and prime mover of the brilliant (but sometimes disinclined to take on new cases) Nero Wolfe, played by Maury Chaykin.

This first season is salted with murder, two of them occurring in Nero Wolfe's own office. One potential client is strangled with the portly genius's own yellow-silk, barbecue-sauce-stained tie--Archie gets a lot of mileage out of this blunder by his usually meticulous boss. There is very little violence except when Archie is asked to eject a particularly obstreperous client. In fact if I were to pick an overriding emotion that governs these episodes, it is high good humor. Archie's wry voice-overs, Wolfe's eccentric winter get-up in "Door to Death," Fritz's icy but voiceless critique of another butler's champagne-pouring technique in "Champagne for One" are all priceless in-jokes for us Nero Wolfe fanatics. Affection rather than parody governs the characters, even in the minor roles. Occasionally Wolfe and Cramer go over the top with their blustering bad humor, but Archie usually supplies an acerbic course-correction.

The sets and costumes are fashioned with artful, low-key perfection--except for Archie's two-tone shoes. They aren't particularly low-key. But we fans get to see all of the décor that made the books so--well, like comfort food for the brain: the outsized globe and chair in the study; Wolfe's tarpaulin-sized yellow-striped pajamas; Archie's snap-brim fedoras; the soothing presence of Fritz in his kitchen.

If I had a Fritz in my kitchen all would be well with my world.

Apart from major characters, certain actors and actresses show up in multiple episodes. Two of my favorites: Kari Machett plays a series of ditzy, seductive, sometimes unscrupulous, sometimes murdered femme fatales that Archie usually ends up falling for. She brings out his chivalrous best, unless she happens to be the murderess. Boyd Banks is a great well-heeled social parasite or weak-chinned younger son, although he also shows up as an FBI agent in "The Doorbell Rang." He absolutely should have qualified for an Emmy for his sniveling, groveling, but absurdly cheerful Dinky Byne in "Champagne for One."

Nero Wolfe fans if you don't watch these A&E DVDs then pfui on you. Go ahead and relax into the world's most famous brownstone, where you can practically smell Fritz's Bacalhau (Portuguese Salt Cod) cooking in the kitchen.

I'm a big fan of the Nero Wolfe series, and have both seasons on DVD. Here's why:

1) Never read the books, so have no basis for being disappointed with the characterizations; this is neither praise nor judgment, just criteria to consider
2) Quirky sense of humor; not hilarious, laugh out loud, but amusing and entertaining
3) Two all out characterizations by Hutton and Chaykin as Archie and Wolfe respectively; Hutton goes a bit far on the odd occasion but still excellent
4) Strong stories; characterizations help prop up the slower parts
5) Good ensemble cast, with many of the same players showing up show after show; some of the actors have a very deliberate style that they carry from character to character, and that can get a bit old, but others do an excellent job; Actors playing Saul Panzer and the newspaper reporter are especially good
6) Set/costume design are terrific, with some interesting use of color and period
7) Some really poignant moments along the way, such as in Prisoner's Base, when Archie has to deal with an error in judgment that has serious ramifications

But I think that one of the best underlying reasons for getting both years of this series is that the entire production feels like a labor of love for all invovled, and you don't find that quality on TV all that often.

I just wish there was a season 3.

Not often can we say that the movie is as good as or better than the book, but in The Doorbell Rang, I think that is the case. Everything about this production is first-rate.

The actors are uniformly excellent, especially Maury Chaykin as Nero Wolfe and Timoth Hutton as Archie Goodwin. This relationship must be just right for the series to work and in this case, the irascible and briliant Wolfe is countered nicely by the wisecracking, dapper, yet tough as nails Archie. Wolfe never leaves the house. He lets Archie gather the clues and put the strong arm on the various assortment of bad guys he meets on the job. Nero and Archie analyze the evidence and Nero plans the next move, always to the amazement of Archie, who holds his boss in the highest esteem, and quite rightly so. Archie is Dr. Watson to Wolfe's Sherlock Holmes.

Next, Timothy Hutton and the rest of the production crew spare no expense to make the background and environment perfect. It feels like we have been brought back in time to the late forties. The clothes, cars, buildings, interiors, hairstyles, and every other small detail are perfectly realized. These details allow us to enter this world in a way that the novel does not permit, hence my preference for the film.

In the novel the FBI is only a background presence, whereas in the film we see the agents in action and watch as Nero Wolfe counters their every move. Nero has taken a case even Archie thinks is unsolvable; that is, to stop the FBI from harassing his rich client. Like Sherlock Holmes, Nero Wolfe is the court of last appeal and he rises to the challenge of a difficult case. Just as in a Holmes mystery, we must pay the closest attention if we are going to understand the train of thought of Wolfe as he analyzes the problem and sets in motion the chain of events that help him solve the case.

These Nero Wolfe stories are high quality entertainment for the serious mystery lover. Hats off to A&E for making them available on DVD.

One of the smartest and wittiest shows on television. Based on the novels of the late Rex Stout, the Nero Wolfe mysteries that ran for two seasons on A&E are simply tremendous. Usually, I read a book, and then critique the movie or TV adaption of it. In this case, watching the show caused me to read the books! The screenwriters did a remarkable job of keeping the essence, tone and feel of the books, while making adapting it for television. Much of the dialogue is directly quoted from the novel (or novelette) that the episode is based on.

The genius of Rex Stout's work is that he combined the classic American hardboiled private eye (Mike Hammer, Sam Spade) with the intellectual British style of sleuth (Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, Poirot). Bringing these characters of Archie Goodwin and Nero Wolfe to the small screen was a labor of love for Timothy Hutton, and I for one am thankful for his work. The repertory style group of guest stars was another unique aspect to this series, where the same group of guest actors would play different characters each week, sometimes villians and sometimes victims. The quality of acting is top notch. The banter between Wolfe and Archie is a real treat to watch, and Hutton's version of Archie is so convincing, that I hear his voice when I read Stout's novels.

A word to parents, this is intelligent, well-written drama/adventure that the whole family can enjoy. The "curses" of choice are "Nuts!" and "Flummery!" - nothing worse. While there are murders, we do not see the murders happen, and there is no gore seen. Also, despite Archie being a ladies man, there is no overt sexuality. Sadly, as with many 'failed' shows today, it was probably too intelligent for the average viewer used to equating 'shock value' and 'crassness' with entertainment. But to anyone looking for something more, something that aims higher and brings the viewer up rather than down with it, this is for you!

The only thing that keeps me from giving it 5 stars is the lack of any extras on the DVD. A&E continues to give this fine series short shrift to their shame. Get this any way you can!

This series one of NERO WOLFE shows what television can be when creative, talented people are given the opportunity.

The series is very faithful to the original Rex Stout novels (always a concern for fans when a series is moved to a different medium). Maury Chaykin and Timothy Hutton bring their roles as Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin respectively to life while remaining true to the books' depictions. The stories chosen for this set, ("The Doorbell Rang", "Champagne for One", "Prisoner's Base", "Eeny Meeny Murder Moe", "Disguise for Murder", "Door to Death", "Christmas Party" and "Over My Dead Body") are all set in the late forties to early sixties which is indicated to the viewer with dialogue references to 'current' events and the costumes.

The action is fast paced, sometimes so much so that the viewer might need to replay the final scene to see how Wolfe reached his solution. The original plots are straight from the Stout novels, and are therefore clever and fairly laid out for the viewer to follow. The dialogue to very much in keeping with the books, the banter between Wolfe and Archie is delightful. The other characters come to life as if they had just walked out of the pages of the novels.

The settings of this series are beautiful, this IS the familiar brownstone that fans have heard described so many times. The other sets are detailed and correct for the time of that particular story.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this series is that while there are some actors, like Chaykin as Wolfe, Hutton as Archie and Colin Fox as Fritz the chef most of the cast change roles from episode to episode in the manner of a repertory company. This has mixed results, a times it may confuse but only momentarily, usually it is not distracting but is instead intriguing to see how well it is done.

This is definitely a series to buy since viewing it once or twice is not enough.

The quality of the DVDs are good, the only complaints I have are first that there are not enough extras included. The bios on Chaykin and Hutton are cursory at best. The biggest problem is that A&E was foolish enough to cancel the series!

As a fan of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin for many years, I was overjoyed to learn of the DVD set from the tv show. Since I don't watch much tv, I had not seen the tv show. My only experience with Nero Wolfe was in the reading of Stout's many novels. It did take some adjusting--I simply didn't "picture" Nero Wolfe as being quite so loud. Obviously in reading, each reader uses his/her own imagination to "see" the characters. After the first couple of episodes, I began to see the characters as they appeared in the DVD. In other words, the characters became real. I definitely recommend Nero Wolfe series. It is definitely the best detective series ever!

Since he first appeared on the scene in the 1940?s, Rex Stout?s corpulent detective, Nero Wolfe, with his fast-talking assistant/legman Archie Goodwin, have entertained mystery fans for generations. A true ?armchair detective,? Wolfe usually sits in his New York brownstone enjoying his gourmet food and orchids, while Goodwin gathers the vital clues needed to solve the mystery at hand. Attempts have been made to present Wolfe on TV and film with limited success, including 2 minor movies in the 40?s and a TV series starring William Conrad (TV?s Cannon) that lasted only half a season. This handsome series, produced by the A&E Network in 2001, is the best rendition to date. Maury Chaykin plays the cantankerous Wolfe, while Timothy Hutton plays the affable Goodwin. This set is the complete first season of the A&E series.

Probably one of the joys of the Wolfe series is the fact that, while both men are solid enough detectives on their own, it is their unique chemistry that allows them to tie up the case. Without Goodwin, Wolfe would never get the vital information needed. On the other hand, Goodwin doesn?t have Wolfe?s genius in completing the overall picture. In many ways, their bickering and bantering is reminiscent of an old married couple. Chaykin is perfect as the overbearing title character. He does a wonderful job conveying Wolfe?s quirks and ego. He is ably matched by Timothy Hutton?s wise-cracking sidekick. Hutton (who also served as executive producer and one of the directors for the series) does a wonderful job with the snappy style that these sort of things need to have.

Set in the late 40?s, this production boasts wonderful production values, excellent scripts and a wonderful cast. In fact, one of the more interesting aspects of the series is the use of ?recurring? players in the various episodes. For example, one actress could appear as a blonde murder victim in one story, only to turn up as a brunette femme fatale in another. It takes some getting used to, but it is effective and the performances are consistant as a result. Colin Fox, who plays Wolfe?s put-upon major-domo/chef Fritz, is especially wonderful with his dry performance, while Kari Matchett is wonderful in a series of roles. Bill Smitrovich is a hoot as Wolfe?s antagonist, the cranky Inspector Cramer.

For people new to the Wolfe stories, this series is an excellent introduction to them. For mystery fans, this show definitely warrants at least a viewing, if not inclusion into your collection. As a result, this is one set that I highly recommend!!!

This series was a joy to watch. Well written, well executed and infused with the spirit of the books. Like one of the other reviewers, I was hooked on the books (also wonderful) after seeing the series.

Nero Wolfe is unique (to my experience, anyway) in that the big brained, Holmesian dectective isn't really the main character, certainly isn't the main voice, and neither wants, nor expects, to be liked. Instead, Archie Goodwin, the snappy dressing, wise cracking legman, is the true protaganist. As one author put it, "These aren't Nero Wolfe mysteries -- they're Archie Goodwin mysteries!"

And this truly rich chemistry, which makes the books so wonderful, really comes out in the series. You get to wander the 1940s (and 50s and 60s) streets with Archie, savoring the snappy fashions and even snappier patter as he gumshoes his way deep into the plot. Then you get to follow him home to the brownstone and be as annoyed by Nero's arrogance and petty habits as he is. But it always takes both of them, incredibly brilliant in their own unique way, to solve the insolvable.

One note about the actors performances, however: the performances are wonderful, especially those of the lead characters, but the actors performing secondary roles do show up in other episodes, usually playing someone new. After I got used to it, I thought it was brilliant -- it's like watching a small theatre group performing a new play each week. If I were an actor, I coudn't imagine a tv role that could possibly be more fun. But I freely admit trying to keep track of the characters really threw me for a loop at first.

On the whole -- wonderful. If you love cozies and locked room mysteries, you'll love this. If you love Sherlock Holmes and unsolvable puzzles, you'll love this. And if you love hard boiled 1940s detectives, you'll probably love this, too. Hell, if you're just one of those rare people who like entertaining and well paced dialogue, and maybe even a bit of a plot, you'll probably love this.The lack of extras on the DVD is the only thing holding me back from five stars. And I'd like to take all the stars away from A&E for letting such a creative and entertaining show waste away.

Rex Stout's novels and novellas have finally sprung to life, and here are eight of the finest for us to enjoy, perfectly cast, acted, and directed.

Nero Wolfe (Maury Chaykin) has often been called the American Sherlock Holmes, though he actually takes after Sherlock's older brother, Mycroft. Wolfe is an enormous sedentary genius with a penchant for fine food, orchids, and books (in that order), and a distaste for work. He loves his routine, and never leaves his Manhattan townhouse on business if he can help it. To help with the food, he employs a Swiss gourmet chef, Fritz Brenner (Colin Fox). To help with the business, he employs Archie Goodwin (Timothy Hutton).

Archie, the narrator of both Stout's books and the series, is Wolfe's complement and factotum. A licensed private detective himself, he not only does all the legwork (often assisted by freelance operatives Saul Panzer (Conrad Dunn), Fred Durkin (Fulvio Cecere), and Orrie Cather (Trent McMullen)), but also badgers Wolfe into doing his "genius" part. Suave, cute, witty, charming, ebullient, confident, and very attractive, Archie takes more after Sherlock: He loves to work. (Though of course, he also knows how to play.)

This series is truly a delight. Each episode stands on its own as an entertaining, exquisite work of art. The attention to detail is remarkable. Each frame is a painting; each line is music to my ears (and many are quotable). The actual music (ranging from Jazz to Classical) always fits the setting, and is expertly recorded under the direction of Michael Small.

The actors above (and Bill Smitrovich as Inspector Cramer and R.D. Reid as Sgt. Purley Stebbins both of Manhattan Homicide) fit their characters the way Jeremy Brett fit Sherlock Holmes. It's a pleasure to spend time with them.

The world of "Nero Wolfe" is wonderful, and well worth revisiting time and again. And these DVDs are just the way to do it. If you can afford them, you're in for a treat. If you can't, beg, borrow, or steal. They're that good.