Customer Reviews

Sandbaggers Collection Set 1 [VHS]

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The Sandbaggers was written by Ian Mackintosh, a man who wished to debunk the James Bond mythology and portray Cold War era espionage as it really was. The series was made in the late 1970s, and three short seasons were produced - this boxed set includes the first six of the seven episodes that comprise the first season. Roy Marsden is superb as Neil Burnside - Director of Operations for the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS). He is in command of a three-man section of special agents, nicknamed the Sandbaggers, who undertake politically sensitive and hazardous missions outside the UK. The world of spies is shown to be prone to budget cuts and political interference, and internal office politics affect the outcome of missions as much as (if not more than) international politics. The entire cast is exceptional, rising to the task of breathing life to excellent, witty, and complex scripts which really demand that the viewers pay attention (repeated viewings also yield new understanding and new surprises). The characters are multi-layered and grow with each episode - no one in this series is all good or all bad; they each have their strengths and their failings, and it is a joy (and sometimes heartbreaking) to accompany them on their journey. It is a shame that this box set omits the seventh episode (the finale of the first season) because there are character arcs that are built to a climax in episode #7. Still, PBS airs the show occasionally, and this boxed set is a good introduction to a wonderful and unique British television experience.

These videos are the first six (out of 20) of a brilliant British spy series produced by Yorkshire Television. The 50-minutes episodes focus on the elite covert operations section of British Intelligence, nicknamed Sandbaggers. The timeframe is the late 1970s and early 1980s when the Cold War dominated the intelligence community.

Neil Burnside, perfectly played by Roy Marsden, is Director of Operations for the Sandbaggers. A former Sandbagger himself, he is world-weary, bitterly divorced, and fighting against the bureauracy to protect and defend his directorate.

The TIMES weekly entertainment guide called it "the second best espionage series ever" (the best being "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"). It never had a big audience, but has gained a cult following. l

I think The Sandbaggers the best drama ever made. It is thought-provoking, as well as entertaining. If you know Roy Marsden only in his role of mild-mannered Adam Dalgliesh you are in for a surprise. Marsden is masterful in his portrayal of the complex Neil Burnside, and he is supported by a brilliant cast.

Happy viewing!

I have viewed this series endless times, never tiring of the complex characters and brilliantly written scripts. This series contains everything uniquely British and portrays the 'Cold War' during the late 1970s exteremely well. The acting is first rate. Although filmed with a limited budget, the direction is tops. The main characters are all played by experienced theatre actors and their skills in natural looking movement around the limited sets, helps to instill 'life' into so-called numerous non-action scenes. The more one views this series, the more quotation gems, one discovers! The dry humour at times is hillarious! Roy Marsden leads this excellent cast, and shows the versatility of this excellent actor. He reveals a hidden talent for comedy, as he delivers his pointed, very funny lines, with perfectly timed deliberate deadpan expression.What a different character from his more recent, poet/dectective Adam Dalgliesh in the Mystery Series on PBS. I feel that this series, which has quite a 'cult' following, is ageless and certainly does not appear 'dated.' I highliy recommend the purchase of this set, and the next in the series. there is only one note of disappointment in that the highly emotive Episide 7 "Special Relationship" is not included in this or the next set! A strange omittence, as this episode was crucial to the main characters development for the rest of the series! However this set is great value and a 'must' for a dedicated video collector!

I have no hesitation in saying that this is one of the best dramatic series I've ever seen. Certainly, so far as intelligently-written, intellectually-satisfying British dramas are concerned, it is second-to-none.

The series stars Roy Marsden as Neil Burnside, the Director of Operations for the SIS (Britain's Secret Service) and head of the Sandbaggers (a special unit of highly-trained operatives within the SIS). Burnside is a multi-faceted individual, and like the system of which he is a part, he is not without flaws. A former Sandbagger himself, Burnside will move heaven and earth for his operatives--a devotion which is commendable. But he is also ambitious and capable of being ruthlessly manipulative. While he cares deeply about his operatives, it is in those rare instances when the needs of an individual collide with his or her job as a Sandbagger that we see a surprising--indeed startling--side to Neil Burnside.

Roy Marsden (who will be familiar to many as Adam Dalgliesh of the P.D. James' dramatisations) is simply splendid in portraying the nuances in Burnside's personality as well as in evoking often conflicting emotions on the part of the viewer. In fact, it's hard to imagine anyone else in the role.

The portrayal of the policies, priorities, and hypocrisies within the SIS, the Ministry of Justice, and indeed the government in general is thought-provoking not to mention disturbing. If you've enjoyed the humourous (albeit highly accurate) depiction of government in the Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister series, you will certainly enjoy this series. The approach is a serious one (although punctuated with comic relief in the form of witty remarks), but the insights into the running of (and indeed corruption of) government remain the same.

The boxed set contains six 50-minute episodes, each of which is absolutely first-rate with very tight, fast-paced plots. There is suspense, but it is not long and drawn out. There are twists and surprises galore, but all are intricately connected to the storyline; none have been inserted gratuitously merely for the sake of thrills.

Whether or not you like the spy genre in particular, so long as you enjoy intelligent, impeccably-written and consummately-acted suspense drama, you will enjoy this outstanding series, which is as much a drama about people and human nature as it is about spies and government corruption. Quite frankly (and this goes for both boxed sets), I simply cannot recommend this series highly enough. It's outstanding!

The set of six vids here are fabulous. The frustrating thing is that the other 18 or so aren't yet available. Please, Yorkshire Television! I want to see them all.

THE SANDBAGGERS REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT AND GRIPPING DRAMAS EVER TO SHOW UP ON TELEVISION. A SHOW THAT HAD YOU HANGING ON EVERY SNAPPY BIT OF DIALOGUE TO KEEP UP WITH THE STORY. A SHOW THAT BLEW THE DUST AND GLAMOUR OFF OF ESPIONAGE AND ILLUMINATED THE VERY HUMAN STORIES UNDERNEATH. THIS SHOW CONTAINS MOMENTS THAT HAVE ETCHED THEMSELVES INTO THIS VIEWER'S IMAGINATION. THOUGHT-PROVOKING, REALISTIC, GRITTY STUFF. NEIL BURNSIDE IS ONE OF THE MOST BELIEVABLY COMPLEX CHARACTERS EVER! REALLY! DO CHECK IT OUT IF YOU CAN AFFORD THE SET... YOU PROBABLY WILL NEVER AGAIN GET TO SEE THIS ON PUBLIC TELEVISION...

I can't believe that more installments are not as yet available from amazon.com. A catalog I read shows another set of six episodes is now available. Let's have them!

Well, Sandbaggers are not so popular here, but this is caused only by the end of Cold War.... I really appreciated the realism of evert detail. So even in Italy sometimes ago we were keep wondering.... "Are these people of Secret services and Co. really like these?" Look at sandbaggers: for me it's fine subject and fine acting.

Best line of all the episodes: One of these days you're going to get caught and you'll find yourself setting up a station in the brazilian jungle. Well at least I'll get plenty of coffee!

I've seen the entire series and have off-the-air copies of all but two of the episodes so I refresh my memory of how good this series is often.

It's very well written and well performed. The production values are somewhat lacking and some of the political situations described sometimes stretch believability even with what we know NOW about how things were in the late 1970s. Nevertheless, the show is immensely entertaining and the plots are thorougly gripping.