Product Details

• Actors: Ian McShane, Charlotte Edwards, Terence Dackombe
• Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Full Screen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 1.0)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: BBC Warner
• DVD Release Date: June 19, 2007
• Run Time: 509 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000NJXG8Q
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,523 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Television > Crime > Lovejoy

• For more information about "Lovejoy - The Complete Season 1" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

• This is item 1 in The Lovejoy Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

"I've been in more hot water than a tea-bag," declares rapscallion antiques dealer Lovejoy, played with devilish charm by Ian McShane (Deadwood, Sexy Beast). And indeed he has: Whether his quarry is a forged snuffbox, a pair of pistols, or an Arab wedding headdress, he always seems to run afoul of greedy collectors, unscrupulous dealers, and scheming lowlifes. How does he triumph? By being just as greedy, unscrupulous, and scheming as they are! This raffish mysteries series, set in the world of English antiques, revels in roundabout plots and oddball characters, but its success rests on McShane's shoulders. Some episodes are sluggish (the one with an axe-wielding lunatic after a Welsh dresser never quite takes off) and some are deft (a forger's heart attack in the middle of a cricket match leads to an underground crypt, with a phony priest and an upper-class nymphomaniac along the way), but McShane is always captivating as he zips around the countryside in his battered yellow station wagon or clings to his assistant's motorcycle sidecar. The ten episodes of this first season (followed, after a hiatus due to some contractual problems, by five more) feature a Japanese firefly cage, Roman coins, mysterious love letters, and Machiavellian identical twins, as well as run-ins with Lovejoy's prat of a rival, Charlie (Malcolm Tierney) and flirting with the posh Lady Jane (Phyllis Logan). The supporting cast does a decent job (particularly Dudley Sutton as a boozy antiques expert), but they know they're just along for the ride. With his heavy-lidded eyes, rolling voice, and dangerously seductive smile, McShane's charisma is off the chart. He even carries off talking to the camera--you wish he was talking to you all the time. Fans of English mysteries who tire of the usual moral rectitude should give this bad boy a try. (The only extra is a brief interview with McShane, pleasant but unrevealing.) --Bret Fetzer

Product Description

Ian McShane (Deadwood) stars as the irresistible rogue with a keen eye for antiques, intrigue and beauty. Just call him Lovejoy. This antiques dealer and part-time detective scours the murky salesrooms, auction halls and stately homes of Britain, always on the lookout for a find or a quick buck. As if the antiques business isn't exciting enough, Lovejoy has a particular weakness for a good sob story or a pretty face, either of which is enough to send him off in pursuit of villains and help victims recover their property. Whether it's a priceless old master or a pretty young lady, his love of beauty is sure to land him in trouble wherever he goes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars British Cultural Icon Comes to America Finally, April 1, 2007

By	Movie Mania "DVD Collector" (Southern Calfornia) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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If you are a fan of BBC America's Bargin Hunt, you often hear people talk about being a Lovejoy. This is a reference to this witty show about a dashing antiques dealer who often finds more than he is looking for.

This show first premiered in 1986 in the UK but it took another five years before the second season aired in 1991.

In 1989, Ian McShane made an appearance on the US hit Dallas as a shady movie producer that seduces and runs off with Sue Ellen (Linda Grey). Linda repaid Ian by appearing as Lovejoy's love interest in the Series 2 finale. But this is her only appearance in the series. For the US, they used this as the series premiere on A&E.

In the series, Lady Jane was his unattainable love interest. She was beautifully played by Phylis Logan. She is married and definitely above his station but there are constant spartks being emitted by the two. Lovejoy is has two sidekicks a young apprentice, Eric and the old sage Tinker.

This DVD should contains the following episodes:

The Firefly Cage - Lovejoy hires Eric and meets the lovely Lady Jane

The Axman Cometh - Lovejoy's latest acquisition is too good to be true. And somebody wants it back and is willing to kill for it!

The Sting - Lovejoy gets even with his arch nemisis, Charlie Gimbert

Friends Romans and Enemies - Lovejoy goes on the road to find some Roman coins.

The Judas Pair - Lovejoy tries to locate a pair of rare dueling pistols (the title is based on this). Of course, finding the pistols will uncover a murderer.

To Sleep No More - Lovejoy is given a puzzle to a fortune and he tries to find it for a widow.

The Real Thing - Lovejoy goes to a new market place and finds that everything is not on the up and up.

The March of Time - Lovejoy finds some old love letters in a clock.

Death in Venice (2 parts)- Lovejoy goes to Venice to investigate the death of a friend and a piece of artwork.

You'll have to wait for Series 2 to get The Black Virgin of Vladmir - Linda Grey's guest role.

This series was brilliantly wriiten and directed and will keep you entertained for a long time.

Let's hope the remaining five series are not long behind!

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FINALLY!! for US, June 10, 2007

By	Deborah MacGillivray "Author," (US & UK) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is an amazing DVD loaded with all the first season of
Lovejoy.
1) The Firefly Cage
2) The Axeman Cometh
3) The Sting
4) Friends, Romans and Enemies
5) The Judas Pair
6) To Sleep No More
7) The Real Thing
8) The March of Time
9)Death and Venice - Parts 1 & 2.

Included is an interview with McShane (part 1) where he talks about Lovejoy. Gash's grungy divey was tamed by McShane and made him a wee bit more acceptable to telly viewers, but he retained the essence and often used many of Gash's story lines.

The whole cast is great, the series is created with loving care and BBC gives a great package at a super price. Not to be missed by McShane fans or fans of the series.

500 minutes of pure delight!

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally!, April 2, 2007

By	BG (Davenport, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews

Finally, Region 1 gets Lovejoy! This is one of the most beloved BBC series aired in the US. Many fans have been waiting for this release since A&E stopped running the show as "Lovejoy Mysteries" so long ago.

Can't wait!