Product Description
Create by Alan Plater (A very British Coup), one of Britain's most prolific and entertaining writers, this lighthearted series centers on a pair of wisecracking schoolteachers turned amateur detectives. When Trevor Chaplin (James Bolam, New Tricks) buys a set of jazz records that go missing, he and his girlfriend, Jill (Barbara Flynn, Cracker), decide to track them down. Soon they are drawn into a mystery that includes secret meetings, black market goods, and local government corruption. With colorful characters and a soundtrack in the style of 1920s jazz great Bix Beiderbecke, this is a wry, dry romp of a mystery series. See on public television in the 1990s. 6 episodes.
Amazon.com
The charms of The Beiderbecke Affair aren't immediately apparent--but before long, you're hooked by this sneaky combination of screwball-inspired dialogue, off-kilter yet genuine characters, and hopelessly loopy plot. Schoolteacher and aspiring political candidate Jill (Barbara Flynn) doesn't pay much attention when her boyfriend Trevor (James Bolam) says he was sold some Bix Beiderbecke records by a beautiful platinum blonde door-to-door saleswoman. But when the wrong records arrive in the mail, Trevor sets out to correct the situation--and both he and Jill tumble into a mystery involving junior football matches, the basement of a church, an overzealous and overeducated detective sergeant, two peculiar men called Big Al and Little Norm, an ex-fiancee who is alarmingly like the current girlfriend, and a mysterious man with a dog named Jason. This British mini-series will madden anyone who expects their mysteries to feature murder, easily identifiable suspects, and a logical process of elimination--in fact, it may take a few episodes before you see this as a mystery at all. But what emerges from the seemingly random incidents is a sly sense of humor, dialogue that bounces to and fro like a badminton shuttlecock, and the engaging characters of Jill and Trevor. Flynn and Bolam have been solid character actors for decades; fans of British television will recognize their faces. It's a pleasure to have this talented pair taking the lead as two ordinary people who accidentally fall into out-of-the-ordinary circumstances. Don't let the seeming casualness of the beginning put you off--The Beiderbecke Affair grows more delightful the more you watch. --Bret Fetzer
Review
A must for lovers of lighthearted mystery. -- Brattleboro Reformer (VT)
It's a joy, a delight, an unrestrained pleasure. -- IGN Digigods blog
The dialogue and characterizations are so pleasantly sharp -- DVD Talk
This turned out to be great fun -- DVD Verdict
Three dimensional, quirky, surprising but satisfying parts for all his actors. And there is a great soundtrack also! -- Exclusive Magazine
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- MPAA rating : NR (Not Rated)
- Product Dimensions : 7.5 x 0.7 x 5.4 inches; 4 ounces
- Director : David Reynolds, Frank W. Smith
- Media Format : Color, NTSC, Multiple Formats
- Run time : 5 hours
- Release date : January 27, 2009
- Actors : James Bolam, Barbara Flynn, Dominic Jephcott, Terence Rigby, Dudley Sutton
- Studio : ACORN MEDIA
- Number of discs : 2
