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Dom Robinson reviews
- Cert:
- Cat.no: KK 92001
- Running time: 500 minutes
- Year: 1999
- Pressing: 2001
- Region(s): 2, PAL
- Chapters: 30
- Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 (Dolby Surround)
- Languages: English
- Subtitles: None
- Fullscreen: 4:3
- 16:9-Enhanced: No
- Macrovision: Yes
- Disc Format: 4 * DVD 9
- Price: £39.99
- Extras: Cast interviews, Bad Girls in Oxford, Outtakes, Bad Girls BookSigning, Photo Gallery, Audio commentary (episode 10 only)
Director:
- Mike Adams
Producer:
- Brian Park
Screenplay:
- Maureen Chadwick
Cast:
- Helen Stewart: Simone Lahbib
Shell Dockley: Debra Stephenson
Jim Fenner: Jack Ellis
Rachel Hicks: Joanne Froggatt
Julie Saunders: Victoria Alcock
Kika Mirylees: Julie Johnson
If there’s one thing I like to see, it’s an entire seriesof a TV programme on DVD and now is the turn of Bad Girls,this set of four discs containing the full first series of ten episodes withthe titles: Them And Us, Drug Wars, Love Rival, The Victim,Tangled Web, A Big Mistake, Playing With Fire, Falling Apart, Pay Back Timeand Love Hurts.
Where better to explore all 500 minutes of the lesbian lustof prison governor Helen Stewart (the gorgeous Simone Lahbib from Channel4’s Young Person’s Guide to Becoming a Rock Star), the dodgy dealingsof guard Jim Fenner (Jack Ellis) and his intimate dealings with inmatesincluding feisty Shell Dockley (Debra Stephenson). And don’t forgetthe obligatory ex-soap star, the role here taken by Corrie’s cult-followerZoe (Joanne Froggatt).
Where better indeed. Well, not here it seems.
Sadly, there’s one thing someone made a big mistake with over this release.It’s the same error cocked up by Granada with the first two series ofCold Feet whenthey saw the light of day on the shiny disc.
Yes, the programme itself was filmed in anamorphic 16:9 widescreen, but ispresented here in a 4:3-centre-crop, losing plenty of information off the sidesand making you wonder why they can still charge a whole forty pounds for what’sabout as valuable as four drinks coasters. Get the picture right and it would’vebeen a completely different story.
The sound is fine though, albeit not particularly outstanding and the movingmenus fit in well as they glide into a prison cell when you select an episode.Just a shame that when the chapters are revealed, there’s only three per show,one for each of the parts in which it was broadcast during its hour-long slot.Subtitles are noticeable by their absence.
The first of the extras, 45 minutes of Cast Interviews, adds insult to injury becausewhile featuring chat from all of the principal cast members as well as clipsfrom the programme, all of this section is presented in 16:9 widescreen,albeit non-anamorphic.
This is followed by a 15-minute ‘making of’, Bad Girls in Oxford, onthe set of Series 3, interviewing cast and crew members and watching everyonego about their daily business, 8 minutes of Outtakes introducedby Simone Lahbib, all the clips being in 14:9, a four-minute section withthe cast at a Bad Girls Book Signing and a 25-picture Photo Gallery.Finally, we have an audio commentary for episode 10 only from screenwriterMaureen Chadwick and co-creator Eileen Gallagher. Why not thewhole series? Who knows, as it may have proved interesting listening throughout.
Overall, while the extras will prove worth a watch once, it’s the actualseries you’ll be replaying the DVDs for and when a programme is made in16:9 anamorphic widescreen and not presented as such on the digital format,there’s absolutely no excuse for it. The entire pressing should be recalledand remastered properly.
Why is it in 4:3? Who can tell. Granada’s excuse forCold Feetwas that they only had access to the fullscreen international masters,despite the fact that they made the damn thing in the first place. Grrrrr.
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Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.