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Joint Account: Series 1 (TV)
R2 - United Kingdom - Simply Media Review written by and copyright: Rick Curzon (14th September 2016). |
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The Show
 ***This is an A/V and Extras review only. For reviews on the show from various critics, we recommend visiting HERE.*** Meet the Braithwaites. Belinda Braithwaite (Hannah Gordon – My Wife Next Door) and David Braithwaite (Peter Egan – Chariots of Fire) enjoy a very unconventional marriage. Belinda works full-time as an outspoken and respected bank manager. David is a ‘stay-at-homeDad’, who likes things the way they are, but when Belinda wants to quit her exhausting job for a simpler life David has other ideas.
Video
Simply Media in the UK continue their fine work in bringing to light classic and cult British television and as part of their contract with the BBC they have unearthed this long forgotten sitcom. Stars Peter Egan and Hannah Gordon were both well known figures on UK TV and in film. At the time this series was made in 1988-90 Egan was one of the co-stars of the popular and quirky Ever Decreasing Circles (1984-89) with Richard Briers and Penelope Wilton also headlining. Egan would also forge a film career with supporting roles in the likes of Hennessy (1975), Chariots of Fire (1981) and Bean (1998). More recently he appeared in a semi-regular role in Downton Abbey (2012-15) and is known to me more for his appearance in the cult fantasy series The Dark Side of the Sun (1983). Hannah Gordon was a high profile, jobbing character actress at the time appearing in such films as Spring and Port Wine (1970), Alfie Darling (1975), Watership Down (1978) and The Elephant Man (1989). However, her television roles were what she was mainly known for with appearances in Doctor Who (1966), Brett (1971), Dr. Finley's Casebook (1970), The Champions (1967) and a stint on Jackanory in 1969. More recently she has appeared in Unforgotten (2015). At this time the BBC made sitcoms using the old 5-camera in studio videotaped method with 16mm film or outside broadcast videotape for any location work. Joint Account utilises the former with the resultant shift in image quality between videotape and film being obvious. What we have on these three discs is a solid transfer of the BBC's archive holdings without much (if any) restoration work being done. There is nothing wrong with this because the elements are in fine shape despite being nearly 30 years old; they have been well cared for. The image is as sharp and as clear as PAL broadcast standard videotape of the era can be without any extra work being done to it; the credits are a little rough, there is some softness in faces but colours are robust without bleeding and black levels are solid with no evidence of crush that I could see. I could detect no dropouts, off locks or any other issues that videotape is prone to. The filmed sequences are locked into the quality of film to tape transfers of the era, which is to say they are what they are and look decent enough. Detail in the image is fine.
Audio
Excellent Dolby Digital 2.0 mono with no sound drop outs, pops, clicks or any signs of age. I found the soundtracks to be robust and recorded on the disc at a very loud level. Dialogue is very clear and is never compromised by the music, sound effects of laugh track. A good job all round and a perfectly serviceable 2.0 mono track typical of the era. I was surprised that series 2 was not in stereo as some other BBC productions were at that time; BBC2 had started to use stereo in 1986 and on programmes like Doctor Who in 1988. English subtitles are included.
Extras
None. Disappointing considering the BBC will almost certainly have promotional appearances from around the time this was first transmitted. Surely Simply Media could have done a couple of commentary tracks with Egan and Gordon?
Overall
An excellent release for this archive cult sitcom from the late '80s. One of those cosy productions about the trials and tribulations of the middle classes. Plenty of character actors having fun and the scripts are pretty funny if you like this kind of thing. Alan Clarke or Carla Lane this isn't.
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