Peter Gunn: The Complete Series
DVD Wholesale Quick Overview:
I’ve enjoyed this set now for over a year. One of classic TV’s most stylish and idosyncratic shows, this late video-noir is the best thing of Blake Edward’s career. A stellar cast of main and supporting players, gorgeous MGM backlot locations and shadowy atmosphere, and a string of genuinely solid, surprising and smart storylines make PETER GUNN one of the hookiest TV shows of its time. In addition to great performances by regulars Craig Stevens, Herschel Bernardi and Lola Albright, you’ll see hundreds of recognizable bit players from film and TV–part of the fun is in IDing these wonderful actors and actresses.
The video quality of this set is generally stellar. Most episodes are crystal clear and nicely restored. And, lest we not forget, they sound great–which benefits the kick-ass lounge-jazz scores by Henry Mancini, which complement the action of each episode perfectly.
There are too many joys in this series to list. One standout episode–uncharacteristically grim and menacing–is S2’s “The Hunt,” which pits Gunn against a heartless hitman (played by series producer Gordon Oliver!) in a battle to the death set in a bleak abandoned ore processing plant ten miles from nowhere. This episode is a master class in creating tension, mood and suspense, and its desolate found setting enhances these sensations to the max.
Then there are the kooky underworld lowlifes that Peter Gunn knows. Loads of the best beatnik characters ever seen on TV, plus midget pool sharks, poetic hobos, eccentric artists and larcenous lads and ladies that provide a constant coat of color to an already rich concept.
Minerva Urecal is wonderful in Season One as Mother, owner of the smoky jazz dive that serves as Gunn’s faux-HQ and showcases the pleasant jazz vocals of Ms. Albright.
If you have a love of film noir, private eyes, black and white night shadows and cool jazz, do not hesitate–PETER GUNN needs to be part of your world. Right. Now
-Frank M. Young III
When Peter Gunn came on scene back in the late 1950s there had never been anything on TV like it before, and nothing since. Blake Edwards’ creation was the coolest private eye anyone had ever seen on the home screen. Casting was inspired with Craig Stevens as Gunn, looking hip in expensive wardrobe, stylishly coordinated. His haircut – based on Cary Grant’s hair style – was much admired and emulated. Stevens once said, “Basically it was a crew cut that was parted. Lola Albright was Edie Hart, his sexy, sultry girlfriend singing old standards backed up by an ultra hip combo at Mother’s on the waterfront of an unnamed city. Herschel Bernardi’s portrayal of police Lieutenant Jacoby was also something new on the tube. Jacoby and Gunn had a love-hate relationship that crackled on screen. Of course, the glue that kept it all together was and still is some of the hippest progressive jazz ever written and recorded by Henry Mancini. It made him in the music business. In season one Hope Emerson played Mother as a bold, brassy and well-connected old broad. Season’s two and three she was replaced by another character actress, Minerva Urecal. Adding to mix were the myriad Gunn informants – a host of fabulously off-center out of main stream types portrayed by great supporting actors of that era. Edwards ran a tight ship as creator producer-writer-director with his hardworking staff writers and directors to turn out the half-hour black and white noir gems. The Timeless Video Group has made the entire series shine in sound and visuals. I do not hesitate to recommend this series to any one who loves polished economic production of action-humor-tight plotting-fine acting and one of the best jazz scores ever produced.
-ThoMc
Peter Gunn lived in a perfect world. It was a place where musicians who played the iciest cool West Coast jazz, totally hip and swinging, were everywhere. In Peter Gunn’s world, such a club was his unofficial office and his girlfriend was the blonde babe jazz singer with a voice like a cool, cool breeze … In Peter Gunn’s world, the cars were fast big rocket-finned two-toned convertibles dripping chrome.
In Peter Gunn’s world, he gets his butt kicked but good as he works to solve his clients’ problems. HE’S not perfect — he gets beat up a lot, but old Pete keeps on being his cool, suave, debonair self. His world is so perfect that the local police lieutenant, a gritty weary guy with a martnini-dry sense of humor, is a pal. Dig: In that perfect world, everybody knew that if you were in the kind of trouble where you should involve the cops but badly needed to avoid them, you could trust Peter Gunn to help you out. For a price. These television shows are off the charts in how great they are in every way — it’s amazing how much they can cram, with so much pure artistry, into 25 minutes per episode. ESPECIALLY highly recommended for anyone who loves cool jazz. These are the real guys. Herb Ellis even plays the super-beat sculptor. Crazy.
-J. Anderson
DVD Wholesale Main Features:
Actors: Craig Stevens, Herschel Bernardi, Lola Albright, Hope Emerson, Minerva Urecal
Directors: Blake Edwards, Robert Altman
Format: Multiple Formats, Box set, Black & White, Dolby, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 12
Studio: Timeless Media Group
DVD Release Date: October 23, 2012
Run Time: 2850 minutes
