 "Watch this series!" | 2008-09-05 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1J1NRKY975WOL |
New fans of Nero Wolfe and the long time hardcore set who have read the books and listened to the radio show alike will love this series. Timothy Hutton nails Archie Goodwin, using the swift cadence and ironically amused tone that is 100% Archie. He uses Rex Stout's words and finds the character within their rhythm.
Chaykin nails Nero Wolfe as well -- you'd hardly know you weren't watching Sydney Greenstreet, except for the fact that Chaykin is better, pulling off Wolfe's irritability without that underscoring sense of squicky (yes, a technical term) that Greenstreet exuded.
The interactions between Archie, Wolfe, and Fritz (also nailed the character, by the way) are perfect. The comic timing couldn't be better. Again, the actors use the rhythm and cadence in the words that Rex Stout chose for their characters as a guide, and that helps them be more believable.
In general, all of the regulars couldn't have been played better or cast more perfectly.
The fact that the show is a troupe style thing, with the same actors coming in with different roles is, to me, a bonus. It hearkens back to the roots of Nero Wolfe, in radio. During that time, there were a set cast of radio actors who got regular work, and many of these would come back to the same show again and again playing different parts. Plus, Daddy Warbucks from Annie is in it, and you really can't object to that.
I don't understand why A&E canceled this series. It was easily the best thing that they had going for them. |
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| "Review from down under" | 2008-08-18 |
| - Reviewed By User: A36BBNFS6XXFBP |
Just buy the complete series. It's like watching exquisite performances, you cannot watch more than an episode without feeling satisfied, and not being short changed. They also follow the original Stout stories almost exactly.
This was first shown in Australia on our national broadcaster in the earlier part of this decade. It is clear that the production values, including music scores and attention to details exceed those of the BBC in the same sort of period stuff (like the Poirot series with Suchet). The DVDs are excellent in terms of technical qaulity and play on universal players here.
If you have the money, just buy it.
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| "Nero Wolfe" | 2008-08-17 |
| - Reviewed By sun3max |
| Loved the show on TV, and I love it on DVDs. They are original and witty. Love that Nero. |
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| "great entertainment" | 2008-08-13 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2PHCXB652FRR9 |
| enjoyable characters, creative visual settings, intellectual stimulation. wish there were more tv/movies like these |
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| "A thoroughly enjoyable bargain" | 2008-08-09 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1JP0A6X4O036F |
This Nero Wolfe show is full of wit, stellar performances and intricate puzzles to solve. The jazzy background music adds to the ambiance of a well established period setting.
In terms of DVD quality, Nero Wolfe has an immaculate transfer, vivid colors and pitch perfect clear audio. |
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| "The best Mystery show ever!" | 2008-08-03 |
| - Reviewed By User: AYZ8W4UV3GVGE |
My wife and I love this series and wish there were more shows. There isn't a single character that we didn't like.
One of favorite things about this series is that you will see recurring actors come back as different characters.
The episodes are always witty and fast paced, the costumes, especially Archie's, are colorful and the music is amazing. |
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| "Art deco chocolate mousse" | 2008-07-05 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3VM2LLBUEAVE |
Did you enjoy David Suchet's Poirot, Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes and Joan Hickson's and Geraldine McEwan's Mrs Marple? Then you'll love America's answer in Nero Wolfe.
This is a classy, sassy piece of television entertainment. The roles of Wolfe and Goodwin were made for Chaykin and Hutton (who I seriously under-estimated as an actor before this role). This is period murder mystery par excellence and it deserved a much longer tenure, but sometimes not allowing a series to develop too long and degenerate is a good thing.
This series is an indulgence that demands multiple repeat viewings. The reason is firstly excellent story lines. But more importantly, and amazingly thrusting the plot into second place, is the clever and witty script and the brilliant repartee between the characters. You'll want to watch it over and over just to enjoy the subtle elements. The sets give an exquisite feel that reminds me of the beginning of Bogard's The Big Sleep. The rotation of the guest roles amongst a small stable of excellent actors adds to the opulence. And the side show with the ever suffering cook, Fritz, is an ongoing delight.
This is the sort of series to be enjoyed on a lazy Sunday afternoon, cold and wet, you ensconsed in reclining armchair, fleecy robe and slippers, hot chocolate at hand with a rich licquer at the ready. This is not for you rev heads looking for the fast track Ferrari experience. This is an indulgent country drive in a Daimler or Jaguar meant to be savoured like a five course meal rather than a fast food experience.
If you've ever enjoyed attending a successful stage production, if you've ever enjoyed reading a well written book, this is television's equivalent. This is intelligent television and easily a five star viewing.Nero Wolfe - The Complete Classic Whodunit Series |
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| "Eye candy, ear candy, what more could you want?" | 2008-05-15 |
| - Reviewed By User: AJVQWZ5ABRNA0 |
| I don't have cable or dish but I saw this show while at my mom's place and fell in love with all the eye candy--sets, costumes, cars, etc--and also the ear candy as Nero used words I love and some I've never heard. In the first episode he says, "I am neither a dunce nor a thaumaturge" and I rushed to the dictionary to look up what the hell a thaumaturge was. It's a miracle worker. After that I knew I had to have the entire show on DVD. I've watched it over and over and I always find new things in the colors, the setting, the words--I just can't recommend this enough! |
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| "A "Got'ta Have" for Wolfe fans" | 2008-05-05 |
| - Reviewed By User: AICTY748MGQCN |
| This "Nero Wolfe" collection is the best quality, best price collection ever seen by this consumer. Don't miss out on a greeeeaaat opportunity for Wolfe fans. |
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| "Wonderful chemistry. Witty script" | 2008-04-24 |
| - Reviewed By semper_thomist |
There are 30+ five star reviews and there isn't much more I can say, really. This is the perfect rendition of the Nero Wolfe novels. The casting is superb, the dialogue witty and the music itself is wonderful. We've watched this entire series three times in the two years we've owned it and each time the stories are satisfying.
Part of the reason one can watch this several times is ocasionally the plot is so complex that seeing it once is not enough. Another is that the actors are re-used in the series, as a sort of ensemble cast, so that you are not sure what is going to happen unless you memory is very good--because the same actress who is killed in this episode, might not be in five others. I see this as a virtue. It allows the actors to play a range of characters in a single series so that you feel like you get to know their range and abilities. They become, as it were, a part of your family.
First class entertainment.
Oh, and the Chaykin/Hutton chemistry is as good as any that I've seen on TV or in Film. Sometimes I just laugh out loud at the smirks. |
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