Upstairs Downstairs  (Each Season-SRP $79.95-1.33:1-Mono

A&E Home Video has released the first three seasons of what may be, perhaps, the best series to have aired on “Masterpiece Theatre” ever. This is no small accomplishment, especially when considering such masterpieces as “The First Churchills” and so many more excellent series.

We’re extremely pleased to find that A&E has just announced plans to release(just in time for “CHRISTMAS”) the entire series in a gift collection for an SRP of $300.00. 

“UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS” is a rare television epic, exploring major historical events, and their affect on the human condition, by focusing on one family in particular, the Bellamy family.  Members of the household serve various positions, whether in the government, army, or elsewhere, beginning in 1903.  And women contribute equally, if not more so, to the war effort.  While the writing is flawless, budget limitations are apparent at different times through various episodes in the first three seasons we’ve reviewed.  It appears the cinematic potential of France and other exotic locales are minimized in exchange for the cost of the talent at hand, and talented it is!  Jean Marsh won an emmy nomination for her performance in the series, and it still stands the test of time, as is proven here upon viewing it in 2002! 

It’s really a shame that A&E wasn’t able to include supplementary material such as audio commentary or featurettes, or interviews with the cast and/or crew.  So much was risked in putting together such a “Big” series for Public Television, and it surely would have been entertaining to hear about. 

Each of the boxed sets comprising the first three seasons, is well packaged, containing photos and information about each season contained within.  Unfortunately, there is also some information revealed which may spoil surprises within the featured season. 

As A&E states honestly on the box cover, in spite of trying to locate the best source material available, some if it doesn’t even deserve to be called “average”.  At best, most of it resembles a good VHS copy. But, at least with DVD, it won’t deteriorate or stretch after each viewing, and there are some chapter stops, though minimal. 

The overall image quality is very soft, especially on the first season. There’s also an abundance of shimmering and contrast varies between mediocre to average, with grays and blacks becoming indistinguishable at times.  Some of the early episodes, in black&white, suffer from noise and rainbowing, but the later color episodes veer in color too far to green.

The 2^nd season fares better in terms of contrast, with details in shadows becoming more recognizable. Still, the image is soft.

The 3^rd season has the same soft image quality, but is also abundant with oversaturation.  Again, we still prefer the dvd to the video transfer, but it’s a shame there doesn’t seem to be better source material available. Color values are still, always decent within all three seasons reviewed. Perhaps,(though uncertain)it would have fared better had the 1.33:1 image been presented with 16:9 enhancement???

The audio mix for all three seasons is Monaural.  Surprisingly, considering the video source material, it’s in decent shape!  While there’s limits in fidelity for all three seasons, the dialogue is always discernible, and for the most part, free from distortion.  The first season exhibits more hiss than the 2^nd and third season, but it’s not enough to distract from the great material at hand.