MISS FISHER'S MURDER MYSTERIES - SERIES 1 (FRENCH REGION 2 DVD)

Melbourne, 1928. The Honourable Miss Phryne Fisher is a young, beautiful and wealthy socialite with many skills and talents. This free-spirited and intrepid lady also has a knack for solving crimes. Phryne (pronounced "Fry-knee") cannot resist investigating murder mysteries with her maid Dot, cabbies Cec and Bert, and her best friend Dr "Mac".

Her aunt, Prudence Stanley, disapproves her dashing lifestyle while DI Jack Robinson and Constable Collins are bewildered by her regular intrusions on crime scenes.

Based on the books by Kerry Greenwood, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is an Australian period detective drama launched in February 2012 on pubcaster ABC1 and starring Essie Davis (The Slap, Cloudstreet) in the title role. Deb Cox and Fiona Eagger (East of Everything) developed the adaptation within their prodco Every Cloud Productions for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is aired in the U.K. on Alibi and in France on France 3 as Miss Fisher enquête. The 13 one-hour episodes of its first series are now available there on DVD from Koba Films. 

« Miss Fisher, I appreciate your curiosity for crime.
- Well, every lady needs a hobby. »

Phryne Fisher comes back in Australia after years abroad to ensure that Murdoch Foyle (Nicholas Bell), whom she holds responsible for the disappearance of her younger sister, stays in prison. Her return to the Melbourne society alongside her reputation-conscious aunt Prudence (the great British actress Miriam Margolyes) starts with a luncheon canceled because of a suspicious death. Soon Phryne is confronted with illegal abortionists, a cocaine smuggling ring, and a handsome Russian dancer. Always ahead of Detective Inspector John "Jack" Robinson (Nathan Page, seen in Underbelly) and Constable Hugh Collins (Hugo Johnstone-Burt), The Honourable Miss Fisher loves a mystery and becomes a private detective.

« Another murder, no less.
- Let's not make a habit of it. »

« I haven't taken anything seriously since 1918. » Her devil-may-care attitude hides a strong sense of justice and a great generosity both built on her own tough background. She hires working-class devout Catholic Dorothy "Dot" Williams (Ashleigh Cummings) as her maid though Dot is afraid of electricity and the telephone! She wants to adopt the young and street smart Jane (Ruby Rees-Wemyss) and enlists communist cabbie duo Albert "Bert" Johnson (Travis McMahon) and Cecil "Cec" Yates (Anthony Sharpe). Phryne's aptly named butler Mr Tobias Butler (Richard Bligh) manages the household to perfection. Dr. Elizabeth "Mac" Macmillan (Tammy Macintosh) is her confidante.

« Where would you like it? In the head or in the heart? The head's better for you, but more mess for me. Though I'm running low on ammunition and I'd rather save my last bullet. »

On the Ballarat train, at the hottest dancehall in town, in a theatre, a factory, or driving her own Hispano-Suiza motor car, nothing can stop the daring Miss Fisher. With a budget reportedly of $1 million per episode, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries spares no expense to recreate Melbourne in the late 1920s. The costumes (around 120 just for Phryne) and sets are lavish, the locations are classy. Astute visual effects add a luxury liner or erase modern skyline when necessary. The musical ambiance of the era is brought by the presence of Ben Selvin, Duke Ellington or Fletcher Henderson in the soundtrack. But also by original compositions like the theme intro by the series' music composer Greg J. Walker or Mr Music Man by Harry James Angus (Jack Irish).

« Obviously her blue period.
- Blue seems to have been her colour till the bitter end. »

Those ingredients would be enough to enjoy the comfort of those cosy whodunits adapted by head writer Deb Cox and her team (Elizabeth Coleman, Michael Miller, etc) but Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries delivers more. Essie Davis is stunning and reminds of Diana Rigg in The Avengers and The Mrs Bradley Mysteries. She and the excellent Nathan Page make the rivalry/attraction relationship between Phryne and "You might as well call me Jack" worthy of the Golden age of Hollywood. Although not serialized, the series has enough secondary storylines to gain the fidelity of viewers: the blossoming romance of Dot and Hugh, the family matters of Lin Chung (Philippe Sung) - Phryne's lover, and above all, the Murdoch Foyle arc.

« A bit of hush now, ladies and gents! Feel the spirit move. Will she be there or won't she, folks? Can we bring her back, or have we lost her to the great black beyond? »

The three episodes concluding this pleasant first series are surprisingly effective, taking the characters on a little (but not too much) darker territory against the sinister Foyle. Series 1 of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is in a 4-disc DVD set with its French dubbing and, most fortunately, the original dialogue track - subtitled in French or not. Bonus material includes (among other things) interviews with the cast, Kerry Greenwood, and the crew or featurettes about the train and the Hispano-Suiza. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is produced in association with Screen Australia and Film Victoria. It is distributed by All3Media International. Fiona Eagger, Deb Cox, Carole Sklan and Christopher Gist exec produce. Fiona Eagger and Deb Cox produce.

The gorgeous title sequence is from Plus Films. Miranda Otto (Cashmere Mafia), Wendy Hughes (Return to Eden), Peter O'Brien, and Joel Tobeck (Tangle, This Is Not My Life) are some of the guest stars. Series 2 started in Australia on ABC1 this month. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is one of the two brilliant Australian recent contributions to the detective drama genre, with The Doctor Blake Mysteries (also aired by ABC1).

http://www.kobafilms.fr/serie/miss-fisher-enquete (In French)
http://www.phrynefisher.com/
http://www.everycloudproductions.com.au/
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/phrynefisher/
http://www.eveninghour.org/2012/05/soundtrack-review-miss-fishers-murder-mysteries-music-from-the-television-series-2012/ (Soundtrack review)

INSPECTOR MONTALBANO - VOL. 2 (FRENCH REGION 2 DVD)

In Vigàta, a Sicilian town in the district of Montelusa, il commissario Salvo Montalbano has his own way to solve crimes while dealing with bureaucracy, politics, and sometimes mafia. This sharp detective, who inspires perplexity to his hierarchy and loyalty to his men, never compromises his principles.

Montalbano is often assisted by friends outside the force and always likes to taste fine cuisine at his favourite restaurant or in his beach house. He has a complicated relationship with his permanent fiancee Livia Burlando, who lives in Genoa.

Based on the novels by Andrea Camilleri, Il commissario Montalbano is a detective drama launched in 1999 by Italian pubcaster RAI and starring Luca Zingaretti in the title role. With 26 feature-length episodes to date, this production from Carlo Degli Esposti's Palomar and RAI Fiction is hugely popular in its country. Also appreciated abroad, the Montalbano mysteries are co-produced by Swedish television (SVT) and aired in the UK as Inspector Montalbano by BBC Four.

In France, Commissaire Montalbano is shown by France 3 and is available on DVD thanks to Koba Films. After a 3-disc Volume 1 DVD set released in June and containing Series 1 to 3 (6 episodes), the second volume arrives this week. Those six 100-minute episodes from the fourth and fifth series are written by Francesco Bruni (Il commissario De Luca), Andrea Camilleri and Salvatore De Mola, and directed as usual by Alberto Sironi. Il commissario Montalbano is filmed on different locations in the province of Ragusa, Sicily - doubling as the both fictious Vigàta and district of Montelusa. The music is by Franco Piersanti.

Each disc includes two cases of the Sicilian detective and his team: the  womanizing Mimi Augello (Cesare Bocci), the smart Giuseppe Fazio (Peppino Mazzota), Galluzzo (Davide Lo Verde), and the ineffable Catarella (Angelo Russo). Other familiar characters are back too: Salvo's long-suffering girlfriend Livia (Katharina Böhm), forensic specialist Jacomuzzi (Giovanni Guardiano), coroner Pasquano (Marcello Perracchio), journalist Nicolò Zito (Roberto Nobile), Ingrid Sjostrom (Isabell Sollman), Mimi's fiancee Beba (Carmela Gentile), old mafia boss Sinagra (Francesco Sineri), etc.

-The Sense of Touch (Il Senso del tatto): An old blind man dies in his house seemingly by accident. Montalbano keeps his guide dog while he stays with Livia at the hotel run by the old man's sister and her husband on an island off the Sicilian coast. Catarella finds a call for help on a piece of paper hidden in a pottery he just bought.

- Montalbano's Croquettes (Gli Arancini di Montalbano): Salvo must join Livia in Paris for New Year's Eve. Though he's tempted by a dinner invitation from his housekeeper Adelina, who has promised to cook arancini. Mimi Augello has a very personal interest for the fatal car crash of a local figure and his wife. Adelina's son is involved in the burglary of the couple's villa.

- The Scent of the Night (L'Odore della Notte): An investor from Milan has vanished with the savings entrusted to him by the people of Montelusa. Augello has doubts on his future wedding with Beba. Montalbano is furious because a hundred-years old olive tree has been hacked down. As if it wasn't enough, his superior demands him explanations about an old case.

- The Goldfinch and the Cat (Gatto e Cardellino): An old lady on her way to the church is mugged by a helmet-clad motorcyclist who shoots at her with a blank cartridge. Mimi, on marriage leave, gets confused when he meets his female temp replacement. A man causes trouble at the ER because of his daughter. The girl's gynaecologist is missing.

- Turning Point (Il Giro di Boa):  Professionally disenchanted, Salvo Montalbano wants to resign. During one of his morning swims he finds a decomposed body floating in the sea.

- Equal Time (Par Condicio): A young woman escapes two killers and disappears. Angelo Bonpensiero, of the Cuffaro mafia family, is found dead. It looks like an execution and everybody except Salvo is convinced this the start of a new war between the Sinagras and the Cuffaros.

Those six excellent cases are available with French audio only. Series 9 of Inspector Montalbano (aired last spring in Italy) starts this sunday on France 3. Swedish actress Lina Perned replaces Katharina Böhm as Livia Burlando.

INSPECTOR MONTALBANO - VOL. 1 (FRENCH REGION 2 DVD): http://tattard2.blogspot.fr/2013/06/inspector-montalbano-french-region-2-dvd.html

http://www.kobafilms.fr/serie/commissaire-montalbano---volume-2-320.html (In French)

INSPECTOR MONTALBANO - VOL. 1 (FRENCH REGION 2 DVD)

Salvo Montalbano is a gruff but likeable chief inspector of police in Vigàta, a Sicilian town in the district of Montelusa. This shrewd detective, who inspires perplexity to his superiors and loyalty to his men, has his own way to solve crimes while dealing with bureaucracy, politics, and occasionally mafia.

Montalbano never compromises his principles, he's often helped by friends outside the force and always likes to taste fine cuisine at the San Calogero restaurant or in his beach house. He has a complicated relationship with his permanent fiancee Livia Burlando, who lives in Genoa.  

Hugely popular in Italy but appreciated abroad too, Il commissario Montalbano is a detective drama launched in 1999 by pubcaster RAI and starring Luca Zingaretti in the title role. It is based on the crime novels published since 1994 by writer, director and screenwriter Andrea Camilleri. BBC Four airs it in the UK as Inspector Montalbano. In France, where it is aired by France 3 as Commissaire Montalbano, Series 1 to 3 (6 episodes) are now available in a 3-disc Volume 1 DVD set released by Koba Films.

« Montalbano sono. »

In 1998, Carlo Degli Esposti, founder and president of Palomar, and RAI Fiction decided to adapt Camilleri's Montalbano mysteries for TV. The literary phenomenon became a cult drama with 26 feature-length episodes to date, all directed by Alberto Sironi (Il grande Fausto, Eurocops) and filmed on different locations in the province of Ragusa, Sicily - doubling as the both fictious Vigàta and district of Montelusa. Il commissario Montalbano is co-produced by Swedish television and even has a prequel, The Young Montalbano (Il giovane Montalbano, 2012). Andrea Camilleri worked on the scripts mainly with Francesco Bruni (Il commissario De Luca). 

Each of the discs of this first volume includes two cases of the Sicilian detective and his memorable team. Meet the touchy and womanizing Domenico "Mimi" Augello (Cesare Bocci), Montalbano's deputy even if the young and smart Fazio (Peppino Mazzota) assumes this position in the field. Meet also agents Galluzzo (Davide Lo Verde) and, most of all, Catarella (Angelo Russo). Clumsy and speaking a language barely comprehensible by his colleagues or by visitors of the police station, he becomes the precinct's computer expert!

Salvo gets professional assistance from forensic specialist Jacomuzzi (Giovanni Guardiano) and coroner Pasquano (Marcello Perracchio). He regularly asks a little informal help from friends such as local TV journalist Nicolò Zito (Roberto Nobile), pimp Gegè (Fulvio D'Angelo), or Swede former race car driver Ingrid Sjostrom (Isabell Sollman). In spite of his interest for her or Anna Tropeano (Biancamaria D'Amato), Montalbano remains faithful to his long-suffering girlfriend Livia (Katharina Böhm).

- The Snack Thief (Il Ladro di Merendine): Montalbano investigates on a businessman found stabbed dead in an elevator the same day a Tunisian was killed in an incident between Sicilian fishermen and a Tunisian patrol boat. A young boy linked to the events prompts Livia to reassess her relationship with Salvo.

- The Voice of the Violin (La Voce del violino): Montalbano discovers the naked dead body of a young woman in her villa outside Vigàta. The case is taken from him and given to a rival inspector from nearby Montelusa. Sergio Fantoni (The Manageress, La Piovra 2) guest stars as il maestro Barbera.

- The Shape of Water (La forma dell'acqua): Two garbage men come upon a leading political figure dead in a car at a notorious prostitution spot. Salvo receives bad news about his father.

- The Mystery of the Terracotta Dog (Il Cane di Terracotta): An old crime chief  wants to retire and stages his arrest with Montalbano.When the mafia feels "offended", he confesses to Salvo about the existence of an arms stash in a cave. Inside this cave there are weapons, uniforms and a secret chamber where the bodies of two lovers, killed in the 1940s, were buried in a strange ritual.

- Excursion to Tindari (La gita a Tindari): A young man is murdered in front of his apartment building and an elderly couple is reported missing. Former mafia boss Sinagra wants to meet Montalbano. Mimi wants to marry a woman inspector from Pavia and Catarella is on a secret assignment.

- The Artist's Touch (Tocco d'artista): Goldsmith Alberto Larussa appears to have committed suicide by turning his wheelchair into an electric chair but Montalbano won't close the case so easily.

No wonder why Luca Zingaretti's Salvo Montalbano is considered as one of the great Italian TV detectives like Gino Cervi as Maigret or Tino Buazzelli as Nero Wolfe. He's absolutely perfect and the adaptation of Andrea Camilleri's work has all for the viewer's enjoyment: mystery, suspense, humour, emotion, etc. Locations are beautiful and the music by Franco Piersanti is magnificent. The episodes in the DVD set are in French only.

http://www.kobafilms.fr/serie/commissaire-montalbano---saison-1-315.html (In French)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2006/oct/14/featuresreviews.guardianreview31
http://www.travelsignposts.com/Italy/sightseeing/ragusa-inspector-montalbano