On DVD
This two disc DVD set contains two episodes in full screen running 154 minutes. Trevor Chaplin, played by James Bolam, and Jill Swinburne (Barbara Flynn), are happy co-inhabitants in Yorkshire. Their calm and quiet life is swiftly interrupted when someone gives Trevor a tape of what is supposed to be music from American jazz musician Bix Beiderbecke. Instead, the tape is secret conversation about illegal nuclear waste disposal. Now, Trevor and Jill are in danger from a variety of ruthless foes who are eager to get the tape back.
Much of this show is about the comical nature of the characters, including Trevor and Jill, a shop and english teacher respectively. Their adventure takes them to Amsterdam and Edinburgh, where they meet strange and comical characters including Sylvia, the oldest suffragette in town, and a man with no name.
My reaction to The Biederbecke Tapes is largely one of indifference. I do like a good British mystery, but I’m more of a fan of Agatha Christie works. The combination of Trevor and Jill wasn’t terribly appealing to me and I thought the creators might have been trying too hard with the variety of goofy characters.
To wrap up, there are no extra features in this set, just the two episodes. This is a very basic, no frills release, and even if you are a fan of British mystery, I strongly suggest a rental before dropping $30 on these two episodes.
To the summary…