Campion - The Complete Second Season

Watching this second series of Campion again, gave even more pleasure, than the first time, some years ago. The emphasis is on the light touch, the humorous approach, with which the this English Gentleman Detective unravels the puzzles coming his way. The length falls between the lengthy multiple episodes granted Carmichael's early Lord Peter and the single hour allotted many of the later BBC series. This 2 episode format gives sufficient time to build up some of the supporting roles but not enough for the leisurely pace of the much more expensive multi-episode productions. The compromise a very popular show like Poirot was able to achieve, with both single episode and movie length treatments, apparently was not available for this two season relative failure. At any rate we have Peter Davison doing a distinctive and delightful Campion, with his man, Lugg, played by Brian Glover, equally fulfilling, as his ex-hooligan man-servant and accomplice in crime-solving. Each episode offers a historical setting, early and mid-thirties in this volume, with scenic design up to the standard expected from BBC. Similarly, supporting players are always accomplished although occasionally the role calls for a period foppishness which might seem weak to current eyes. I find both this and the previous, Set One, quite entertaining, with all the class of such outstanding TV as we were given in Morse, Poirot, Miss Marple, Sherlock Holmes, and the other top BBC offerings. Both sets are highly recommended for the classic detective story fan and for most general viewers, other than those who need bang-bang action, sexually charged, fare (which do have their place-but never in this particular sub-genre).

"Albert Campion. Born 20 May 1900. Name known to be a pseudonym. Education: privileged. Embarked on adventurous career 1929. Justice neatly executed. Nothing sordid, vulgar, or plebian. Deserving cases preferred, police no object. Business address: 17 Bottle Street, Picadilly, London W1. Specialist in fairy stories."I watched the Campion series on PBS' "Mystery!" when it first aired - I was only a young teenager, but as a life-long anglophile, not to mention sucker for 1930s mysteries, I was absolutely enamoured. I awaited a re-run of the series (to no avail), but finally we have Mr. Campion and friends on DVD! Peter Davison ("All Creatures Great and Small," "Dr. Who," "The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries") is pitch-perfect as upper-class sleuth Albert Campion, and Brian Glover is incomparable as his manservant/sidekick, Lugg. As with all BBC productions, all details of the series are impeccable, and the scenery is positively delicious. (The Dower House, not to mention the Manor, in "Mystery Mile" is particulary stunning.) Unlike many of his literary peers, Mr. Campion possesses great wit, and uses it disarmingly, even in the most stressful of situations (for instance, when the Bad Guys are practically upon him - hardly a time for anyone but our hero Campion to be cracking wise! -- most people just can't carry that sort of thing off, dontcha know...). Even that other high-tone sleuth Lord Peter Whimsey can't match Mr. Campion! Sit back, watch the adventures of Campion, and have a spot of fun!

Both seasons 1 and 2 are available on Amazon streaming video on demand and are free of extra charge to members of Amazon Prime. As an Amazon Prime member I was excited to discover one of the new benefits of Prime membership was free access to a large number of movies and TV episodes.Included among the free selections available was Seasons 1 and 2 of Campion. We really enjoyed Peter Davison as Campion when we saw them broadcast on PBS and have now enjoyed watching him as Campion and Brian Glover as Lugg all over again.As in season I, these are all in two parts but with either the DVD, if you're a collector, or the streaming video you don't have to wait for part 2 as we did when it was being broadcast.As in Season 1 you'll find 4 stories divided into two parts each for a total of eight episodes. In Season 2 the opening was revised but other than that you will find familiar ground as Campion solves the mysteries with the indispensable help of Lugg.These are fun mysteries and if you appreciate the genre you will probably enjoy these as well.

Like her fellow detective fiction writer Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham developed a number of plots involving actors and/or artists. Allingham's debonaire sleuth has a different background, than Marsh's Allyn or Sayers' Wimsey. Although of somewhat noble birth, he was born on the `wrong side of the covers' and his name does not reflect his pedigree. The name Campion is taken from a small white field flower that he sometimes wore in his buttonhole.Unfortunately, this and other bits of trivia are missing from these DVDs, because the BBC videos are missing `Mystery Theater' hostess Diana Rigg who introduced the stories to PBS viewers and related additional information about the background of the protagonist and his sidekick valet-sometimes house maid, the former house breaker and very talented Mr. Lugg.The second season includes episodes that feature: 1/ the royal claims of the Pontsbright family to a newly formed country in the Balkans also of interest to the Nazis; 2/ Evil happenings involving dancers and death; 3/ Murder at a publishing house; 4/ Mobsters and Turkish smugglers.Like Christie, Allingham excelled in the creation of plots and her characterization of Campion (played by Peter Davison -- `All Creatures Great and Small' and "At Home With the Braithwaites) and Lugg are well done. Some of the peripheral actors are also well developed and many of faces are familiar. The episode `Sweet Danger' introduces the woman Campion will eventually marry, but only those who read the series or saw the PBS presentation will know that bit of trivia.

All episodes are great. Well written and well acted. British TV at its best!

Wonderful plots and very good acting.

Campion's famous blankly idiotic expression is winningly captured by the young Peter Davison--who manages to look wide-eyed with just the faintest suggestion of all the wheels turning behind those round spectacles, and "Lug" is played to perfection. Altogether (despite one or two wishy washy scenes/ characters) a delightful series.

The production is excellent in story and portrail.

Excellent content and great service on the purchase!