Murder Most English: The Flaxborough Chronicles [DVD] [1977]

This series had a very short run in 1977, and would have stood another outing. "Most English" it definitely was, with the central, understated performance of Anton Rodgers as Inspector Purbright, and a pre-"All Creatures" Christopher Timothy looking as fresh-faced as if he had just left college.The stories can be quite involved and require concentration - so turn off the laptop and stop texting! Like many TV dramas of its era, background music is sparely used, rather to the benefit of the action in this case.It has been compared to a stage-play, and that's not a bad approximation. The sets tend to be a bit gloomy and the small-town world of Flaxborough rather claustrophobic, but this all adds to the atmospheric period charm.(The series aired in 77 but the Flaxborough novels date from the late 50's onwards.)The title sequence is oddly charming too - a tea caddy decorated with a map of the town, the lid being opened to reveal a huddle of darkened figures peering out."Murder Most English" certainly deserves preservation as a curio of analogue-age TV, and remains very watchable in DVD format.

I'd never heard of this series but came across it via one of those useful sideways-links that Amazon often suggests as part of the search process. I didn't know what to expect but the reviews made it sound interesting - and it certainly is. The whole style is refreshingly simple and old-fashioned but with wonderfully accomplished subtle performances by every member of the cast. It's as if every incidental character in the series is in some way strange, eccentric or slightly deranged - but always in a lighthearted and enjoyable way. Murders and other crimes don't follow the current trend towards being gruesome but are almost appealing in their naivety. (The idea of old men being 'revived' by a herbal remedy which leads them to chase young women and for one to launch an assault in a shop 'behind the Shredded Wheat' is a case in point.) The endings of many stories are fairly easy to predict, but others suddenly twist - or events and characters recur in later episodes.Perhaps the best word to describe this strange little series is 'whimsical' - so don't expect chases, blood, gore or even great tension, but do expect a truly enjoyable and fun experience.

Ahh nostalgia. Not 100% what it used to be, but the adaptation of 4 of Colin Watson's early novels from the 50s and early 60s: Hopjoy Was Here, Lonelyheart 4122, The Flaxborough Crab and Coffin Scarcely Used still weave a little of their magic. Unlike most fictional policemen, the heroic detectives Inspector Purbright and DS Sid Love are just normal people with healthy relationships- no flawed loners like Morse, Frost or Rebus. The situations they investigate are broad farce: missing spooks, murderers preying on introduction agencies, naughty old men and mysterious ads for antique furniture in the newspaper.The transfer to DVD is reasonable- the colours fairly accurate, with only occasional moments of sparkling from scratches on the original tapes. What is problematic with the series in hindsight is that the production took a little while to crank up to full speed- Hopjoy was Here sounds incredibly like a stage play, with far too much earnest verbal exposition. By the time we get to the Flaxborough Crab the actors have built up a tremendous rapport- especially Anton Rodgers (with hair!) and Christopher Timothy as the worthy lawmen. And for some reason the cast are playing a sight gag with a Swiss Cheese Plant. It's just that the lovely Miss Teatime just isn't quite as risque as she was in 1977. I think it's time for a readaptation....

The late Anton Rogers, a good actor, just appears to be going through the motions in this series. Perhaps a reaction to a disjointed plot line.Christopher Timothy gives a most unpolicemanlike performance as a police sergeant, with his blond hair. I have known a few sergeants over the years and none of them behaved like him, thank God.On the positive side, the late Brenda Bruce is her usual watchable and entertaining self. She lights up the four episodes that she appeared in.Lesley Dunlop and Barbara Flynn are lovely as ever, but did not get big enough roles to make a success out of this series. I would have cast Flynn as the sergeant because the audience would never grow tired of looking at her.I regret to say that I cannot recommend this, and the price is too high anyway.

I had not heard of this TV series so bought it not really knowing what to expect. It’s dated but I knew that in advance. It took me a few episodes to get in to it but then I warmed to the main characters. There is some humour in it, some rather subtle British humour. The plots are ok but hardly up to Agatha Christies standard. Over all a good buy and enjoyable watch.

I remember being very enthusiastic about this series when it was first aired and could not understand why it was so short lived. My recollection is that it may even have been pulled from the schedule midway through it's run. I have just finished watching the first two episodes and I have to say it is quite simply charming. From the opening animated credits and catchy theme tune to the simple sets and understated humour, it exudes a simple class which for me has a peculiar appeal. It also uses the unusual device of having the preceding episode run over into the first part of the following episode. The late Anton Rodgers for whom I have a particular soft spot is excellent as Purbright and Christopher Timothy hits exactly the right note as his sidekick. It may not appeal to those who enjoy the glossy production values of Midsummer Murders but I subscribe to the philosophy that less can sometimes be so much more, and in this case it most certainly is.

I love this series, and I really really wish there were more episodes. It's understated, as quirky as anything, and very droll.

These poor DVD's have taken quite a few knocks. They aren't beautifully filmed like the Poirot series, but I think that the writing is pretty good. British humor is different. If you don't care for it, or don't understand it there's no need to knock the story. It simply isn't your thing. I accept that these were done in a "low budget" style probably on a sound stage, and like them anyway. The series opening is rather amusing in its almost cartoon-ish style with goofy, off-key. slightly sinister theme music. I think my favorite episode is The Flaxborough Crab. Ms. Lucilla Teatime has some classic, hilarious lines here!

I appreciate the warning of previous reviewers of "Murder Most English" who felt that the videos' qualities were low budget and dated. However, since these videos were made in 1977 for television, and quite likely recorded direct to tape, they have the particular visual and audio qualities that one would expect from such a process 32 years ago.The plotting is successful and the acting is creditable. I enjoyed them a great deal, and I recommend them to true fans of the mystery story.

I buy many British TV series and although this one is from an earlier period than most of them, the stories are clever and well done. The audio sometimes fades in spots and it's hard to hear. However,the main characters don't seem to fade out. The picture has a somewhat faded look but no more so than any old color TV show. The star is a well know British acotr and is understated and great fun to watch..

Atrtracted to this because it was close captioned (very few Acorn products are, but that is another story/complaint for another time) and Christopher Timothy as one of the performers (loved in in All Creatures . . . ), but the video was very disappointing, the plot and dialogue almost bordering on the silly. And the music was enough to drive one crazy.