Callan: This Man Alone

[This review was written on 28 Jun. 2012 for a different product called 'Callan: The Complete Collection' that was listed on amazon for about six years, with an ever-changing release date. In 2016 it suddenly changed to this documentary, but rather than delete the product all the previous reviews now relate to the new product. How does that work? I dunno. It happens a lot with amazon. I'm not deleting my previous review though.][From 28 Jun. 2012]I ordered this box-set over a year ago. I'm a huge fan of 'Callan', all the episodes i've seen have been fantastic. Genuinely brilliant scripts, an incredibly intense central performance by Edward Woodward, an amazingly morally ambiguous and down-beat worldview, great mordantly funny lines - I can't wait for the thing to turn up.So where is it? Every couple of months I check and the release date has been put back further and further. What are they waiting for? Are a team of monks hand-writing the special book that comes with it or something? Is it going to be some Book of Kells style effort? Are they redesigning the box? Have they got other priorities? What is the problem?There is something really quite odd about putting something up for sale that is two years away (given the lastest - cough - expected delivery date, that's probably a fairly generous estimate) from being ready. Since I have ordered it regimes have fallen in Northern Africa, riots erupted in our major cities, the News of the World has folded, the Levenson enquiry has begun and will probably soon end, summer has come and gone, the recession has gone and come back again, empires have fallen - so where is it then? Arriving May 2013 is it? Is that an accurate date or one you got from consulting the stars?[Probably a bit unfair that review really. Network are fantastic at releasing old ITV series with a real love and devotion to the source text. And I did eventually take the hint and buy the three box sets of the series individually. I'd advise anyone that likes top-class telly to do the same. haven't bought this yet. Twenty quid just for a documentary seems a bit pricey to be honest. I'll stick my review here if I do though.]

I was a bit young for Callan back in 1967 but must have seen some repeats as I remember the music and that swinging light bulb vividly. When I recently re-discovered the series through a friend who lent me the DVD sets, I became hooked and impressed with what a superb series it was. Wanting to know more about the background to the series this DVD was ideal.What can I say, it's full of interesting insights with the production team and James Mitchell's son Peter.Also nice to have the first few black and white episodes on disc 2 included.The Edward Woodward hour on disc 3 shows just what a talented all-round performer he was and the images and scripts are also great for those like me that want to get deep into the series.Following on from all this I've now bought a copy of the new audio CD - Callan Volume 1 from 'Big Finish' productions.Callan is a series which deserves to be discovered by a new generation.

I really enjoyed watching this one being a huge fan of Callan it was great seeing the documentaries about the series and i liked the docs about the creator James Mitchell the transfers of A magnum for Schneider and the good ones are all dead were excellent the only downside was the worst soldier i ever saw what ruined it for me was too many stops and starts i was glad when it got edited down for Callan the monochrome years

Callan This Man Alone is an excellent documentary about Callan. It covers the genesis of the series with rare libary footage with creater James Mitchell and interviews with his son, as well as all 4 series, the movie and Wet Job. For over two hours this viewer was treated to interesting interviews with writers, directors, actors and other crew. There are some nice clips included too. But this is not all that is one this 3 disk dvd set - disk 2 includes new transfers of A Magnum For Schneider (the original pilot), The Good Ones Are All Dead, The Worst Soldier I Ever Saw (complete recording block) and a trailer for Lets Kill Everybody. Disk 3 contains an episode of The Edward Woodward Hour which includes a very amusing Callan sketch where her meets the Father Dear Father characters. Ais lso included on the disk James Mitchell A World Of My Own/Flashback.So all in all this is a fantastic dvd set and a must for fans of Callan. After watching this then why not go a rewatch the series - that's what I am doing.

Lonely : "Guns is bad, Mr Callan" ; Callan : "You forget, old son, I'm worse." This is an enthralling and perfectly compiled DVD for anyone who has been captivated by Callan. You'll appreciate all the different 'Hunters' ; cry at the tenderness of Toby Meres after he has to shoot Callan (and squirm at the post-production insert scene that closed that episode !) Anyone who cannot appreciate the time & effort that has clearly gone into the research and creation of this DVD should be put in a Red File immediately !

Most interesting, but why did it take ten years to produce?? I found the complete recording block of 1 episode of Callan fascinating. I shall be buying some braided yarn flex and a 'real' lightbulb tomorrow!

If you an avid fan of Callan and have all the available episodes this is a valuable addition.

Excellent product