The Colbys: The Complete Series

Everything was great

I was a die-hard fan of this series in the 80's. Watching it 30+ years later, is akin to time travel in the campiest sense. As for the DVD set itself, it failed expectations; no scene selections and no alternate language/caption options. It hasn't been digitized at all, so you see all of the "specks" as I call them, though the transfer is acceptable. The jewels sparkle, the flowers are in bloom and the sets look fabulous. I was disappointed that each episode doesn't end with the next weeks preview, as when originally aired. There are two interviews with Stephanie Beacham, Maxwell Caufield and John James, which were enlightening. I will give it credit when it comes to sound. The music, which is just as ultra dramatic as the series, is a joy to hear after all of these years, even if it's not Dolby 7.1.The series itself ranges from totally awful in the first season to totally ridiculous and addictive melodrama by the second season. I will agree on what another reviewer stated, it should be renamed "The Stephanie Beacham Show". While the entire cast are beautiful and handsome, their acting abilities are sorely put to the test. Charlton Heston (Jason) and Barbara Stanwyck (Constance/Connie) are marginal at best. Katherine Ross (Francesca/Frankie) is totally lost and out of her element. Ricardo Montalban (Zack Powers) has much more of a redeeming character than I remembered, vengeful yet noble, and strangely reminiscent of Khan against Kirk, this time Powers against Colby. Emma Samms (Fallon), John James (Jeff), Maxwell Caulfield (Miles), Tracy Scoggins (Monica) and Claire Yarlett (Bliss) are just stunningly beautiful, with body curvatures and shots in swim wear and evening wear that even today, social media would go wild with. They are minor characters to Stephanie Beacham and if I may, the city of Los Angeles. Much to their credit, by the second season their acting improved, along with the scripts, in my opinion.The scenes set then in mid-late 1980's Los Angeles add to the over-the-top acting; Lunch and dining scenes in Century City still holds up well. Their corporate helicopter flying above downtown LA or transporting the family from LAX to their private estate in Bel Air (I believe the exterior shots were of Barron Hilton's estate) or back to Colby Tower (then First Interstate Tower, now called AON Tower), their beach house in Malibu and constant court room action at the Los Angeles County Courthouse, validates this family DOES own this city, or at the very least, some choice property. The second season Cold War overtones are laughable amidst Sable's "new dance company at the Colby Center". The Soviet Union and Red Chinese references for a proposed international consortium building a space station are downright hilarious in 2015.Now to Stephanie Beacham (Sabella "Sable" Scott Colby). It's her that makes this show. She is a caricature at times, bordering on a crazy diva fusion of Joan Crawford and her best motion picture wardrobe and temper, jewels Eva Peron would covet, a sublime beauty and glamour of Elizabeth Taylor and a British accent bordering on royalty. The quips and scripts are designed for her, "I respect your politics, am quite fond of your beard but it's your relationship to Zack Powers I detest," or something to that effect (I would never try to quote her verbatim) are augmented by her gorgeous eyes and finger nails. You will believe she runs the largest private art gallery outside of Europe. You will believe she is a generous supporter of the fine arts, charities and other noble civic causes. You will be her ally against her sister and husband. You will believe "Heav'n has no rage like love to hatred turn'd / Nor Hell a fury, like a woman scorn'd."In this age of instant fame through Twitter or Facebook, or mass social opinion fueled by the likes of the Kardashian's, the show echoes back to the decline of an era when our voyeuristic needs were met by television shows such as this. You'll never be able to go to a Silicon Valley or Wall Street executives office and pour scotch and determine your next takeover. No one serves champagne as a matter-of-fact, instead, you get bottled water or a Diet Coke. No one dresses for dinner at a restaurant, let alone with your family at home, with Asian and British servants waiting in the wings. Even my beloved home city of Dallas and related television series lacks the panache of Los Angeles, and The Colbys.As someone in their mid-20's when this series was on the air, it compelled me to succeed. Now, in my mid 50's, watching it in my Four Seasons robe, sipping G. H. Mumm & Cie. - Cordon Rouge Brut, I feel young again. Who would have believed back then, I would be writing a review, on the internet, on Amazon, lamenting the final episode, about a fictional rich white girl, being taken away by a UFO?They really don't make them like this anymore.

I'm currently in the middle of watching Season 1 of The Colbys, along with Season 6 of Dynasty (they aired during the same time period). I’m enjoying both, but could it be The Colbys is the better show? It certainly has something Dynasty never had in its main cast: former A-list actors.It’s good seeing Charlton Heston again. He was 62 years old at the time, and I suspect what we see on his head isn’t quite all of his ‘God-Given’ hair. Barbara Stanwyck is really old, and wasn’t happy with the way things were going, and so she left after the first season. The character of Sable is something else and often makes Alexis seem tame in comparison.I like Emma Samms (General Hospital) as Fallon. She’s a more subdued and softer version, and even though she’s no longer sexually promiscuous, that doesn’t stop men being attracted to her and the poor lady is often taken by force.I didn't see a lot of these shows during their original run, so it's good watching them without missing anything. Too bad it was cancelled!List of combined episodes in correct viewing order:Dynasty (Season 6) / The Colbys (Season 1)01 Dynasty: The Aftermath (9/25/1985)02 Dynasty: The Homecoming (10/2/1985)03 Dynasty: The Californians (10/9/1985)04 Dynasty: The Man (10/16/1985)05 Dynasty: The Gown (10/30/1985)06 Dynasty: The Titans (2-part special) (11/13/1985)07 Dynasty: The Decision (11/20/1985)08 The Colbys: The Celebration (11/20/1985)09 The Colbys: Conspiracy of Silence (11/27/1985)10 Dynasty: The Proposal (11/27/1985)11 The Colbys: Moment of Truth (11/28/1985)12 Dynasty: The Close Call (12/4/1985)13 The Colbys: Family Album (12/5/1985)14 Dynasty: The Quarrels (12/11/1985)15 The Colbys: Shadow of the Past (12/12/1985)16 Dynasty: The Roadhouse (12/18/1985)17 The Colbys: A House Divided (12/19/1985)18 Dynasty: The Solution (12/25/1985)19 The Colbys: The Reunion (12/26/1985)20 The Colbys: Fallen Idol (1/2/1986)21 Dynasty: Suspicions (1/8/1986)22 The Colbys: The Letter (1/9/1986)23 Dynasty: The Alarm (1/15/1986)24 The Colbys: The Turning Point (1/16/1986)25 Dynasty: The Vigil (1/22/1986)26 Dynasty: The Accident (1/29/1986)27 The Colbys: Thursday's Child (1/30/1986)28 Dynasty: Souvenirs (2/5/1986)29 The Colbys: The Pact (2/6/1986)30 Dynasty: The Divorce (2/12/1986)31 The Colbys: Fallon's Choice (2/13/1986)32 Dynasty: The Dismissal (2/19/1986)33 The Colbys: The Trial (2/20/1986)34 Dynasty: Ben (2/26/1986)35 The Colbys: Burden of Proof (2/27/1986)36 Dynasty: Masquerade (3/5/1986)37 The Colbys: My Father's House (3/6/1986)38 Dynasty: The Subpoenas (3/12/1986)39 The Colbys: The Outcast (3/13/1986)40 Dynasty: The Trial (Part 1) (3/19/1986)41 The Colbys: The Wedding (3/20/1986)42 Dynasty: The Trial (Part 2) (3/26/1986)43 The Colbys: The Honeymoon (3/27/1986)44 Dynasty: Vote (4/2/1986)45 Dynasty: The Warning (4/9/1986)46 The Colbys: Double Jeopardy (4/10/1986)47 Dynasty: The Cry (4/16/1986)48 The Colbys: A Family Affair (4/17/1986)49 Dynasty: The Rescue (4/30/1986)50 The Colbys: The Reckoning (5/1/1986)51 Dynasty: The Triple-Cross (5/14/1986)52 The Colbys: Anniversary Waltz (5/15/1986)53 Dynasty: The Vendetta (aka The Choice) (5/21/1986)54 The Colbys: Checkmate (5/22/1986)

Great tv programmes good characters

Eines vorweg:wer die Mutterserie nicht kennt, sollte sich zweimal überlegen dieses Spinoff zu kaufen, denn zum Verständnis der Handlung muss man beide Serien kennen. Beide! Leider wurde der Serie ungeplant nach Staffel 2 der Stecker gezogen, sodass es am Ende dutzende offener Fragen gibt, die niemals aufgelöst werden - auch in der Hauptserie nicht. Dafür immerhin, hat die Serie den wohl lustigsten und seltsamsten Cliffhanger aller Zeiten zugleich.1 Stern Abzug, da nur die nie bei uns gesendete Folge Untertitel hat.

Was bilden sich Produzenten von DVDs und anderen digitalen Disks ein?Hier waren Mal wieder alle Disks übereinander, haben sich teilweise gelöst und ich wusste noch nicht Mal, wie ich alles wieder zusammenstecken sollte.Der volle Name ist SCHUTZHÜLLE! Sie soll meine Disks SCHÜTZEN!(Die Serie habe ich noch nicht gesehen, meine Negativkritik bezieht sich auf die unmögliche Verpackung!)

war okay

Great TV show! Excellent seller.