5/5 A Seminal Landmark in Television History
  by Scott Rivers (Los Angeles, CA USA)
Though not for all tastes, this six-part BBC series represents an historic occasion when television rises above its creative abyss to produce a work of seminal artistry. Written by Dennis Potter, "The Singing Detective" (1986) is one of the most fascinating and innovative murder-mysteries ever developed. For 392 minutes, viewers are taken on a multi-layered journey through musical fantasy and harrowing reality. Directed with exceptional verve by Jon Amiel, the series is akin to a compelling book that you cannot put down. In the pivotal role of pulp-fiction writer Philip Marlow, Michael Gambon has a difficult and, at times, grotesque challenge that few performers would undertake. Gambon brilliantly makes the character his own - perhaps the veteran actor's finest 6 1/2 hours in any medium. Rarely has television displayed the vivid imagination that can be found in Potter's masterpiece.


5/5 landmark TV
  by Michael Giltz
Dennis Potter is perhaps not a household name in the US, despite notable successes like his two landmark miniseries, namely Pennies From Heaven ($49.98; BBC Video) and The Singing Detective ($39.98; BBC Video). But he towered over the UK TV industry with the combined genius of, say, Steven Bochco, David Lynch and Joss Whedon. In fact, his last work was shown by both the BBC and Channel 4, which is like ABC and FOX airing the same TV movie, which is unimaginable. Despite overwhelming acclaim, far too few of his films have been seen here. So I'm chomping at the bit to watch Dennis Potter: 3 To Remember ($39.98; Koch), which contains three TV films shown on consecutive weekends in 1980. Stars include Donald Pleasance, Peggy Ashcroft and Denholm Elliott. But I doubt any of them will equal the extra included: the riveting final interview with Potter that aired on Channel 4 in 1994 just three months before his death, with the deeply ill Potter literally drinking a morphine cocktail while talking about his life and work and desire to finish one final teleplay before he died. Visit me at michaelgiltz dot com.

3/5 Great acting, but
  by bob turnley (birmingham,al,usa)
Seriously, comparisons to Hamlet are a BIG stretch. There's a lot of style going on here and the songs are all very pleasant. Gambon actually sings only one song. I suppose the montage of detective story, childhood memories, musical numbers and the reality of an anguished stay in a hospital would have to be called original. But this isn't the first time reality and fantasy have been mixed and mingled. Its all very well done on an apparently very low budget. Just don't expect any great depth of meaning. Gambon's performance carries the whole show and really is the whole show.

5/5 Praise for "The Singing Detective"
  by E. P. Hammond (Houston, TX USA)
This is an amazing made for television series by the BBC in the 80's. Very complex theme with characters assuming different roles in the mind of the main character writing a detective story in his mind while confined to a hospital bed by a crippling skin disorder. At times very funny, but also poignant while the patient/writer/detective tries to solve a murder mystery as the characters shift in his head from childhood memories during WWII, to fellow patients and staff in the hospital. The background music fits wonderfully with the story. Michael Gambon is wonderful as the author/detective, surrounded by a cast of characters that are so very British. The only downside is that the dialogue is sometimes hard to follow with "American" ears not tuned to British regional dialects. Adult themes, language and some nudity.

5/5 Original BBC Series: The Singing Detective
  by D. Laguarta (Houston, TX)
This is magical work. It reeks of originality & excellence. British humor has its own reason for being. Michael Gambon is just flat superb! The original writer Potter is no longer with us - what a pity! It is a combo of suspense, wit, pathos all rolled into one. I did not see the movie with Robert Downey Jr. I could not bear to make a comparison to this gem of a production.