Maigret: Complete Collection

Maigret is Midsomer's Nettles-like in sleuthing and acting
Georges Simenon's novel sleuth, Maigret, comes alive through actor Sir Michael Gambon, some declare to be the finest Maigret ever. It's period Paris underworld of crime. 12 episodes adapted from among 75 novels and 28 short stories of Simenon. Novel sleuth Maigret first appeared in 1930. Some episodes appear to be 30s while others are certainly mid 50s. Stumbling on this DVD set of UK TV crime is a delight. It proves again, nobody televises murder better than the UK, even in 1992-3. Realistic sets (though filmed in Budapest), costumes, props, cases, and dialogue.

Maigret displays characteristics making this series appear the forerunner of Midsomer Murders: Village Case Files. Did Midsomer (1997-today) use Maigret as a blueprint? The style of sleuthing, even hubby/wife relations (actress of Mrs Barnaby actually appears in an episode), and the heavily peppering (like the who's who) of UK guest stars, make...

Perfect in Every Way... Delightful and a Deeply Satisfying Experience
The perfection Michael Gambon brings to the starring role is magnificent. My one deep regret is that they only produced twelve episodes, so I must force myself to wait at least a year between watching them over. Why in the world couldn't they have made 24 or 36 episodes? You can taste the atmosphere, and the music is so good that I would order a soundtrack. What can you say after you've said perfect? As the Dean definitely did not say to me as I got my college degree, "Sorry, but Summa Cum Laude is the highest recognition we are able to give." I have three sets. I don't want to take a chance on any of my discs going bad and not being able to replace it.

Great Treatment of Maigret, but what's new?
I agree totally that this is a terrific adaptation of the great Maigret stories (though too bad it stops at only 12 episodes). Gambon and his supporting actors are uniformly terrific. And Budapest makes a super stand-in for 1950s Paris. The question here is this: How is this set different from the one that came out 8-10 years ago? Has the video quality been upgraded? (This was recently done to wonderful effect for the earlier Poirot shows. The Blu Rays are fantastic.) I see no mention of remastering the Maigret shows, which they definitely could use; no mention of Blu Rays. Until that happens, I have no interest in re-buying.

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