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  Directed by
    None Listed
  Starring
  Specs
  • Widescreen 1.78:1
  • 16:9 Enhanced
  • Dual Layer ( 98:44)
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital Stereo
  Subtitles
  • None
  Extras

    Cricket in the '70s - The Chappell Era

    ABC/Roadshow Entertainment . R4 . COLOR . 190 mins . E . PAL

      Feature
    Contract

    As the Australian cricketing juggernaut rolls on into 2003 destroying everything in its path, it is fitting that we take a look back at another period when Australia was the undisputed champion of the cricket world. Cricket in the 70s: The Chappell Era is a wonderful gathering of memories, footage, and testaments to a very different era of cricket, but an era that undoubtedly shaped the game into the multi-national big business that it is today.

    When Ian Chappell was named captain of the Australian team in 1971 at the expense of Bill Lawry, it heralded a new direction in Australian cricket that may have taken some time to be fully realised. It was a new direction that also seems to have slipped under the guard of the Australian Cricket Board (and the boards of most other cricketing nations it must be added).

    At the beginning of the decade, it seemed Australia were hardly a threat in the cricketing world, and this was partly due to managerial decisions made by the ACB. As the team galvanised under the leadership of Ian Chappell, and television brought the game into homes across the country, gate takings began to reach serious figures and the disenchantment of all players began to show. It was Ian Chappell who began to make noises about the way the game was being managed and in particular the treatment of the so-called stars of the game. So began a decade of some brilliant names, some brilliant matches, and Australia's dominance.

    This DVD takes an in-depth look at the people, the players and the events that shaped the decade and led the game to the stage where it is today. Many past champions from all countries are interviewed in this series that was recently shown on the ABC and any fan of cricket in the '70s will know the names Chappell, Marsh, Lillee, Thompson, Walker, Walters, Redpath, Hookes, Cowdry, Illingworth, Willis, Randell, Snow, Boycott, Lloyd, Richards, Sobers, and Tony Greig. These greats and many more contribute to this series that sheds light on some of the great and not so great moments of the game.

    It is wonderful to see so much original footage included, and reliving such sights as pitch invasions, picket fences at the W.A.C.A., streakers, and the rise of the one-day format is wonderful nostalgia. Off the field, there are some seriously dodgy fashions, bad haircuts and more facial hair than a Village People reunion, but all are wonderful television moments to treasure.

    There is also some dirt dug, and a fairly frank and open look at the attitude of those that controlled the game in the '70s. It's obvious that the players and the management had different ideas about match fees, match scheduling, and the handling of tours. Also chronicled is the event that split the cricket world for some years, but ultimately set it on the path to what we know the game as today, and that is the birth of World Series Cricket thanks to Kerry Packer.

    Watching this frequently brought goosebumps as legend after legend is placed in the spotlight. This DVD is nicely presented in two parts each lasting roughly one hour, and topped off by 67 minutes of highlights from the 1977 Centenary Test Match played between Australia and England at the MCG. This is stirring stuff, and I can be fairly sure that anyone with any interest in cricket, and especially cricket in the '70s, will find much here to delight them.

      Video
    Contract

    Surprisingly, this DVD is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, although the classic footage has been framed in such a way as to allow the anamorphic enhancement to be consistent. As this documentary features vintage cricket footage, and interviews from the '70s and 2002, the quality is understandably quite varied. The vintage footage is generally black and white but mostly quite clear, sharp and clean, though some of it is also very marked with dirt, scratches and sparkles. As the late '70s becomes the focus, there is some coloured footage included that is quite soft, washed out, grainy and lacking in great clarity, but it's not so bad as to be distracting.

    Colours in the new interview footage are wonderfully accurate, and the image is clear and well defined. Shadow detail is not an issue in any of the footage, and the contrast of the black and white footage varies from acceptable to quite ordinary, but miracles should not be expected in this footage that was essentially "one-off" vision for television audiences.

    There are no subtitles included, however the audio is quite loud and clear. The layer change is placed at 42:44 of the second chapter and is relatively well placed.

      Audio
    Contract

    As with the video, the audio is of varying quality from the new footage that is loud and clear, to some of the older footage that, intended for live television, is obviously of poorer quality.

    It is all presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo or mono, but even in the new interview footage, stereo is hardly important, being purely dialogue. It is still a good sounding audio however, and all new footage is clear and there are no problems with synchronisation.

    The rear speakers and subwoofer are not used at all, but are not missed. There is little to no separation but again it's hardly missed.

    Some of the older footage has some quite audible hiss, crackles and pops, but this really is bordering on unimportant. The interesting feature more than makes up for the very occasional poor audio.

      Extras
    Contract

    Although almost every cricket match has some extras (no balls, wides etc), this DVD has none.

      Overall  
    Contract

    Cricket lovers will enjoy this DVD. Those of us who were kids in the '70s and idolised the players that are heavily featured in this documentary will be in nostalgic heaven. All of the best players are featured, the classic matches are highlighted, and the game of cricket as it was in the '70s is well analysed and presented. It is a fairly open and honest look at a changing period in the game's history.


  • LINK: http://www.dvd.net.au/review.cgi?review_id=2233
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      And I quote...
    "A well presented and informative look at cricket in a decade that heralded much change. All the big names of the era are featured, as are many on-field highlights. A must have for cricket lovers..."
    - Terry Kemp
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Akai
    • TV:
          TEAC CT-F803 80cm Super Flat Screen
    • Receiver:
          Pioneer VSX-D409
    • Speakers:
          Wellings
    • Centre Speaker:
          Wellings
    • Surrounds:
          Wellings
    • Subwoofer:
          Sherwood SP 210W
    • Audio Cables:
          Standard RCA
    • Video Cables:
          standard s-video
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