In the early 1950s, the stories and short novels by H.E. Bates featuring the Larkins family were a welcome relief after the bleak privations of the Second World War.
While England was still on short-ration, here was a rural family of country traders and farmers who never paid taxes, who relaxed in the heart of England's garden counties, growing hops, trading scrap metal, staying just inside of the law and living on the abundant fat of the land.
The early 1990s television series made a pretty fair fist of bringing this escapist fairyland to the screen. Lots of the references seem dated, much of the plotting and characterisation are today just plain and gratingly old-fashioned. But just when you think this is one series which has outlived its day, onto the screen sashays the unbelievably drop-dead gorgeous Catherine Zeta Jones as one of the Larkins children, and you know you just have to watch.
Yes, this has aged into a one-woman show. It's a documentary really, to remind us of Catherine's early roots before she linked up with the truly revolting but very rich Michael Douglas. Good luck to him, is all I can say.
This is called 'The Best Of', but it is in fact every single episode from the three series of The Darling Buds of May, plus two Specials. And Catherine is in every episode. So every episode deserves to be viewed at least once!
This is an excellent transfer considering its television source.
Colours are fine, if somewhat muted, and the picture quality is decent throughout, though of course quite soft compared to film sources.
The two-channel stereo soundtrack is perfectly adequate, with no hint of audio degradation or damage. This is of course your basic television audio, so don't expect a full-decibel dynamic soundstage here. Clarity of dialogue is the main thing to listen for, and we're not disappointed.
