Amazing actors, great scripts
340403
Amazing actors, great scripts, wonderful entertainment! What more can you ask for? I highly recommend buying entire series of Adam-12! You will never ever regret it! I promise!  Pete and Jim are the BEST!
4316802
This script is fun, witty, touching, and hilarious all in one. It is a comedy that is funny because of the material, not because of any slapstick or physical comedy. Actors can play these characters sincerely and honestly, as real people, and the audience will be rolling the aisles because the situations are just that comical.

Our community theater just performed it in December and I had the honor of performing several parts in the show. There's a reason this show is popular with high schools. The material is very accessible for younger actors and the structure allows directors to cast a different pair of actors for each scene. Community theaters will love this show because it can be performed by actors of a wide variety of ages with a very small cast. We had actors ranging in age from mid-20s to early 50s.  For our production, we used 2 women and 3 men (it was originally intended for 2 men and 2 women), each of us playing multiple roles. For more mature actors, the nuance of the writing leaves plenty of room for character development.

As I was researching the show prior to auditioning, I found out that Cariani is a huge fan of the Twilight Zone. This is apparent in the little "twists" he places in each scene. Each has something just a bit bizarre and the characters are quirky. He's even made up his own profanities that will give you a little chuckle. (Cast members will find "jeezum crow" working it's way into their daily lives.) His writing style will have you a little confused at first as he give specific instructions about when actors should speak over each other, but once you start rehearsing the scenes, you'll find that following these directions makes the dialog flow much more smoothly and adds to the comedy.

Sets and costuming are simple for this one. We did it with a pretty much bear stage, a bench and a door frame, but other productions have used a small "house" type structure that may serve multiple purposes. Costumes are mostly jeans, sweaters, and winter clothes (make sure your actors stay HYDRATED wearing winter coats under the stage lights! Ha!), so most of your actors will already have their costumes in their closets. Props are a little more intricate as there are some that are very specific, but nothing too crazy. Be creative and you'll find the right items.

If you don't get it it from reading the script, go to YouTube and find some videos. This show received great reviews from our audiences and was a delight for our cast.
3119768
A definite Eastwood classic.  Actually though, aren't they all?  Escape From Alcatraz is a truly excellent script translated to the screen (our flat screens now) with incredible acting portrayed by a magnificent ensemble cast.  The comradship of the inmates may only be second to that of The Shawshank Redemption. Check it out.  You won't be disappointed.
1880268
One of the best tv shows I have seen, allot of great actors.
3600889
Mind blowing cinematograph. An incredibly intelligent script. Wonderful performances by a very onery cast. I watch this every year.
The download version works great!
1366836
Great history, amazing script and actors.
Some license taken but it's a history piece and open to interpretation.
74134
These three excellent actors, I would  watch anytime anywhere. This was based on a true event, but I am not familiar enough with it to know how accurate the film is.  But even knowing that, the script was compelling and the characters well developed. I've watched it several times.  Love these actors! shark
3850835
There's much to love about this movie, but, I'll just list off a few of my favorites: Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Joan Cusack.  It's a great, well-acted script that really holds up to subsequent viewings.  I saw it years ago and wanted to see it again after seeing Lange and Bates together again American Horror Story: Coven.  I loved it as much now as I did then.
2509226
Cillian Murphy never fails to impress me. This movie is full of fantastic actors, an excellent script, and a turn of events the watcher would never expect. For those who don't like paranormal storylines (me included), the elements in this movie are completely different, and didn't leave me with the sick paranoia that paranormal movies do. This is more about the storyline and the characters of the movie.
1164884
I discovered this series on KTEH 54-San Jose, a local PBS station, and I was astounded by the quality of the acting and of the writing.  The dialogue is simply outstanding and far outpaces anything you will see on primetime tv today featuring the work of many well-known directors like Peter Yates (Bullitt), who are well-respected in the UK and abroad.

I think John Drake is the epitome of cool--examine the icy interchange between Darren Nesbitt and McGoohan in "Sting in the Tail" for example--you will be riveted to the screen.  Supporting cast include reliable, stock actors from the ITC stable and some notable British film stars like John Fraser, Bernard Lee, (M from the James Bond films) and Finlay Currie.

Personally, I never grow tired watching these expertly written episodes over and over again--a product of Great Britain's when it still had something resembling an empire. The strength in Secret Agent lies in the scripts, characterization of the lead (McGoohan), and the gritty realism portrayed. In fact, McGoohan directed several of the episodes including "The Paper Chase" which has some whimsical, if not humorous, elements to it--I won't spoil it for you, but let's just say Drake's means of eluding the bad guys in this installment is a go-kart!

Drake is not infalliable and does not always win the day: watch the episode "Judgment Day" and see why. Personally, these hour long episodes are far superior than the 30 minute "Danger Man" episodes that were produced a few years before.

Secret Agent is played seriously--not like the candy coated sci fi James Bond "espionage entertainments" served up by Brosnan and Co. ridiculously replete with cars that fly or laden with machine guns and death rays.  No, here is an agent that, although an expert marksman, refuses to use a gun, but instead relies on his wits to get the job done.

Take my word for it,  Secret Agent Mega set is the ticket to hours of viewing pleasure and an interesting window into Cold War politics and intrigue--Enjoy!
2088338
What can you say, two of the best actors working today. A well written Masterpeice.
1293473
Acting in this movie is superb. Script is great when it sticks to telling history, but at one point takes a sharp turn to slam you over the head with some pro-homosexual messages in some heart-wrenching over-dramatization. Alan Turing was treated badly, but the director takes advantage of history here to manipulate the watcher in what feels like a bait and switch. Performances by all are great, especially Benedict Cumberbatch who is absolutely top notch.
952895
It's hard to top this for the sheer confluence of great and timely writing, a gorgeous script--it's hard to imagine 'ordinary people' speaking so eloquently, including a 5-year old----brilliant directing and some of the greatest acting on the screen in this viewer's memory....the punch is even harder because, although fiction, this actually happened during 'the dirty war.' It might well have been my family.
1362091
Brilliant script/plot, brilliantly acted, with a popper of an ending. For me, this is Kevin Spacey's best performance among many great performances. The ending sequence is as beautifully executed as it is unexpected. (I'm a writer; most plots seem pretty obvious to me, but The Usual Suspects sucked me so completely into the story that I didn't even try to figure it out, I just enjoyed the ride.) Subsequent viewings are just as good as the first even though you know what happens, because the characters are so compelling and the story is so enthralling. I won't summarize the movie or give anything away because your first viewing should be untainted to get the full, powerful effect. In a Netflix world, only the very best movies are worth buying to view anytime in high definition. This is one of those movies.
452158
Each drama has a compelling, layered plot.  The acting is excellent, and I am enjoying learning of the history and social issues of WWII in Great Britain.  I think the fellow who conceived of, researched and wrote this drama (Anthony Horowitz) is brilliant.
 (The only TV drama series I've liked better than this one is The West Wing.  Again, amazing scripts, compelling plots and acting, and topical, almost to the point of being prescient.
4092387
Ian Holm is a great actor who really hasn't had a chance to really shine for American audiences.  Until now.  He's been a busy actor (most recently and notably in THE LORD OF THE RINGS films), and he may have other great roles I just haven't seen yet, but this has become my favorite performance from him.

After seeing his coolness in ALIEN, his Polonius in the Mel Gibson HAMLET, and his deep grief in THE SWEET HEREAFTER, I was blown away by Holm's KING LEAR.

The rest of the cast is really first-rate and their actions and expressions, along with effective direction, really bring the play to life.

Thank God these successful stage versions find their way onto video and DVD.  It would be a shame to have only great reviews left for the ages!

I haven't seen Olivier's LEAR but now I will seek it out, just to see how that version plays.

But I may already have my favorite.
3232867
Brilliant writing and acting by all cast members