The Maigret Collection (1991)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Directed by Stuart Burge, James Cellan Jones, John Glenister, Nicholas Renton, and John Strickland
Based upon the stories and novels by Georges Simenon
Starring Michael Gambon, Barbara Flynn, Geoffrey Hutchings

Features:

• episode synopses
  
• cast and credits
  
• weblinks
  

Rating: NR, suitable for 13+

Anamorphic: N/A

My Advice: Rent it.

This collection of twelve episodes brings to the screen Simenon’s beloved French tales of Chief Inspector Maigret of the Paris police. More in the style of a police drama than a true “mystery,” these tales show a great deal about people, and how they relate to the idea of crime and guilt. Real, imperfect people, in real, imperfect, and sometimes horrible, situations, Maigret is a good twist on the venerable mystery genre.

One of the twelve episodes, “Maigret Sets a Trap,” is interesting for its look at criminal psychology. Maigret uses the press this time to set up the killer, and ends up being played himself… until, of course, he figures everything out. We see not only how the killer came to be, but to what lengths those who love him are willing to go to keep him out of jail. Other episodes include “Maigret and the Mad Woman,” “Maigret and the Minister,” and “The Patience of Maigret.”

The character of Maigret is interesting, and quite well-acted by Michael Gambon, better known for his more Shakespearean roles and such art films as The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover. Maigret is as intelligent and savvy as you would expect, but he is also compassionate--the sort of man you hope really is in charge of the police force. He manages to put up with crazy people, slasher killers, mediocre witnesses, and the occasional skilled policeperson with grace, wisdom, and kindness. Barbara Flynn as the long-suffering and patient Mrs. Maigret is wonderful; she brings a warmth and humor to a role that could otherwise have been a mere throwaway, or at least much more irritating.

The features include some handy weblinks on the DVD-ROM, along with text synopses of each episode. There is also a complete cast and credits--a feature that seems simple but is often overlooked on DVDs and one I, personally, appreciate having.

The audio and visual quality is comparable to a well—produced television show, with good sound and video. The stock has not been digitally enhanced, however, so these episodes are not as crisp and perfect as, say, a new blockbuster movie. This is not to say that there are any problems with the viewing, per se--they’re just not flashy, and certainly won’t impede your enjoyment of the program.

Basically, if you are a fan of mysteries, you will enjoy these episodes, but don’t expect the cleverness of Poirot or the sheer brain power of Sherlock. Instead, you’ll get something more like Law & Order, where the evil-doer is a bit more obvious and often captured early in the program. These episodes are, on the whole, a bit slow really, but they are nicely acted and well-produced, still making the set worth a rental.