Sometimes while reviewing, I can get carried away and want to have the preparation of my comments dominate all of my time. I could have easily sat watching this and obtaining screen captures - for days on end. I'll just say that seeing everyday life, a century ago, in such incredibly restored film footage is beyond my descriptive powers. This is some of the best 3 hours I have ever spent in front of my home theatre.

Firstly, there is ghosting noticeable in the motion sequences. I suspect it is a consequence of the frame-rate conversion which was done to ensure it is seen at the exact pace it was when initially shown.  I saw, what appeared to be some chroma bug but only on one occasion at the very beginning. Contrast is superb. Blacks levels are very strong at times. The content of this production consists of the elucidating film footage of the past presented by Dan Cruickshank and comments by various individuals . Some of the time is taken up by recreations of the Mitchell and Kenyon studio - although this is important for a historical perspective, it was the least appealing to me. Interview and explanation are consistently interspersed within the footage as are details of the painstaking restoration process which is fascinating, as was the tracking down of the children and grandchildren of those appearing in the footage.

Small complaints - subtitles would have been an asset and I think it deserved some liner notes of some sort.

Divided into three segments ("Life and Times", "Sports and Leisure" and "Saints and Sinners"), it is the type of thing you wish would never end. Consistently intriguing from viewpoint of a film fan, this historically educational examination is like a gift to modern humanity... and to think it was almost lost to us forever! I was totally enthralled the entire 3 hours.   out of  

NOTE: To look at the black and white images below does not do this DVD justice - envision these as moving pictures.

Gary W. Tooze