What would be your choice of New DVD's?

[Daniel Freeman]

I've just been going back on this particular thread ---to 2008! And I found one about what DVD's would you like to see, started by Douggie (it's on page 52!!). Thought I'd 'bump' it up - but the wotzit suggested 'start a new thread' so I have!
Well, since then - obviously Crossroads has been released in various forms (mine is the 41-box-set).
But at this current time, we've all seen the best of the sixties and seventies....what further era's would anyone like to see again?
Personally, I liked 1985-1986/7.....the new 80's Freeman era. New music, incidental music, a posh motel reception area, a more glamorous look, lots of outdoor filming - particularly outside the actual Motel, including the lakeside (not done much before at all), the leisure-centre, and the village shop (owned by Roy). Pretty young actors (male and female), a balance of older actors - Darby, Lily Boone, etc and the posh lot - Nicola, Jill and Adam. Perfect mixture of everything - what could go wrong? ( ::)Ooops forgot about Smethurst!!)
I'd like to have the full box-set of series II AND the final short-lived series III (as much as it was hacked to bits...I thought it was quite fun to be honest, and it was seriously tongue-in-cheek!) [a bit like the sixties were??]

[Aston Cross]

I think the era of great upheaval, so across 1981-2.  There was the fire, Meg's departure, the new reception, new people in charge...  So much change which reflected what was happening at ATV/Central.

Failing that, I too would like to see the Freeman era.  After all these years, my mother cannot see Gabrielle Drake without saying "It's Nicola Freeman", so I'd like to see that era to see why it's so memorable to her.

[DJB]

Personally I'd prefer to continue from the point in 1979 where the DVDs ended. I'd like to see up to the end of 1981. After that I can take it or leave it.

[Maria No. 1.]

Same here DJB.  I'd like to see the 1983 Venice episodes definitely, apart from those, not bothered really.

[River Slotter]

Purple motel era please.  And I would love to see Bowman's static end credits.  Heard about them, but never seen them.

[oorshughie]

Yes DJB,I'd like to see from 79 to 81 too,can remmeber all the Alison Coptterill stuff with the scar too.

Working my way through 84 just now,Douglas Brady,how tall is the Actor playing him?

Makes Ronnie Allen look small!

[Daniel Freeman]

A few people I know (o/s the forum) also say they'd like to see the aftermath years of the fire.....purple era! I truly found them a bit non-descript, bland and long drawn-out stories.....but that's just my memories - I was in my early twenties by then.
I still recorded it avidly when I was at work....but it really took off for me (as I have mentioned many times ) and the new proper 80's era began - Big Hair, outrageous fashions, new music, a majestic Motel by a lake in the middle of a forest!
How on Earth could the bland 'Purple Era' compete with the fresh new (outdoors) feel to it?

[Lucky]

Late 79 and 1980/81 episodes would be my preferred episodes. I forget lots of what happened there and I think they are the ones least fresh in my memory so it would be a chance to see the original sets, carrying on from the DVDs and see the whole lead-up to the fire. I really want to see the Becky Foster episodes and more of Marian Owen.

Would also like to see the last episode of Roger Tonge, no-one knew at the time it was his last episode (I think it was shown before he died though I may have 'remembered' that wrongly), so would be interesting to see what happened in that ep.

[Hampstead]

I do remember seeing the ep in question Lucky,but I don't think he was involved in anything great at that moment, I think his last scene was in the office,and their were around 2 possibly 3 eps that were still in the can after his death,which were transmitted as normal.
Strangely I even remember the death of Beryl Johnstone (Kitty) I was in primary school,when I heard one of the teachers discussing it with someones mother,and I also remember the ep where Miss Tatum was in the P/O when someone (can't remember who) said that "It was a shame about poor Kitty Jarvis"

[Mike of CAS]

Alan Coleman says he recorded a funeral for Kitty, but Noele said it never aired. Did it air?

[Hampstead]

I certainly don't remember a funeral,that would have been quite something back then.
And I'm sure Beryl's family wouldn't have been too happy about it. I seem to remember reading she died of Cancer.

[Daniel Freeman]

I seem to remember Nolly saying in her book that if an actor/actress died - they never made a fuss in those days on screen. They were just discreetly written out, and a few months later they would just casually mention about the death. I think this happened with Kitty, although I never saw it in those days.
I DO remember a scene where someone casually mentions to Stan Harvey - "...oh and sorry to hear about your dad Stan", after Morris Parsons had passed away. They even did it as late as 1981 regarding Sandy didn't they.

[DJB]

I could be wrong,but in my memory,Sandy's final ep was screened before Roger's death.

[Lucky]

If Crossroads had done proper funeral scenes in the 1970s/early 1980s I'm sure they would have made an effort to have had old cast members back for it, they were always good at bringing past cast members back, better than any other soap I can ever recall.

The worst funeral I ever remember in Crossroads was the one for Diane, it made a mockery of the show, there was little sadness in the episode or nostalgia, all taken away by Smethurst's bad writing and plotting. It was insulting to have the minister make mistakes in the service and describe her incorrectly. The episode had no depth at all, they could have made it far more meaningful but smethurst obviously didn't want to do that.

[Daniel Freeman]

Lucky....that is the only funeral I remember in Crossroads (original series). And I agree with you - It was shoddily done and I think that Smethurst made sure of those 'mistakes' during the service in describing Diane. And then to have Benny's donkey named after her! (Purleeease ). This is when I stopped watching the programme altogether.....I taped the very last episode after that - that was crap as well! Hoo Hahh Daniel Freeman returns to take over - that WAS a surprise (but didn't make sense). Didn't much care about the Lancaster family, nor Jill driving off to a little hotel called 'Crossroads' in the West.
After 24 years - they could have done a proper ending!! They could have had the old theme back for a start, and a few flashbacks in true 'Crossroads' style. It went out with a whimper as far as I'm concerned....
Crossroads III did a better ending!! (and that's saying something!)