Taggart Complete Original Series Starring Mark McManus

AULD ACQUAINTANCE
In case this notice finds any readers in America, I am reviewing only the two DVD's constituting `volume one' of the Taggart series issued by Clear Vision in the UK. They contain one feature-length film apiece, Killer and Dead Ringer respectively. They are absolutely superb, and a sad memorial to Mark McManus, who left us all too early before his 60th birthday. The series named after the lead part that he took in it continued (and may not even have stopped yet) under the same name, and that has to be quite a tribute. Younger fans of the later episodes may have wondered occasionally at the title Taggart, nobody's on-screen name any more, but although there are still first-class stories occasionally I think they will appreciate the difference if they see these two films and why the series still goes under the name that it does.

Jim Taggart is a tough 70's Glasgow cop carrying more chips than he has shoulders to carry them on. Like any good TV series, the plots and situations...

Mark McManus
Absolutely fantastic series, with Mark MCManus being why. It is so sad that he died bac in l994. The series continued but it wasn't quite the same without him

Simply the best
The legendary Taggart series lives up to its reputation. Excellent in all respects: acting, direction, location, plot.
Truly fine entertainment that blends modern police procedural with classic mystery - you'll keep guessing who the killer is right up to the end - and just a dash of horror - mild by 2013 standards, but startling when it first appeared in the 1980's.
Just as New York City was the fifth main character of "Sex and the City," so Glasgow and its magnificent architecture are key to the success of Taggart.
Americans should be warned however that part of Taggart's "keeping it real" is real Scottish accents, which is undoubtedly why unlike "Morse" and "A Touch of Frost" "Taggart" wasn't shown in the US during its original run.. After an episode or two, the ear is adjusted to recognize "dune" as not a sand formation, but the opposite of "up."
The mood is set by Maggie Bell's magnificent blues...

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Taggart - Cold Blood Set

Very Scottish
This is the story of a 60 year old crusty police detective in Scotland. The characters are very distinctive. Unfortunately, after 35 episodes the actor playing Taggart died and some episodes later the medical examiner was played by a less distinctive actor and the series was less entertaining with the remaining characters who were about 30 years old and not as eccentric.

The plots are extremely complex and convoluted. You have to have good people skills at remembering names and faces to figure things out. There is no summary at the end like Poirot gives. Engineering nerds like myself have to view several times to get the details.

Taggart volume 3 - still no subtitles
This is volume 3 of the original series.
The proper sequence to view these sets is:
1) KILLER set
2) DEATH CALL set
3) COLD BLOOD set
4) ROOT OF EVIL set
5) EVIL EYE set
6) VIOLENT DELIGHTS set
7) THE HIT MAN set
8) RING OF DECEIT set
9) DEATH WITHOUT DISHONOUR set
10) HELLFIRE set
11) PRAYER FOR THE DEAD set (the last Jim Taggart episode)



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Taggart - Death Call Set

Taggart volume 2 - still no subtitles
This is volume 2 of the original series.
The proper sequence to view these sets is:
1) KILLER set
2) DEATH CALL set
3) COLD BLOOD set
4) ROOT OF EVIL set
5) EVIL EYE set
6) VIOLENT DELIGHTS set
7) THE HIT MAN set
8) RING OF DECEIT set
9) DEATH WITHOUT DISHONOUR set
10) HELLFIRE set
11) PRAYER FOR THE DEAD set (the last Jim Taggart episode)

Taggart: Superb Scottish TV Mystery Series
The "Taggart" series opened, on broadcast television at least, on a montage of Glasgow street scenes. Meanwhile you heard a biting "This Town is so Mean," sung, in regard to Glasgow, of course, by the magnificent Glasgow-born blues singer Maggie Bell. But it seems like the DVD's of this series, finally released after a long wait, no longer have quite the same montage, and lack Maggie Bell; guess it was once again licensing difficulties, and it's regrettable, as she greatly helped set the mood.

At any rate, after the montage comes one of the very best, longest-running police procedural series ever made for television, a product of the Scottish Television Company. The scripts, by Glenn Chandler,are ingenious, complex, unpredictable, and demand full attention. They are slyly, seriously humorous. We worry about a baby's dying, of poisoned jam, no less. A not very likable man is found dead in a shipping container in which he'd chosen to hide. That very attractive Scots actor...

The Very Best of Glasgow Detectives
Along with Rebus, and Wire in the Blood, these show the very best of Scotland and in particular Glasgow. While doing the series Mark Mcmanus died. Lt Jardin (his side kick you'll meet in the 3rs series and former WPC Jackie continued the series. I don't have any trouble understanding a Scottish accent although many do. It has to do with cadence (rhythm) of their speech. I adore this series and have waited since 1989 for either a video or dvd viewable here. I had taped them while living there but I forgot about the speed difference. It should make for interesting viewing!

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