CatFather1 Reviews

Dalziel and Pascoe (1996–2007)

Where can I find Dalziel and Pascoe in the US?

[18 August 2007]

I am an avid fan of Reginald Hill's Dalziel and Pascoe series (I own all the books, most in hardback; I even know the correct way -- Andy's way, at least -- of pronouncing Dalziel..."Dee-al") and have been able to view a few -- a VERY few -- episodes of the British series here in the USA. But certainly not 12 seasons' worth -- even if they had only 2 or 3 episodes per season. And I can understand -- from comments made by contributors to IMDb -- that once they ran out of Hill's stories the writing very well may have suffered. But does anyone know if more ever will be broadcast in the USA; and whether the DVDs (in appropriate formatting for the USA) ever will be offered for sale here? Please...someone help me. I need a "DalzielandPascoe" fix!

American Playhouse: Andre's Mother (1990) Season 9, Episode 4

Touching story of two gay lovers, one whom we never meet

[10/10 · 2 May 2005]

"Andre's Mother," based on Terrance McNally's short play, is an episodic tale of Cal, Andre's lover, as he deals with Andre's rigid mother (Sada Thompson) and grandmother (Sylvia Sydney) when mother visits from Texas to New York City. We never meet Andre -- he is off somewhere...in a play outside New York on one visit, or somewhere else in another, or dead. This is no spoiler, for the film opens with the memorial service for Andre (with a Mozart aria being sung that is, of course, about a very special love), and that service ties all the episodes together. But what we learn is the tender love between the two men, the love Andre felt for his mother, and Cal's anguish that he can't seem to break through her stern distaste for Andre's homosexuality. Nonetheless, it is obvious she also deeply loves her son. The film is touching in every way, for these people -- as portrayed by all the actors -- have deeply touched each other's lives. Some of the lines display the depth of feeling: "I'm the writer in the family," Cal tells the people at the memorial service; the "family" is he and Andre. And when he raise his eyes and says simply into the large hall, "I love you" to his departed partner, you know he does. This is a touching, wonderful film that also shows beautifully the need for and rewards of love and tolerance.