Due South - Season 1 (DVD, 2008, 4-Disc Set)

Must-See: the DUE SOUTH pilot (1994) written by Paul Haggis

Due South is an American/Canadian show that debuted on CBS in 1994. When I first saw the Due South pilot, I was utterly blown away by how good it was. It seemed to me that it was a perfect pilot; beautifully written, acted, and directed, the script balanced on a knife-point between humor and drama. The plot exploited beloved old-time tropes like "Two Buddy Cops", "The Odd Couple", and "Fish Out Of Water" perfectly, but somehow made them fresh and new again. The two leads had fantastic chemistry, their characters perfect opposites to one another: Ray Vecchio, a snide and sarcastic Italian-American Chicago cop in Armani, and Constable Benton Fraser, an upright, old-soul-yet-oddly-innocent stereotype of a Canadian Mountie in that eye-catching red uniform and Mountie stetson.

"OMG, the genius who created Due South and wrote this pilot is going to go on to be a huge success someday," I thought, then became a stone-cold fan of the show.

That genius was Paul Haggis, who went on to become the first screenwriter to write two Best Film Oscar winners back-to-back: Crash and Million-Dollar Baby. He continues to write scripts that balance the darkest drama with the lightest charm, whimsy, and humor in a manner that no other writer can manage. He is unique.

The reason it was necessary to put out a stand-alone DVD for the two-part pilot is because Alliance did NOT include it in the Due South First Season DVD set, much to the fans' surprise, dismay, and anger. It was stuck into the Third Season DVD set instead, where it did not belong--sharp practice on their part. Paul Haggis was deeply involved in the sublime first season of the show, then lightly involved in the generally-very-enjoyable second season (his talented sister took over as show-runner), but the third season, sadly free of any Paul Haggis contamination whatsoever, seemed to become a parody of Due South*, and many of us did not think it necessary to purchase third season... except that the Third Season DVD set was holding the pilot hostage. I own first and second season, but refused to buy third season, so I was very happy to see this stand-alone pilot DVD.

Even if you never bother to watch the rest of Due South (why not? It's amazing!), you will still find this two-hour pilot a fabulous stand-alone movie full of humor, sadness, action, whimsy, violence, quiet moments, amazing dialogue, memorable characters, sharp directing and cinematography, and a great (Canadian) soundtrack.

*YMMV, I also know many people who love Third Season and Ray Kowalski, the character who replaced Ray Vecchio in third season, in particular. Just not me.Vollständige Rezension lesen

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GREAT start to a superb series!!

How much fun can you have in Chicago in 1994?? Plenty, if you're Paul Gross in a Mountie uniform, with a deaf Husky (claims he's a wolf) as his companion!!
Opening with drama, death, and some destruction, you don't get to the fun part until you realize how out of place a Mountie is in that city. Getting involved with the local detective is the most fun of all..... Paul Gross delivers on this character as no one else could. Handsome, energetic, polite, and completely unaware of his effect on everyone (especially women), he comes across as totally believable.
Don't get me wrong.... for all the fun lines, there's lots of bad guys, a-la-1994 to deal with, so the drama is still there.
Just enjoy the flashback..... and absorb how good Paul Gross is.Vollständige Rezension lesen

Worth every Penny!

These guys are wonderful, funny and cute in their own way. Just plain wholesome movie entrainment at it best SOMETHING THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN WATCH!
Just WONDERFUL! 10 STARS full of goodness!

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Very good videos! I will watch them over again.

The actors in this show are good in their parts. The shows aren’t as violent as some others I love the wolf. A good enjoyable series. Too bad it didn’t go longer.
Thanks.

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A Must Have

Great experience, great product in great condition.

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Happy purchase

It was mailed to me in a short amount of time plays without a problem very happy with my purchase thank you

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Due South

Enjoyed this show when it first ran. Happy to have found it on ebay.

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Charming comedy-drama

Entertaining Canadian series, drama with a light touch and charming whimsy.

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I like it

It's a great movie

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was good

completed the series for me, thank you

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