HTF REVIEW: Silk Stalkings - The Complete First Season (1 Viewer)

[Michael Osadciw]

SILK STALKINGS
THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON





Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Air Date: 1991

U.S. Rating: NR
Canadian Rating: NR

Total Disc Length: 990 minutes
Genre: Crime Drama

Aspect Ratio:[*] 1.33:1 full screen
Colour/B&W: Colour

Audio:[*] English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles: None
Closed Captioned: Yes
SLP: US $59.98






Release Date: NOW



Show Rating: :star: :star: :star: / :star: :star: :star: :star: :star:

Starring: Rob Estes (Sgt. Chris Lorenzo), Mitzi Kapture (Sgt. Rita Lee Lance), Ben Vereen (Capt. Hutchinson)

Guest Stars: Carrie Ann Moss, Robert Forster, Emma Caulfield, Jenny McCarthy

Created by: Steven J. Cannell.


Even rich people commit crimes. In Palm Beach, FL, homicide detectives Rita Lance and Chris Lorenzo serve the Palm Beach Police Department to solve high-profile crimes known as Silk Stalkings. They ensure that even the wealthy and glamorous are not above the law. Set in large mansions, yacht clubs and luxurious resorts, they investigate the beginnings of crimes brought on by lust, revenge and greed.

A sexual tension exists between the two of them because of the strict rules of the force. They have no time for relationships beyond their professional careers because of the 24/7 nature of their work. Lorenzo is always trying to invest time for a personal life, but as soon as things get steamy, he’s called on to investigate another crime. Lance and Lorenzo are best friends and trusted partners as they solve crimes of passion among the rich and the famous.

The series is filled with hot and spicy female images of long sexy legs in heels, short skirts, and a murder weapon. The fashion is dated to it’s time, and used exotically to entice the lust from viewers. Imagery of wealth and fashion play a role in this series to keep the audience in line with the status of the cases. While the acting and the sets can be a little funny at times, long legs in silk stalkings make up for it.

This highly rated original series aired on CBS in 1991 and carried on for eight sexy seasons (the remaining six seasons of USA network). Anchor Bay has brought the first season to DVD as a six-disc collection featuring all 22 one-hour episodes. The set includes three slimcases packaged with two discs each, all placed in a surrounding cardboard glossy slipcase. There is no booklet accompanying this set as there is with the recently released 21 Jump Street collection, but the episode details are listed on reverse of each slimcase.

Episodes for season one includes:

Disc One
[*] Silk Stalkings[*] Going to Babylon[*] S.O.B.[*] In the Name of Love

Disc Two
[*] Dirty Laundry[*] Men Seeking Women[*] Hard Copy[*] Curtain Call

Disc Three
[*] The Brotherhood[*] Blo-Dri[*] Intensive Care[*] Squeeze Play

Disc Four
[*] Shock Jock[*] Witness[*] Domestic Agenda[*] Lady Luck

Disc Five
[*] The Sock Drawer[*] Working Girl[*] Powder Burn[*] Internal Affair

Disc Six
[*] Baser Instincts[*] Good Time Charlie


VIDEO QUALITY :star: :star: :star: / :star: :star: :star: :star: :star:

All episodes are presented in their original television aspect ratio of 1.33:1 and look as if they’ve come right from a composite video tape. Dot crawl is present all of the time, and can be distracting on some colour transitions. There is also a thin digitized veil over the image that adds a slightly edgy look. Above all of this, the image quality is great sporting lots of blue tones throughout this season. Colours pop out on screen thanks to the wizardry of the prop department. The budget of the television was low, so to hid the ‘blemishes’ of cheap set designs, colours were used to appeal to the eye. This DVD set lets these colours gleam in all of their glory. The image never appears to be oversaturated and flesh tones look dead-on accurate. There is a hint of edge enhancement and some compression artefacts can be distracting to those viewing on a large screen. I’d rate the image as pleasing, but could be better if taken from original elements.


AUDIO QUALITY :star: :star: 1/2 / :star: :star: :star: :star: :star:

This Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo soundtrack is average sounding. Effects sound very limited in range and dialogue sounds a little weak. The music soundtrack makes up for the bulk of the stereo soundstage as do the minor sound effects. Not a lot of effort has been put into the original production of the soundtrack - and that is understandable given the time it was released. Oddly, the stereo soundtrack isn’t well focused; imaging is poor for monaurally recorded sounds as it is sometimes spread out a little more into left-right channels.


SPECIAL FEATURES :star: :star: / :star: :star: :star: :star: :star:

Included on disc six are separate interviews with creator/producer Stephen J. Cannell, stars Rob Estes, Mitzi Kapture, and Ben Vereen. They speak about their lives, how they came to the show, and offer a little insight into its production. There is also another short clip on Stephen J. Cannel and Ben Vereen reminiscing about the show.


IN THE END…

Setting the scene for many more adult crime dramas, the worldwide fan base for Silk Stalkings can finally enjoy this series on DVD as Anchor Bay keeps delivering many excellent television releases. In a warm place where beautiful people kill, Silk Stalkings is a sexy series to look into.

Michael Osadciw
04.11.15