Prime Suspect - The Complete Collection [DVD]

United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital Stereo ), English ( Subtitles ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Behind the scenes, Box Set, Interactive Menu, Multi-DVD Set, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: The complete collection of the outstanding ITV drama, Prime Suspect. Helen Mirren stars as the hard-bitten, chain-smoking Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison in this award-winning cop drama series. As well tackling gritty cases involving serial killers, rapists, child abuse and prostitution, Tennison has to deal with her own personal battles, including her marriage breakdown, and alcoholism. But her main on-going battle is with the Met itself, and trying to forge a career for herself in a tough male-dominated profession. Episodes Comprise: Prime Suspect (1991) Prime Suspect 2 (1992) Prime Suspect 3 (1993) Prime Suspect: The Lost Child (1995) Prime Suspect: Inner Circles (1995) Prime Suspect: Scent of Darkness (1995) Prime Suspect: Errors of Judgement (1996) Prime Suspect: The Last Witness (2003) Prime Suspect: The Final Act (2006) SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, Edgar Allan Poe Awards, Emmy Awards, Golden Globes, ...Prime Suspect - Complete Collection - 10-DVD Box Set ( Prime Suspect / Prime Suspect 2 / Prime Suspect 3 / Prime Suspect: The Lost Child / Prime Suspect: Inner Circles / Prime Suspect: Scent of Darkness / Prime Suspect: Errors of Judgement

The first Prime Suspect introduces Helen Mirren's detective chief inspector Jane Tennison, the only female DCI on an old boy's club London homicide squad. She is like a phantom lurking around the edges of the action while the men rush through their latest murder case, joshing and winking with the kind of male camaraderie the cop genre has celebrated for decades. When DCI Shefford dies of a sudden heart attack, Tennison demands to take over. Despite her superintendent's resistance ("Give her this case and she'll start expecting more"), she becomes the squad's first woman to head a murder investigation. Scrutinised at every moment by her superior officers, Tennison is faced with a case that spirals out from a single murder to a serial spree, a second-in-command who undermines her authority and her investigation at every turn, a team resistant to taking orders from a woman and a private life unravelling due to her professional diligence.

Lynda La Plante's script is a compelling thriller riddled with ambiguity that turns dead ends, blind alleys, and the mundane legwork of real-life cops into fascinating details. Mirren commands the role of Tennison with authority, intelligence, and a touch of overachieving desperation. Superb performances, excellent writing, and understated direction make this BBC miniseries one of the most involving mysteries in years. Look for future stars Ralph Fiennes and Tom Wilkinson in supporting roles. --Sean Axmaker