William Tell - The Complete Series [DVD] [1958]

Having just re-watched and enjoyed Richard Greene's ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD series, my wife and I decided to check out some of the other 1950s British historical adventure series. As my father's family had immigrated from Switzerland around the turn of the 20th century and established themselves in America, the logical choice was WILLIAM TELL.I had grown up with Tell memorabilia at home and had read Friedrich Schiller's play which is the best known version of the William Tell story. Because of my familiarity with the story, I was really looking forward to this series. After sitting through all 39 episodes which we watched on a regular basis, my wife and I came away very disappointed. There were many reasons for this.First up is Conrad Phillips as William Tell. While he wasn't bad, he lacked the charm and the charisma of Richard Greene but it wasn't entirely his fault. Much of the blame can be laid at the feet of the scriptwriters. In the beginning it was Tell and his family and there was a certain lightness and a touch of humor to Phillips' performances. This disappeared as the tone of the series became darker.In contrast to Phillips, Willoughby Goddard who played Tell's nemesis Gessler went in the opposite direction. Goddard, who resembles Orson Welles in height and girth (Schiller's Gessler is not obese), started off as an intimidating figure but soon became a caricature of Henry VIII including dressing like him in robes and with chains of office. He even devoured his meals like Charles Laughton from the 1933 movie.As other reviewers have pointed out, the series developed a WW II resistance aura where Tell's family disappears after a few episodes with the occasional appearance of Hedda his wife and a Little John like character known as "The Bear". Tell is constantly referred to in the later episodes as "the leader of the Swiss Resistance". The later episodes also have a sameness to them. Tell goes to other areas of Switzerland, like an avenging angel, to deal with the "Austrian dogs" by killing many of them.In addition to Phillips and Goddard there's Jennifer Jayne as a feisty Hedda Tell and character actor Nigel Green does his best with the underwritten and underdeveloped role of "The Bear". Most of the reviewers had the opportunity to see WILLIAM TELL as children and carry their fond memories with them. My wife and I did not, which robs the series of any nostalgia value for us. We didn't hate the show but we won't be revisiting it any time soon.

I watched this series as a youngster many years ago but didn't see all the episodes - there are other things for kids to do apart from watching TV but now I can watch the complete box set. After a while though, the episodes take on a samey look with Lamburger Gessler constantly humiliated and the Austrian soldiers dying like flies; the series is certainly grittier than Richard Greene's Robin Hood. Conrad Phillips is OK as William Tell and the lovely Jennifer Jayne as Hedda Tell holds her own with crossbow and sword. It is also interesting to see some names which were to become household names such as Derren Nesbitt, Wilfred Brambell and a youthful Michael Caine; and let's not forget David Whitfield singing the famous lyrics to Rossini's William Tell overture. All in all then, a nostalgic trip down Memory Lane.

I grew up with this programme and, to be fair, it has dated. But why shouldn't it? The stories are simpler and not as well acted as today. I've got a large collection of B/W programmes from the 1950s/1960s and none of them would get air time today. But that's not the point. I bought this set to wallow in nostalgia. And that's exactly what I've done.It's like stepping back in time and being a child again. I love the stories and the characters. Watching the programmes is a great way to unwind last thing at night. Not sure they'd appeal to many people who hadn't seem them first time round, but, again, no doubt it's those of us who did see them first time round that these releases are aimed at.Fascinating to see how many 'big names' - who weren't big names back then - are featured in the shows: Sid James, Nigel Green, Alfred Burke, Frazer Hines, Patrick Troughton, Derren Nesbit, John Le Mesurier, Michael Caine and others. (Some actors turn up in different roles in different episodes - sometimes playing good guys, sometimes bad. I'm sure I didn't notice that first time round!) Great stuff. (I understand Conrad Phillips is still with us and living in France. I wonder if he's got a set?:))

I very near didn't buy this William Tell set because 2 more reviews about this set said it didn't have the original theme tune in and the new one sounded something like the Lone Ranger.I watched this series in the late 50s and early 60s and the original theme tune was catually the same tune as the Lone Ranger. The song was composed by Italian born composer Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)and he wrote the William Tell symphony which premiered in 1829 in Paris. The Willian Tell tune had lyrics where as the lone Ranger was instrumental but both part of the same song. Could it be the series had a different tune in other countries and thats what the two reviewers mean?Its the same song i've always known anyway and along with the song and the nostalgic memories this set is absolutely brilliant. I still get goose bumps when i see William Tell shoot that apple of his son's head and Jennifer Jones is still a beautiful woman in my head. Last but not least....Come away come away with William Tell, come away come away when the apple fell, come away come away with William Tell, Tellll of Switzerland. boy i needed that :0)- buy it!! you will not be dissapointed.