Rating: 
Summary: Picture qualitys ok--the storys are just a little dull
Review: I've read several reviews complaining about the picture quality in this set--perhaps it could have been a little sharper--but all things considered, I didn't have any problem with the quality of the video-the same can not be said for the stories-which tended to move along quite slowly--sometimes becoming almost boring. Gambon was much better in "The Singing Detective" which is not to say that these storys are "bad"-but when compared to other crime/detective shows like Midsomer Murders, Inspector Lynley, Inspector Morse or a Touch of Frost the episodes here are inferior. Worth watching-but if it's possible to rent them-I would recommend that over purchasing.
Rating: 
Summary: OK, so the prints AREN'T perfect . . .
Review: It would be great if the due care had been taken and these episodes of the MAIGRET series had been lovingly restored the way many bad movies are now routinely. But at least these shows are on DVD and we can again enjoy the gripping and often deeply moving stories and be reminded again what a wonderful actor Michael Gambon is. He is one of the few actors to play a detective who projects the intelligence that his character is supposed to have, and buttresses it with wit and humanity to spare. And he is often brilliantly supported by both the series regulars and a great selection of guest stars (think only of Frances Cuka as the desperate and embittered niece of a murder victim in "Maigret and the Mad-Woman" or Christopher Benjamin as the troubled husband of a missing woman in "Maigret and The Burglar's Wife" and you'll get the idea). And unlike many period films or TV shows, this one recreates the frayed edges and hum-drum details of life as it was lived 50 years ago, which gives the shows a comfortable, lived-in quality that adds to their appeal. And yes, someday, someone will hopefully restore the prints to their original condition. I mean, they've probably done it for movies by Russ Meyer--doesn't something this good deserve deluxe treatment?
Rating:
Summary: OK, so the prints AREN'T perfect . . .
Review: It would be great if the due care had been taken and these episodes of the MAIGRET series had been lovingly restored the way many bad movies are now routinely. But at least these shows are on DVD and we can again enjoy the gripping and often deeply moving stories and be reminded again what a wonderful actor Michael Gambon is. He is one of the few actors to play a detective who projects the intelligence that his character is supposed to have, and buttresses it with wit and humanity to spare. And he is often brilliantly supported by both the series regulars and a great selection of guest stars (think only of Frances Cuka as the desperate and embittered niece of a murder victim in "Maigret and the Mad-Woman" or Christopher Benjamin as the troubled husband of a missing woman in "Maigret and The Burglar's Wife" and you'll get the idea). And unlike many period films or TV shows, this one recreates the frayed edges and hum-drum details of life as it was lived 50 years ago, which gives the shows a comfortable, lived-in quality that adds to their appeal. And yes, someday, someone will hopefully restore the prints to their original condition. I mean, they've probably done it for movies by Russ Meyer--doesn't something this good deserve deluxe treatment?
Rating:
Summary: Collection of great stories
Review: Michael Gambon is wonderful as Chief Inspector Maigret in this series of mysteries originally broadcast on A&E. The supporting cast of his fellow detectives and the examining magistrate also give good performances. Some of the stories are a bit predictable, but they're still entertaining and well worth watching.
Rating:
Summary: Right On Target
Review: On the screen Georges Simenon's Inspector Maigret mysteries have had a checkered history ,even in France, with productions of varying quality. This British adaption with an excellent Michael Gambon in the lead role is one of the finest adaptions in any language. The actors portraying Maigret's fellow officers are just as I imagined them from the books. The producers wisely avoided having the mainly British cast go overboard doing French accents. The officers avoided it and the British actors who do tread lightly as to avoid falling into carrictature .Those non British actors with accents are allowed to speak in their normal voice. It works surprisingly well. Although the books were written over a period of 30 or so years the producers have settled on a Paris of the mid 1950's to set them in. Some Paris locales are used but the majority of the shooting was done in Budapest, Hungary. Much of 19th Century Budapest was modeled on Paris and many parts of it today still have the flavor of small neighborhood Paris of the 1940's and 1950's. Simenon's stories are really character studies clothed is a mystery story and the script writers capture that quite well in their adaptions. My only complaint...I wish they had done more of them.
Rating:
Summary: Sensitive & artful detective stories
Review: The "Maigret" collection is mostly one-hour shows with Michael Gambon playing a very kindly and go-getter older chief investigator in 1950s Paris. The theme song, costumes and setting are wonderful. His character is very likeable and he does a wonderful job of acting. And, his three assistant detectives are three very different but also very likeable and well-acted characters that help round out the stories and action.
The only complaint we have is that Maigret's wife is played by two different actresses, with a somewhat inconsistent personality and marital relationship because of it. Yet, it's workable enough though not excellent.
We really like these characters and shows, very artfully done and highly recommended.
See also: "Nero Wolfe" series of shows with Maury Chaykin & Timothy Hutton. Wonderful 5-star viewing, worth owning and watching over and over again.
Rating:
Summary: The Greatness of Maigret
Review: The Agatha Christie novels are justifiably among the greatest mystery novels of our time. But it is equally clear that P.D. James, and her detective, Gambon, are at least the equal of Christie and Poirot, if not their superior. Well crafted, with superb character development and superbly written, the P.D. James novels are terrific, and this series of films, based upon the novels, capture the ambience and pace of the novels perfectly.
Rating:
Summary: The Greatness of Maigret
Review: The Agatha Christie novels are justifiably among the greatest mystery novels of our time. But it is equally clear that P.D. James, and her detective, Gambon, are at least the equal of Christie and Poirot, if not their superior. Well crafted, with superb character development and superbly written, the P.D. James novels are terrific, and this series of films, based upon the novels, capture the ambience and pace of the novels perfectly.
Rating:
Summary: A Superb Series
Review: The Maigret DVD Collection will be a welcome library addition for those mystery fans who prefer complexity over activity, deliberation over impulse and atmosphere over everything else.The 12 episodes that appear on four discs were produced by Granada Television and originally aired in Britiain over two seasons in 1992 and 1993. They were shown on PBS in the United States, and later on some public television stations in Canada. Adapted from the novels of Belgian-born writer Georges Simenon (who moved to Paris as a young man), the series effortlessly blends Maigret's intuitive detection style with a sympathetic and very Gallic view of the seedy denizens of the Parisian demi-monde. The Inspector is ably assisted throughout by the same three loyal colleagues, and is frequently chided by his nemesis, the Examining Magistrate.
In this superb series, Granada Television's meticulous production values are combined with consistently brilliant direction to yield 12 television episodes of unusual quality. There's not a dud among them. In each case, the crime unravels at a leisurely pace against a densely textured backdrop of Parisian or rural French daily life. Except that those familiar with this series will know that all of the lovingly photographed boulevards, sinister night streets and bustling sidewalk cafes were not filmed in France at all, but in Hungary. Nonetheless, it all looks agreeably French and faithful to the period setting of the novels. The principal casting is English of course, with Michael Gambon a standout as the droll and humane Inspector Jules Maigret. Supporting him are a roster of some of the best of British film actors, with exceptional turns by Edward Petherbridge, Peter Barkworth, Tony Doyle and Jon Finch, and capped with a startling performance by Susie Lindeman in the series' final episode, Maigret and the Maid. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent production in a fair quality DVD
Review: This is an excellent british series on Inspector Maigret - excellent episodes and actors. I also enjoyed the french production - with Bruno Cramer playing the role of Maigret.
Both series are excellent and will delight Maigret (Simenon's) fans.
My point: this series deserves a MUCH BETTER presentation on DVD. Quality is fair, far below my expectations (seems we are not watching a DVD...), and subtitles are missing; at least closed caption avaliability. This makes a big difference for people from abroad, like me - and english subtitles, IMHO, is the minimum I would be expecting from an excellent DVD set like this one.
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