Return To Eden DVD boxset re-release

[Spells & Karma]

You won't be disappointed with the picture quality on the TV series. All previous releases, the MRA release, the Danish & German releases of the twenty two part series of Return To Eden where all a bit dodgy. This one is much better.

That's great. Even by the standards of a decade and a half ago when the DVD came out, the quality of the versions I have is abysmal. I'm glad there's finally an upgraded version.

As for A Country Practice & Son's And Daughters, just be thankful they're getting released.

Oh, I am. It's just a little ironic that all these huge boxsets are coming along when my employer isn't paying me anything. But it's quite a nice problem to have in some ways.

I'd be very interested in Home & Away (the golden years).

Oh yes. That would be so welcome.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

What I like about the first R4 version is that the mini and sequel are released in identically-sized boxes, eventhough that wasn't necessary for the mini-series (only two discs).
The artwork looks a bit schlock but not entirely inappropriate, but I would have preferred a different image for the sequel box set. Considering that they were trying so hard to be the next Dynasty.

I guess this is one of the re-releases, or is it fanmade?

But I think all TV series on DVD should have the original font title and most iconic image placed in the center of the artwork.

With additional smaller images of the cast as they appear in the series per season.

Although the new complete series boxset from Via Vision doesn't use the Return To Eden logo from the mini series or the 1985 sequel series. The logo it does use is of a similar design to the 1985 TV series logo, which in my opinion is a better logo than the mini series one.

Such a shame the series didn't get good ratings in Australia or we might've had a few more seasons.

Still it's lovely to have the new boxset, even though I was slightly disappointed by the final episode. Not the actual episode itself which has the revised ending but the closing credits which uses the first version of the closing credits but minus the WorldVision logo at the end! I also noticed that Graham Harvey isn't credited as Chris just after the opening credits finish. That's on the Danish release which I posted elsewhere on this thread which also has the revised final episode but in a slightly different form to the one on this big boxset. The Danish release uses the second version of the closing credits & ends on the zoom WorldVision logo. Still I should be glad we got a better quality picture transfer from the 1985 masters over the previous releases of the series. Trust me to nitpick!

 

[AndyB2008]

Although the new complete series boxset from Via Vision doesn't use the Return To Eden logo from the mini series or the 1985 sequel series. The logo it does use is of a similar design to the 1985 TV series logo, which in my opinion is a better logo than the mini series one.

Such a shame the series didn't get good ratings in Australia or we might've had a few more seasons.

Still it's lovely to have the new boxset, even though I was slightly disappointed by the final episode. Not the actual episode itself which has the revised ending but the closing credits which uses the first version of the closing credits but minus the WorldVision logo at the end! I also noticed that Graham Harvey isn't credited as Chris just after the opening credits finish. That's on the Danish release which I posted elsewhere on this thread which also has the revised final episode but in a slightly different form to the one on this big boxset. The Danish release uses the second version of the closing credits & ends on the zoom WorldVision logo. Still I should be glad we got a better quality picture transfer from the 1985 masters over the previous releases of the series. Trust me to nitpick!

View attachment 26378 View attachment 26379

What replaces the Worldvision logo?

Do they plaster it with CBS Television Distribution?

The SAD Collection 2 DVD set plasters the Fremantle/Pearson logo over For The 7 Network on most episodes, mainly after the Grundy rebrand.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

What replaces the Worldvision logo?

Do they plaster it with CBS Television Distribution?

The SAD Collection 2 DVD set plasters the Fremantle/Pearson logo over For The 7 Network on most episodes, mainly after the Grundy rebrand.

The screen just goes black where the WorldVision logo should be. The theme music just continues with nothing on the screen. I suspect that as they used the first version of the ending credits which is just a static image of Eden, the reason it's missing is probably because it would've been the original red scroll logo rather than the zoom logo used in syndication and they've just edited it out. Personally I wouldn't have minded if that episode had used the old logo. I just thought it was a bit lame, they could've just edited on the ending credits from the previous episode instead, or just freeze framed the static shot of Eden instead so that something was still on the screen whilst the theme music came to a close.

All in all I thoroughly recommend the new boxset, the picture quality although still not perfect is still a lot better than on previous releases.



The original WorldVision scroll logo as present on the series during it's original first broadcast.



The zoom WorldVision logo present on the series during syndication & on all previous DVD boxsets of Return To Eden.



There's also this variant of the zoom logo used on a few episodes of the show.

 

[AndyB2008]

The World Vision logo with the Blockbuster byline is on most episodes of the DVD set I have which was released by MRA Entertainment.

This plasters the original Worldvision logo with the red background. Only the final episode with the cliffhanger (no tacked on ending here) retains the original Worldvision logo.

 

[Pamela_E]

Although the new complete series boxset from Via Vision doesn't use the Return To Eden logo from the mini series or the 1985 sequel series. The logo it does use is of a similar design to the 1985 TV series logo, which in my opinion is a better logo than the mini series one.

Such a shame the series didn't get good ratings in Australia or we might've had a few more seasons.

Still it's lovely to have the new boxset, even though I was slightly disappointed by the final episode. Not the actual episode itself which has the revised ending but the closing credits which uses the first version of the closing credits but minus the WorldVision logo at the end! I also noticed that Graham Harvey isn't credited as Chris just after the opening credits finish. That's on the Danish release which I posted elsewhere on this thread which also has the revised final episode but in a slightly different form to the one on this big boxset. The Danish release uses the second version of the closing credits & ends on the zoom WorldVision logo. Still I should be glad we got a better quality picture transfer from the 1985 masters over the previous releases of the series. Trust me to nitpick!

View attachment 26378 View attachment 26379

It was huge in the UK despite the critics attempts to kill it.

I preferred the initial mini series, but nowadays they would have continued to make it for just the UK, I guess back then they only cared about their homegrown audience.

It was like a nighttime version of Sons and Daughters with with 50p more of a budget.

I'm sure there were actors in it from SaD, the guy who was friends with Geoff who was obsessed with a Labrador and then died in a fire.

I need to go and Google it now and find out what happened to the cast.
.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

The World Vision logo with the Blockbuster byline is on most episodes of the DVD set I have which was released by MRA Entertainment.

This plasters the original Worldvision logo with the red background. Only the final episode with the cliffhanger (no tacked on ending here) retains the original Worldvision logo.

Yeah I have the MRA release and most of the episodes use the zoom logo, some with & some without the Blockbuster line.

The final episode is indeed the originally aired cliffhanger episode & ends on the red, scroll WorldVision logo.

It's interesting to see the different versions of the show.



I'd forgotten I have this one. It's the German release. The series on this boxset doesn't use the second version of the end credits, it's just the first version with the static shot of Eden right the way through; along with the zoom WorldVision logo. The final episode does have the re-edit though.

 

[thomaswak]

Welcome to France lol :

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

It was huge in the UK despite the critics attempts to kill it.

I preferred the initial mini series, but nowadays they would have continued to make it for just the UK, I guess back then they only cared about their homegrown audience.

It was like a nighttime version of Sons and Daughters with with 50p more of a budget.

I'm sure there were actors in it from SaD, the guy who was friends with Geoff who was obsessed with a Labrador and then died in a fire.

I need to go and Google it now and find out what happened to the cast.
.

A few of the cast are dead now.

Megan Williams and Peter Gwynne from the TV series main cast are no longer with us. Megan sadly died in her forties from cancer.

Wendy Hughes who was Jilly in the mini series has passed on. So has Bill Kerr who played Dave Welles in both the mini series & the series.

Saskia Post who played Jessica and John Lee who was Philip Stewart are no longer with us either.

 

[thomaswak]

Megan Williams was only 43...

 

[AndyB2008]

It was huge in the UK despite the critics attempts to kill it.

I preferred the initial mini series, but nowadays they would have continued to make it for just the UK, I guess back then they only cared about their homegrown audience.

It was like a nighttime version of Sons and Daughters with with 50p more of a budget.

I'm sure there were actors in it from SaD, the guy who was friends with Geoff who was obsessed with a Labrador and then died in a fire.

I need to go and Google it now and find out what happened to the cast.
.

Peter Cousens, aka Luke Carlyle, appears as Dennis Harper in the series.

In the tacked on ending, Dennis has short hair because Cousens got his hair cut off not expecting to be called back for that ending. As a result, they explained it away as his kidnapper cutting his hair.

 

[AndyB2008]

A few of the cast are dead now.

Megan Williams and Peter Gwynne from the TV series main cast are no longer with us. Megan sadly died in her forties from cancer.

Wendy Hughes who was Jilly in the mini series has passed on. So has Bill Kerr who played Dave Welles in both the mini series & the series.

Saskia Post who played Jessica and John Lee who was Philip Stewart are no longer with us either.

One of Megan's last roles before her death was in EastEnders.

Should be noted she and Joanne Samuel lasted the entire year of Class of 74, despite other cast getting written out willy nilly.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Megan Williams was only 43...

Yeah, very sad. She was a very beautiful woman & a lovely actor.

She was great as Cassie Jones on Return To Eden.

May she Rest In Peace.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Peter Cousens, aka Luke Carlyle, appears as Dennis Harper in the series.

In the tacked on ending, Dennis has short hair because Cousens got his hair cut off not expecting to be called back for that ending. As a result, they explained it away as his kidnapper cutting his hair.

Yeah I remember reading about Peter cutting his hair before being asked back for the re-edit. They asked James Smillie to reprise his starring role as Doctor Dan Marshall but sadly he was doing theatre in the UK at the time & wasn't available. Hence we got the line about Dan waiting at Eden, he & Jessica didn't leave for the island after all.

They also neglected or couldn't afford to dye Peta Toppano's hair auburn for the re-edit as it's back to her natural black colour.

It's such a shame as I would've loved to have seen a few more seasons of Return To Eden, sadly it wasn't to be.

 

[Pamela_E]

One of Megan's last roles before her death was in EastEnders.

Should be noted she and Joanne Samuel lasted the entire year of Class of 74, despite other cast getting written out willy nilly.

I had no idea she had died, she was a really familiar face in my youth. She was also on the Sullivans. Who did she play on Eastenders?

 

[AndyB2008]

I had no idea she had died, she was a really familiar face in my youth. She was also on the Sullivans. Who did she play on Eastenders?

A character called Nancy. She was in for one episode mind.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Rest In Peace Megan Williams.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Well, apart from myself who else has actually bought the new ViaVision complete boxset of



Come on! Own up!?!

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

As much as I enjoyed the mini series I'll give this a miss. Checking Sanity's website under additional details it's stated the series will be presented in 4:3 ratio. Well this won't do on my 55" smart TV. How is it I can use software to colorize a black and white photograph with astounding results yet these production houses cannot release a 16:9 version? I want this series to fill my screen. There must be a way to transfer 4:3 ratio to 16:9.

In 8 years Dallas will celebrate its 50th Anniversary. Warner Bros. is a juggernaut of a business. I'd hope someone is already planning a special 50th Anniversary Blu-Ray release with improved coloring and presented in 16:9 format. Wishful thinking I suppose.

Well it has just been confirmed in the Dallas Original Series forum that Dallas is getting remastered. So I think it's highly likely we'll be getting a Blu-ray release at some point.