The Colbys: The Complete Series

I absolutely loved this short 2 season spinoff from Dynasty, mainly because Stephanie Beacham as Sable Colby is pure gold, watching her smouldering looks, the dripping delivery of bitchy one liners and her performance outshines everyone, even that of Charlton Heston as Jason, Sable's husband of 27 years who, as we quickly learn in the first three episodes of series 1 has always loved Sable's sister Frankie, played by Katherine Ross (whose acting leaves a lot to be desired sorry to say). The storylines are repeats of Dynasty's in places, the connection to Dynasty is through Jeff Colby, played by John James, and Fallon Colby, played by Emma Samms, who really is given a harsh hand by the writers changing Fallon's harsh bitchiness and hardness of Dynasty (only later comes back in the final season of Dynasty thank to it's new producer) which really didn't ring true, and the endless love triangle between Fallon, Jeff and Miles (played by Maxwell Caulfield, who delivers somewhat over the top, dramatic) is very bland and tiresome especially as the outcome is easily predictable. Bliss, played by by Claire Yarlett, is given very little interaction or proper storyline other than doomed romances and being sidelined as though the writers didn't know what to do with her , unlike Monica, played by Tracey Scoggins, who we quickly learns wants more responsibility in her father's business and indulges in an affair which ends in near death experience but the second season gives her depth and potential with her coming face to face with the only man she really loved but who was married to a very influential family and secrets start emerging which makes for a exciting storyline. Barbara Stanwyck is wasted as Constance Colby had potential but was very bland. Ricardo Montalban as Zachary Powers gives the show it's spice and conflict especially as Zach loves Sable and tries to lure her away from Jason as he tries every means to destroy Jason against Sable's wishes. The show highlights California, Bel Air, excellently, the glamorous sets are exquisite as is the clothes, jewels, cars, everything, the 80s soaps showed wealth, and opulence brilliantly, pure Greed, power, money! Though it had weak stories, poor dialogue and questionable acting, it was watchable and enjoyable, lovely additional to my Dynasty collection!

Bought for my mum so presume it was ok, good value boxset.

Forget the reboot of Dynasty 2017 and watch John James as Jeff Colby in the spinoff from the original Dynasty that starred John Forsyth as Blake Carrington who makes a couple of appearances in this show as well. This was back in the day when true Hollywood icons ruled not only the small screen but major movies and the one and only Ben Hur himself staring as Jason Colby along with Barbara Stanwyck as his sister Constance also coming in to be the rival soap bitch to Joan Collins is another English actress Stephanie Beacham as Sable Colby who stops at nothing to get what she wants in order to stay rich and powerful and hold onto poor old Jason who does not love her but sister Francesca who after twists and turns finds out that she gave birth to his child who is Jeff Colby. Great that both seasons have been released on DVD and my Dynasty collection is complete to enjoy watching and reliving the 80s that had writers with original ideas unlike today who take a classic show and ruin it because they want to update for 21st century prime example in Dynasty SammyJo Heather Locklear now replaced by calling the character Sam being a man who is gay to be with Steven what happens with the kid Danny are theynow going to use a surrogate? Thank god I will only watching the true cast of both shows of a true soap favourite.

Great tv programmes good characters

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After watching the whole series of Dynasty I had to get this and am currently working my way through series two of The Colbys (they took it off air after that). If anyone thought Joan Collins was bitchy as Alexis they should see Stephannie Beacham as Sable in this, she really is some piece of work. Great to see Barbra Stanwyck in this though sadly only in the first series, her character of Constance Colby sister to Jason (Charleton Heston) is pure Hollywood.

I always preferred this spin off more than Dynasty. Also of note, the quality of sound and picture is superior to that of the Dynasty box set I had where the picture quality was disappointing. I wished Barbara Stanywick had stayed with the show for the second series as I loved her character. Miles brings back memories. I had a sort of schoolgirl crush on him and was very confusing to be attracted to another guy. Oh the memories came flooding back. The show ha style, I always love the extravagant flowers on every set. The flower budget alone must have cost a fortune. I will enjoy watching this over and again, so it was good value for the price. This show takes me out of myself and will be great to watch on a miserable British Winters night. A tonic.

Both Joan Collins and Stephanie Beacham are national treasures and this short 2 season spin-off of Dynasty is also now required viewing for anyone who wants to relive the happier times of unexpurgated greed and opulence these shows represented. Soap operas simply aren't made like this any more. Total bliss! (No, not the youngest Colby daughter)

For fans these CD's are awesome. I'm in Canada and they work good.

Alles o.k.

The glamour of an era in two fantastic seasons. Too bad it went off the air. The Colbys was much better than Dynasty at the time. No wonder Joan Collins refused to make appearances on the spin-off. A must see for soap opera fans

je recommande cette série étant un fan de dynastie je regrette qu'il n'existe pas en langue française . ce dvd est uniquement en VO et sans sous titrage il faut arriver a suivre les dialogues

I was a die-hard fan of this series in the 80's. Watching it 30+ years later, is akin to time travel in the campiest sense. As for the DVD set itself, it failed expectations; no scene selections and no alternate language/caption options. It hasn't been digitized at all, so you see all of the "specks" as I call them, though the transfer is acceptable. The jewels sparkle, the flowers are in bloom and the sets look fabulous. I was disappointed that each episode doesn't end with the next weeks preview, as when originally aired. There are two interviews with Stephanie Beacham, Maxwell Caufield and John James, which were enlightening. I will give it credit when it comes to sound. The music, which is just as ultra dramatic as the series, is a joy to hear after all of these years, even if it's not Dolby 7.1. The series itself ranges from totally awful in the first season to totally ridiculous and addictive melodrama by the second season. I will agree on what another reviewer stated, it should be renamed "The Stephanie Beacham Show". While the entire cast are beautiful and handsome, their acting abilities are sorely put to the test. Charlton Heston (Jason) and Barbara Stanwyck (Constance/Connie) are marginal at best. Katherine Ross (Francesca/Frankie) is totally lost and out of her element. Ricardo Montalban (Zack Powers) has much more of a redeeming character than I remembered, vengeful yet noble, and strangely reminiscent of Khan against Kirk, this time Powers against Colby. Emma Samms (Fallon), John James (Jeff), Maxwell Caulfield (Miles), Tracy Scoggins (Monica) and Claire Yarlett (Bliss) are just stunningly beautiful, with body curvatures and shots in swim wear and evening wear that even today, social media would go wild with. They are minor characters to Stephanie Beacham and if I may, the city of Los Angeles. Much to their credit, by the second season their acting improved, along with the scripts, in my opinion. The scenes set then in mid-late 1980's Los Angeles add to the over-the-top acting; Lunch and dining scenes in Century City still holds up well. Their corporate helicopter flying above downtown LA or transporting the family from LAX to their private estate in Bel Air (I believe the exterior shots were of Barron Hilton's estate) or back to Colby Tower (then First Interstate Tower, now called AON Tower), their beach house in Malibu and constant court room action at the Los Angeles County Courthouse, validates this family DOES own this city, or at the very least, some choice property. The second season Cold War overtones are laughable amidst Sable's "new dance company at the Colby Center". The Soviet Union and Red Chinese references for a proposed international consortium building a space station are downright hilarious in 2015. Now to Stephanie Beacham (Sabella "Sable" Scott Colby). It's her that makes this show. She is a caricature at times, bordering on a crazy diva fusion of Joan Crawford and her best motion picture wardrobe and temper, jewels Eva Peron would covet, a sublime beauty and glamour of Elizabeth Taylor and a British accent bordering on royalty. The quips and scripts are designed for her, "I respect your politics, am quite fond of your beard but it's your relationship to Zack Powers I detest," or something to that effect (I would never try to quote her verbatim) are augmented by her gorgeous eyes and finger nails. You will believe she runs the largest private art gallery outside of Europe. You will believe she is a generous supporter of the fine arts, charities and other noble civic causes. You will be her ally against her sister and husband. You will believe "Heav'n has no rage like love to hatred turn'd / Nor Hell a fury, like a woman scorn'd." In this age of instant fame through Twitter or Facebook, or mass social opinion fueled by the likes of the Kardashian's, the show echoes back to the decline of an era when our voyeuristic needs were met by television shows such as this. You'll never be able to go to a Silicon Valley or Wall Street executives office and pour scotch and determine your next takeover. No one serves champagne as a matter-of-fact, instead, you get bottled water or a Diet Coke. No one dresses for dinner at a restaurant, let alone with your family at home, with Asian and British servants waiting in the wings. Even my beloved home city of Dallas and related television series lacks the panache of Los Angeles, and The Colbys. As someone in their mid-20's when this series was on the air, it compelled me to succeed. Now, in my mid 50's, watching it in my Four Seasons robe, sipping G. H. Mumm & Cie. - Cordon Rouge Brut, I feel young again. Who would have believed back then, I would be writing a review, on the internet, on Amazon, lamenting the final episode, about a fictional rich white girl, being taken away by a UFO? They really don't make them like this anymore.