Bodyline - It's Just Not Cricket!
Roadshow Home Entertainment
Released on 4-Nov-2002

Reviewed by Dean Beasley on 20-Nov-2002

THE MOVIE

'BODYLINE' is the most emotive word in the history of Test Cricket.

The English cricket team were always regarded as being gentlemen, but during the 1932-33 Test Series, they were anything but gentle. Bodyline bowling was a tactic used by English cricket captain, Douglas Jardine, and Nottingham bowlers Harold Larwood and Bill Voce. It was aimed specifically at Don Bradman, and was an attempt to reduce his prolific scoring. Unfortunately, at the time, there were no rules to prevent the use of this intimidating bowling style. Furthermore, there was no protective equipment available to the batsmen.

This 60 minute documentary includes archival film footage, photographs and newspaper reports from 1932-33. It also feature recent interviews with cricket historian Murray Hedgcock, social historian Lord Williams of Elvel and the author of ‘Bodyline Autopsy’ David Frith. Relatives of some of the cricketers involved, including Fianach Lawry (daughter of Douglas Jardine), Molly Shentall (daughter of Bill Voce) and Bill Woodfull Jnr.

THE TRANSFER

Video:

Bodyline is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen footage, although much of the 1932-33 archival footage is actually presented in 1.33:1 full frame with beige borders on either side. As you’d expect, this archival footage is terribly grainy and there are numerous film artefacts to be found. These black and white images are quite washed out and have a very noticeable sepia tone about them. The recent recorded interviews on the other hand look wonderful. They are presented in 1.85:1 widescreen. Detail is excellent and colours look great as all of these interviews are well lit. This recently filmed material is also free of grain and MPEG artefacts.

Audio:

This DVD has a Dolby Digital 2.0 channel soundtrack. Sound quality is generally very good. All of the recent interviews with historians and relatives of the cricketers involved in the 1932-33 Test Series are clearly audible. Likewise narration by Michael Habib is also clearly audible. The audio quality declines somewhat during the archival footage, being full of background hiss and the occasional audio crack. I didn’t observe any audio synch problems on this DVD. This DVD does not have any subtitles.

THE EXTRAS

There is not a whole lot to be found in the extra features department. In fact, this DVD has no extras at all, which is unfortunate. You think they could have taken a leaf out of the Nine Wide World of Sport Connoisseur Series Cricket DVDs and at least given us some batting and bowling statistics for this 1932-33 Test Series. The main menu is static with no audio.

SUMMARY

True cricket fans might appreciate Bodyline - It’s Just Not Cricket! It takes a look at the most controversial series in Test Cricket history, Australia versus England 1932-33 and the Bodyline bowling tactic used by England to curb Don Bradman’s prolific scoring. As you’d expect, the transfer is sometimes quite poor, given the use of archival material. That said, this is still a very interesting documentary. Unfortunately this DVD is totally devoid of extras.