I’m not sure how to explain how to summarise the overall saga of this TV series, but let’s just say it starts with a middle-class family transforming their lives after winning three million dollars in the lottery, as well as a bunch of boobs and bums, and down the track – Nazis and Egyptian goddesses – all centralised within Melbourne.
Welcome to the world of Chances – a late night soap opera that took Australia the early 90s by storm – whether it was water-cooler talk, or just plain “What the hell” moments.
Originally broadcast on the Nine Network from 1991 to 1992, featuring an all-star cast blending with up and coming fresh faces, Chances became more about the nudity, until it steered into a direction of bizarre fantasy and supernatural conspiracies – which made this classic show uniquely loved and disliked at the same time. 126 episodes were screened, with the unaired feature length pilot made in 1988 sitting on the shelf… until now.
Only a small “best of” DVDs with selected episodes were released which are now long out-of-print. Thanks to Via Vision Entertainment, you can now cancel the over-priced bid on eBay and use that money to buy the brand new release of Chances – Collection One.
This boxset contains the first 59 episodes of the series, with most of these episodes being released for the first time since original broadcast. This 16 DVD box set contains 3 cases, with Episodes 1 to 23 in case one, Episodes 24 to 47 in case two, and Episodes 48 to 59 in case three – alongside the original unaired pilot with the original cast members.
- 59 episodes – average 45 minutes
- 3 Cases
- Case One – Part 1 – 6 Discs
- Episodes 1 to 23
- Case Two – Part 2 – 6 Discs
- Episodes 24 to 47
- Case Three – Part 3 – 4 Discs
- Episodes 48 to 59
- Disc 4 contains Unaired pilot starring Marcus Graham instead of Jeremy Sims
- Episodes 48 to 59
The quality is what you would expect – direct from the masters – which have held up extremely well. Don’t expect anything fancy or glorious like High definition restoration, commentary, behind the scenes or bloopers. This release appears to just get these episodes on DVD so we can consume them, and be preserved at the most economical cost.
The DVD menus are basic and suit the style and layout that Via Vision have been presenting in other Australian classic DVD releases, so don’t expect anything flash. Just dive straight into the show.
Presented in its original 4:3 aspect ratio, the sound is presented in 2.0 stereo english, but unfortunately lacks subtitles or other audio language. It is in Region 4 format, but will play on any region-free players if you have one.
There are plans on releasing Chances – Collection Two, which will fill the gaps and have Episodes 60 to 126, so you’ll have the whole set! At a runtime of 46 hours and 10 minutes, it’s time you take that chance. If you don’t – some win.. Some lose!
Available now through ViaVision and good DVD retailers.
