Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21611 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-06-18
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Formats: Box set, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 4
• Running time: 600 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
If the concept of a TV drama set in a woman's prison was one potentially fraught with cliché, the critical and commercial success of Bad Girls is a testament to fine writing, performance and production. With no preamble or scene setting, Series 1 immediately plunges the viewer into the world of Larkhall Prison, its inmates and staff. This approach leaves the characters to reveal themselves at varying pace, with each episode bringing new details about their life on the outside. Given the nature of the setting, it is unsurprising that the show is an ensemble, female-dominated piece. Simone Lahbib, Mandana Jones and Debra Stephenson are all excellent in the three key roles, with impressive support throughout the cast. Male characters are generally relegated to the sidelines, with the exception of sleazy warden Jim Fenner (played with skin crawling accuracy by Jack Ellis). The sexual realities of the environment are handled realistically and sensitively, and not for nothing is the word "uncut" splashed across the cover: there are some quite disturbing scenes, especially in the earlier episodes.

On the DVD: The DVD enhances the show's attempts to capture the atmosphere of prison, with sharp contrast between light and darkness and the constant barracking, cat-calling and snide asides sounding crisp, clear and suitably nasty. Of the impressive 70 minutes of extra features much will only be of real interest to absolute devotees. A documentary examining work on the forthcoming third series may go into admirable detail, but how much interest a costume truck can actually be is perhaps debatable. The footage itself is a little unpolished, but does provide the cast members with an opportunity to reveal themselves, as does the extensive interview section. Not only do the main actors give valuable insights into their characters, but it is also interesting to see how the process has influenced their opinions on the prison system. A feature on a book signing in London certainly puts the show into an audience context, but the collection of outtakes (presented in a, supposedly intentionally, amateurish and tacky manner by Lahbib) is at best superfluous. There is more than a hint of trying to find material to fill the space, but overall this is an impressive effort. --Phil Udell

DVD Description
DVD Special Features:

Documentary
Cast Interviews
Outtakes
Fan Featurette
Commentary Track (Ep.10)
Photo Library

Synopsis
A heavy-hitting television drama series, BAD GIRLS explores life behind the bars of a women's prison. The programme reveals the hardships that the women must endure, while also focusing on the courage and humour needed to survive the harsh environment. This collection features every episode from the first series, including "Them and Us," "Drug Wars," "The Victim," "Big Mistake," "Falling Apart," and "Love Hurts."

Customer Reviews

Highly-charged prison drama, the best ever!
Bad Girls has not yet made it to Dutch television. I sincerely hope it will some day, because it's the best show ever dealing with prison drama. Perhaps 10 years ago we had a show in Holland called "Vrouwengevangenis" (womens prison) but that was childs play compared to Bad Girls.

The cast, the setting, the storylines are extremly intens and powerful. I was totally hooked from episode one, series one. The colouful introduction of all these women, so strong, so real. I simply could not resist to watch all the episodes in 2 evenings.

For me the most gripping storylines are the one between Helen and Nikki (of course!) and the one involving Monica's son Spencer. Spencer, a man (and actor) with Downs' syndrome, showing a diversity of emotions when he visits his mother in prison. The haven't been separated in 30 years, so how do you explain this dramatic situation to a person with such genuine feelings?

What to say about Helen and Nikki, what's not already been said? Seeing Helen struggle with her feelings for Nikki (and her professional career) is played so recognizable by Simone Lahbib, it made my heart beat faster. The longing, the confusing, the distracts, all extremly tense play by both actresses.

And eh as a Dutch girl I learned a lot of British slang, but is it all that controlled?

Buy the series, buy them now, you don't know what you are missing

First and best series of ITV smash prison drama
Launched as the third series draws to a close, this DVD has got to be on the wish list of many of the millions of viewers now attracted weekly.

The first series is the grittiest of the lot. The story lines seem often far-fetched so it's shocking to read that they're often based on real life stories told to the programme writers and and researchers.

The DVD contains a lot of stuff for the die-hard fan base, including interviews with the actors (interviews with the actors talking about their characters were included in the vhs box set, not sure if these are the same ones or not). Also, a behind the scenes documentary and out-takes from the series presented by Simone Lahbib.

This is not for the faint-hearted viewer, it is bloody and violent in places.. turn your eyes for the shower scene when Zandra arrives... but it's the largely female cast and strong character that make it so compulsive, fighting the hideousness of the system, there's real warmth and support between the women, watch out for the scenes with Monica and her son.

If you've never seen Bad Girls before, start right here, you'll be hooked.

addictive viewing
this is the first series of a show that truely is a milestone in television (a lot of people dont know that it came into production because the nation enjoyed the episodes of coronation street when Deirdre Rachide went to prison!) Welcome to Larkhall-place of the damned. Rape, murder and drugs-and thats just the officers! Bad Girls has a real mixture of themes and emotions ranging from bullying to true love,and all the while capturing the harsh reality of a womens prison. Yet it still manages to incorporate a fair amount of humour, how could you ever forget the cranky 'Senior officer Hollomby' (or bodybag as she is known to the inmates) or the two Julies whose mad-cap ideas have been the cause of many a funny storyline-especially with their tendencies to go wrong! but there are also the darker characters such as the evil officer Fenner and the wicked Shell Dockley. But be warned-once you've started watching you won't be able to stop.