A Singing Defective?

I was looking at the DVD of "The Singing Detective" yesterday in a store. This TV series by Dennis Potter was a masterpiece, I would say his best work. I nearly purchased but decided to check out the web to see if any other versions or better prices were available (its over $60 retail). I found a DVD but it was all wrong. No Philip E. Marlow just someone called Dan Dark? No Michael Gambon or Bill Paterson in the cast but Robert Downey Jr & Mel Gibson?
It was not the original but a Hollywood remake. Just seeing the trailer was enough to convince me to buy the original. Why take one of the finest TV series ever made and re-hash it into a typical Hollywood movie. The trailer voice over is bad enough but the whole "look" of the movie (Hollywood) & its relocation to the US look appalling. The essence of the TV original was its "Englishness" with all the class, social and historical baggage that implies. I guess the fact that "Dan Dark" was considered a better name  for the lead character than "Philip E. Marlow" is an indication...

This is the original;
"THE DETECTIVE SINGS AGAIN: Fans of the original BBC series will be glad to hear that it's on DVD. The 1986 series has been called "the best dramatic work ever written specifically for television." BBC Video will have a three-disc collector's edition of the remastered episodes. The DVD also boasts a documentary on writer Dennis Potter (Arena & Close Up) , commentary tracks by director Jon Amiel and producer Kenneth Trodd, and other features."
"The Singing Detective" (BBC TV 1986)
Michael Gambon ....  Philip E. Marlow
Patrick Malahide ....  Mark Finney, Raymond, Mark Binney
Joanne Whalley ....  Nurse Mills
Janet Suzman ....  Nicola
Alison Steadman ....  Mrs. Marlow/Lili
Bill Paterson ....  Dr. Gibbon

This is the pale imitation:
The Singing Detective, (2003)
Robert Downey Jr. ....  Dan Dark
Robin Wright Penn ....  Nicola/Nina/Blonde
Mel Gibson ....  Dr. Gibbon