COMPLETE RIPPING YARNS TV DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from Acorn Media about The Complete Ripping Yarns- Monty Python fans rejoice! This Renowned BBC series, created and written by Python stalwarts Michael Palin and Terry Jones, provides more of the same surreal, bawdy, tasteless and absolutely gut splitting hilarity you know and love.
In 1975, Michael Palin and Terry Jones from Monty Python’s Flying Circus, co-created a very funny British satire on the Old Boy stories called “The Ripping Yarns”. From 1975 to 1979 they made 9 stories ranging from Victorian London, German POW Camps, the Peruvian Andes and the Indian Raj. This set for only 9 episodes is packed with extras! You have which is fairly rare, an Audio commentary on every single episode with Michael Palin and Terry Jones. A laugh track free option is on all episodes except 1 and 4. A deleted scene from “Murder at Moorstones Manor”, photo gallery, a 30 minute documentary on Michael Palin called “Comic Roots” from 1983, restoration clips from what was originally shown to brand new with new video technology. A DVD-Rom features all 9 scripts from the show and a commemorative 22-page booklet that contains an in-depth history of the series.

VIDEO

The video quality is great! Digitally remastered and restored for the first time on DVD.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Is also in Mono but very clear!

Disc 1- 1. “Tomkinson’s Schooldays”-with Ian Ogilvy
2. “The Testing Of Eric Olthwaite”
3. “Escape From Stalag Luft 112B”-with Roy Kinnear
4. “Murder At Moorstones Manor”
5. “Across the Andes By Frog”-with Denholm Elliott and Don Henderson
6. “The Curse Of The Claw”-with Tenniel Evans and Aubrey Morris

Disc 2- 1. “Whinfrey’s Last Case”-with Richard Hurdall and Edward Hardwicke
2. “Golden Gordon”-with Bill Fraser and John Cleese
3. “Roger of the Raj”-with John Le Mesurier

Extras

Disc 1: Audio Commentary on all episodes on this disc with Michael Palin and Terry Jones
Deleted scene from “Murder At Moorstones Manor (04:04)
Audience free track Option for episodes 2,3,5 & 6

Disc 2: Audio Commentary on all episodes on this disc with Michael Palin and Terry Jones
Documentary-Comic Roots: Michael Palin from 1983 (28:55)
Restoration Clips (02:00)
Audience free track for remaining episodes

Verdict

Indeed! Monty Python fans rejoice. A well done and packed 2 disc set with a lot of extras to make any fan of Monty Python happy.

Rating: *****!

RISING DAMP SERIES 3 DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from Acorn Video about Rising Damp-Season 3: A Britcom gem form the 1970s, with a main character so loathsome he’s irresistible.

In this third season, new tenants include a flamboyant actor (Peter Bowles) and an exotic dancer who tests Rigsby and Ruth coming back from a failed engagement delighting Rigsby to no end! This was the last season for Richard Beckinsale who went on to do other roles. Sadly, in 1979 Richard Beckinsale died of a massive heart attack at the age of 31.


VIDEO

The video quality is great! The series was done on videotape but there were no dropouts of picture at all. Excellent quality.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. It is also Mono on this set.

Disc 1- 1. “That’s My Boy”
2. “Stage Struck”-with Peter Bowles
3. “Clunk Click”-with Derek Francis
4. “The Good Samaritans”
5. “Fawcett’s Python”
6. “The Cocktail Hour”
7. “Suddenly At Home”


Extras

Disc 1: Production Notes- (Text Only)
Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)


Verdict

If you are a fan of British comedy then you need this in your collection.


Rating; ****!

TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED SET 4 DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from Acorn Media about Tales of the Unexpected Set 4:” Mixing dark humor with horror and fantasy, these entertaining tales each build up to a startling final twist. This DVD set includes all 20 episodes from the last of the sixth season, part of the seventh and eighth seasons, available uncut for the first time.”
This set continues the horror and mystery stories with a touch of black humor. It had a cavalcade of British and American actors in these interesting 25-minute episodes.

VIDEO

The video quality is superb! Videotape episodes are sharp and clear and filmed one had little to no dirt or specks. All discs have a Play All feature.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Also here in mono but very clear!

Disc 1- 1. “The Wrong ‘Un”
2. “The Luncheon”-with Gayle Hunnicutt and Jacqueline Hill
3. “The Tribute”-with Eleanor Bron
4. “Hit & Run”
5. “The Best Chess Player In The World”-with Michael Jayston
6. “Have A Nice Death”
7. “The Last Of The Midnight Gardeners”-Patrick Mower

Disc 2- 1. “Accidental Death”-with Jacqueline Hill and John Hug
2. “The Reconciliation”
3. “The Mugger”-with Roy Marsden
4. “Skeleton In The Cupboard”-with Charles Dance and Zoë Wanamaker
5. “The Colonel’s Lady”-with Pauline Collins, Joss Ackland and Gareth Thomas
6. “The Surgeon”-with Thorley Waters
7. “The Verger”-with Richard Briers and Patricia Routledge

Disc 3- 1. “The Facts Of Life”-with Jim Broadbent
2. “Wink Three Times”-with Peter Davison and Liza Goddard
3. “The Dead Don’t Steal”-with Glynis Barber and Michael Wisher
4. “The Finger Of Suspicion”-with Michael Brandon
5. “A Time To Die”-with David Suchet
6. “Mr. Know-All”-with Topol

Extras

Disc 1: Authors Of The Unexpected-Authors that have worked on the program- (Text Only)
Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)

Disc 2: Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)

Disc 3: Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)


Verdict

The picture and audio quality are great. If you love all things British and anthology series, then it wont disappoint.


Rating; ****!

RISING DAMP SERIES 2 DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from Acorn Video about Rising Damp-Season 2: A snooping and sneering landlord and his hapless tenants make comedy magic in one of the most popular Britcoms of all time.

Leonard Rossiter’s character Rigsby is defiantly the landlord from hell! In this second season, Ruth has found another man and it leaves Rigsby in a quandary, so he sets his sights on a new tenant, an aritists model named Brenda played by Gabrielle Rose. There is also a special Christmas episode for the season finale. This disc has interesting production notes and cast filmographies. It was not generally known, but because of Richard Beckinsale’s character in the show Porridge that he was playing at the same time as Rising Damp he had to wear a long wig to cover up his short hair.


VIDEO

The video quality is great! The series was done on videotape but there were no dropouts of picture at all. Excellent quality.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. It is also Mono on this set.

Disc 1- 1. “The Permissive Society”
2. “Food Glorious Food”
3. “A Body Like Mine”
4. “Moonlight and Roses”
5. “A Perfect Gentleman”-with Henry McGee
6. “The Last Of The Big Spenders” with Campbell Singer
7. “Things That Go Bump In The Night”
8. “For The Man Who Has Everything” (Christmas Special)


Extras

Disc 1: Production Notes- (Text Only)
Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)


Verdict

An extremely funny comedy series. Leonard Rossiter’s potrayal was sharp and very funny. If you are a fan of British comedy then you need this in your collection.


Rating; ****!

TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED SET 3 DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from Acorn Media about Tales of the Unexpected Set 3:” The playfully macabre adult stories of Roald Dahl launched this legendary series, which continued with stories of the same humorously creepy ilk. Each standalone episode is a tasty tidbit of horror served up with a startling twist of fate. This DVD set includes all 21 episodes from the fifth and part of the sixth seasons, available uncut for the first time.”

Tales of the Unexpected started in 1978 in the vein of another British anthology series, Thriller, but was distinctive in its own way. It had a cavalcade of British and American actors in these interesting 25-minute episodes. These are the original British versions with straight story.


VIDEO

The video quality is great! Videotape episodes are sharp and clear and filmed one had little to no dirt or specks. All discs have a Play All feature.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Also here in mono but very clear!

Disc 1- 1. “Blue Marigold”-with Ralph Bates
2. “The Eavesdropper”
3. “Operation Safecrack”-with Sir John Mills
4. “Run, Rabbit, Run”-with Leslie Caron
5. “Stranger In Town”-with Derek Jacobi and Jennifer Connelly
6. “The Moles”-with Fulton Mackay
7. “Decoy”

Disc 2- 1. “Pattern of Guilt”-with Jeannie Linden
2. “A Harmless Vanity”
3. “Death Can Add”-with Ian Holm
4. “Death In The Morning”-with Carol Drinkwater
5. “What Have You Been Up To Lately?”-with Peter Barkworth
6. “Absence of Emily”-with Patsy Byrne
7. “A Man With A Fortune”-with Shane Rimmer

Disc 3- 1. “Who’s Got The Lady”-with Richard Johnson, Robert Beatty and Victoria Tennant
2. “The Skeleton Key”-with Peter Jeffrey
3. “A Passing Opportunity”-with George Sewall
4. “The Memory Man”-with Colin Blakely, Judy Geeson and Bernard Cribbins
5. “A Sad Loss”-with Hayley Mills
6. “Clerical Error”
7. “The Vorpal Blade”-with Peter Cushing
Extras

Disc 1: Tunes Of The Unexpected-Composer Ron Grainer- (Text Only)
Tales Trivia- (Text Only)
Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)

Disc 2: Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)

Disc 3: Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)

Disc 4: Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)


Verdict

I would highly recommend buying the entire series! If you love all things British and anthology series, then you won’t be disappointed.


Rating; ****!

RISING DAMP SERIES 1 DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from Acorn Video about Rising Damp-Season 1: In a series called the pinnacle of British comedy, the miserly and mean-spirited landlord of a rundown boarding house is hilariously one-upped by his luckless tenants.

Leonard Rossiter’s character Rigsby is a lot like Archie Bunker in All In The Family. His know it all attitude and odious ways play well off the other two characters in the show. The show started off as a play called the Banana Box with most of the original cast from the play going straight to the TV show. Leonard Rossiter plays Rigsby, the loathsome landlord of a rundown tenement in London. Richard Beckinsale from the Porridge TV series plays Alan, a long haired medical student and Don Warrington most recently played the World President in the new Dr Who series episodes The Rise of the Cybermen/Age Of Steel plays Phillip and Frances de la Tour plays Ruth, a love starved woman after Rigsby. The show lasted for 4 seasons and was voted the highest rated ITV sitcom in the top 100 comedy shows of all time. This disc has interesting production notes and cast filmographies.


VIDEO

The video quality is great! The series was done on videotape but there were no dropouts of picture at all. Excellent quality.


Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. It is also Mono on this set.

Disc 1- 1. “The Lodgers” aka Rooksby (Pilot for the series)
2. “Black Magic”
3. “A Night Out”-with Derek Newark
4. “Charisma”
5. “All Our Yesterdays”-with Derek Newark
6. “The Prowler” with George Sewell
7. “Stand Up and Be Counted”


Extras

Disc 1: Production Notes- (Text Only)
Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)


Verdict

An extremely funny comedy series. Leonard Rossiter’s potrayal was sharp and very funny. If you are a fan of British comedy then you need this in your collection.


Rating; ****!

TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED SET 2 DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from Acorn Media about Tales of the Unexpected Set 2:” The playfully macabre adult stories of Roald Dahl launched this legendary series, which continued with stories of the same humorously creepy ilk. Each standalone episode is a tasty tidbit of horror served up with a startling twist of fate. This DVD set includes all 23 episodes from the third and fourth seasons, available uncut for the first time.”

Tales of the Unexpected started in 1978 in the vein of another British anthology series, Thriller, but was distinctive in its own way. This set continues the horror and mystery stories with a touch of black humor. It had a cavalcade of British and American actors in these interesting 25-minute episodes. These are the original British versions with the writer Roald Dahl introducing the episodes for a few of the stories in the 3rd season and then the shows started off with narration.


VIDEO

The video quality is superb! Videotape episodes are sharp and clear and filmed one had little to no dirt or specks. All discs have a Play All feature.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Also here in mono but very clear!

Disc 1- 1. “The Flypaper”-with Alfred Burke
2. “A Picture Of A Place”-with Michael Troughton
3. “Proof Of Guilt”-with Roy Marsden
4. “Vengeance Is Mine Inc”
5. “A Girl Can’t Always Have Everything”-with Joan Collins and Pauline Collins
6. “Parson’s Pleasure”-with John Gielgud and Lee Montague

Disc 2- 1. “The Stinker”-with Denholm Elliott, Joss Ackland and Patricia Quinn
2. “I’ll Be Seeing You”-with Anthony Valentine
3. “The Party”-with Robert Morley
4. “Would You Believe It”-with Richard Johnson and Nigel Havers
5. “Vicious Circle”
6. “The Boy Who Talked With Animals”-with Stuart Whitman

Disc 3- 1. “The Best Of Everything”
2. “Shatterproof”-with Eli Wallach
3. “The Sound Machine”-with James Warwick
4. “Never Speak Ill Of The Dead”-with Colin Blakley
5. “The Last Bottle In The World”-with Nigel Hawthorne and Anthony Qualye
6. “Kindly Dig Your Grave”

Disc 4-1. “Completely Foolproof”-with Telly Savalas
2. “There’s One Born Every Minute”-with Frank Finley
3. “ Bosom Friends”
4. “ The Way To Do It”
5. “Hijack”-with Denis Quilley

Extras

Disc 1: Tunes Of The Unexpected-Composer Ron Grainer- (Text Only)
Roald Dahl’s Biography- (Text Only)
Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)

Disc 2: Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)

Disc 3: Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)

Disc 4: Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)


Verdict

I would highly recommend buying the entire series! The picture and audio quality are great. If you love all things British and anthology series, then it’s well worth the money.


Rating; ****!