Reviews (7)

FLASHBACK: London. 1967.
This film works wonderfully as a timepiece. What I like so much about Winner's films of the '60's is how much he wizzes around the city. We are treated to location after location...so we really get a look at time and place like very few films of the period. Lots of cars and mini-skirted dolly birds with exaggerated hairdo's and eye make-up.

The story is rather lame. '60's London is the star of this show. It's such a time tunnel that you'll feel quite dazed when it's over...but I think you'll be entertained.

Carol White was always nice eye candy. She plays Oliver Reed's girlfriend. She stumbles and staggers through her lines (in one scene she almost falls over, in another she 'reacts' to the people in the room before she even has entered it,) but you forgive her because she had a sort of innocent charm, like this film.

Reed is at his cool best. He was also at his handsomest in 1967. He handles his part with great ease.

Orson Wells camps it up, maybe a little too much. Marianne Faithfull says the 'f' word...but little else. She looks dreadful, her hair reminds me of those shaggy little rugs people used to put by their beds in those days, in fact maybe that's what it was.

If you like and/or are interested in '60's London...don't hesitate buying this. Otherwise I'd be reluctant to recommend it.

P.S. Almost forgot, the photography is excellent. So sharp and clear and so very London, 1967.

There's a sort of idiot-honesty about you I find refreshing
In "I'll Never Forget What's 'Isname," Oliver Reed plays Andrew Quint, an extremely successful 32-year-old advertising executive. While Quint's professional life is a success, his private life is a shambles. Quint goes through a moral crisis, and he leaves his wife, dumps his mistresses, and chops his desk to bits with an axe. Sickened by the corrupt world of advertising, Quint attempts to find meaning in his life by taking a low-paying job at a humble--but respectable--literary magazine run by old school chum, Leonard. Leonard is not a success by anyone's standards. In fact he secretly covets Quint's sports car and envies Quint's success with women. While Quint adjusts to his new poky little office, ex-boss, Jonathan Lute (played by Orson Welles) pursues Quint and pressures him to return to the world of corporate advertising. Jonathan is determined to get Quint back by hook or by crook. Quint deftly juggles his soon-to-be-ex-wife and two demanding mistresses while forming a relationship with Leonard's very available assistant, Georgina (Carol White). Quint's search for some meaning to life seems destined for disaster.

The character of Andrew Quint ironically mirrors many of the dilemmas Oliver Reed had in his own life. Oliver Reed was a rabble-rouser with a penchant for trouble, and "I'll Never Forget What's 'Isname" is a great film for any Oliver Reed fan. Although the film is relatively short, it is packed with action and drama. The story flows seamlessly, and no scenes are wasted. The film is very much a product of the 60s--complete with dolly birds running around in Mary Quant-style mini-dresses, and layers and layers of that 60s eye-make-up. The sexual freedom of the 60s peeks through--especially through Leonard's lascivious envy of Quint's social life. But in spite of the fact that the film is so obviously a product of 60s culture, it does not seem dated at all. Quint's rejection of professional success, and the moral quandaries created by the need to succeed are still relevant issues today. While the story deals with serious issues, everything is treated with a light ironic touch, and both Oliver Reed and Orson Welles fit neatly into the film as antagonists who both know the game all too well. Orson Welles is simply marvellous as the corrupt, wily, decadent Jonathan Lute--a man who will go as far as necessary to sell whatever product he represents. This is my favourite Orson Welles role next to Citizen Kane. The scenes with Welles are some of the best in the film, and the character Welles plays has a way of popping up in the most unexpected places. This disturbs Quint, but adds to the mood of the film. Oliver Reed and his co-star, Carol White had an off-screen romance as a result of this film, and Oliver Reed and Orson Welles maintained a close friendship for the rest of their lives. Watch for Marianne Faithfull in a small part as Josie--one of Quint's mistresses--displacedhuman

Still fresh...
Considering this movie was made over 30 years ago, it is surprising how fresh it still feels. Orson Welles' character, the diabolical ad agency owner, is compelling and witty. He brings amazing dimension to the story, with laceratingly sharp observations about Western social values.

Oliver Reed is captivating as Andrew Quint, the disenchanted ad agency executive. He exudes sexual and physical power in a way that is nearly unequalled in films on either side of the pond. I need to say something about a barely constrained raw power that Oliver Reed's Quint brings to screen -- it frequently erupts in surprisingly believable acts of violence and fistfights. I tend to think of fistfights and car chases as hokey Hollywood stuff (seriously, how many fist fights have you witnessed in real life?). But, it works, for the most part, in this movie.

Quint resigns from his high-powered position in a spectacular act of rebellion. He seeks to return to a truer calling in life - working as an editor for a declining literary magazine. After whole-heartedly chucking his job, he then goes half-heartedly through the motions of breaking off relations with his assorted blonds. But, not really. In fact, he acquires another blond or two along the way. The break-ups, both professional and personal, are all on the surface. It may be just a European thing or a sixties thing, but movie's characters are strangely bland and accepting about sexual infidelity.

The female characters, a wife and a bevy of girl friends, alas, are nearly interchangeable - stamped from a cookie cutter. Maybe that was intentional; because, it seems, Quint never comes to grips with his angst. He fails to recover that sense of integrity he sought in his attempts to shed the trappings of ad agency success. There is a faint question in the air at the end: does he to come to peace with himself, finally?

The movie provides a terrific glimpse into the social culture of the Sixties, when Britain was in its ascendancy as the celebrated crown jewel of pop culture. But, as I said, it doesn't seem that dated - even the clothes still look fairly okay (the hairstyles and makeup, though, NOT!). Ahead of its time in many ways, the movie has comments on the environment and society that are still valid and compelling today. Orson Welles' character delivers a very insightful speech on the extraordinary generation of waste - both literally in how landfills are swallowing up the country and in the quality of society's intellectual output. The movie is cagey in its revelation that even the hallowed halls of the academic elite harbor decay and moral corruption.

I enjoyed the commentary provided by Michael Winner on the DVD edition. It's chatty - gossipy, in fact, with rare details about the actors' personal lives. As for the title, I still don't get it; and Winner's comments about it are obtuse. Frankly, the title sounds like a slap-dash comedy, which this is not.

Capital portrayal of the "angry young man".
From the opening shot, you know this film is not just another movie from the 60's.

Many films from this era showcase the "angry young man" character rebelling against some unfocused facet of society that they feel oppresses them. "The Girl Getters", also starring Oliver Reed, and "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning" are two such samplings from Britain that are quite memorable (also of note is the even rarer portrayal of the "angry young woman" in "The Girl With Green Eyes").

Oliver Reed is marvelous as the angry young man in this slice of life film set in Swinging London. Reed's disillusioned character has reached a point where the swinging lifestyle has become empty and unsatisfying, and he wonders if there is something more to life than just having fun.

Of course, Welles is on hand, and although his part is relatively small, it it pivotal nonetheless. As Lute, the millionaire advertising executive, Welles exudes the frightening presence of a man who is not to be denied anything he wants. Lute is pragmatic, cynical, and amused at Reed's faniciful idea of working for a cause instead of working for cash.

Even though Reed owns the film, one standout in the cast to be mentioned is the milquetoast character who asks Reed to join his failing literary magazine. Burdened by a harping wife who is unhappy with the poor life of a scholar and wants "things" likes sportscars and washing mashines.

Of course, Carol White is the foxy and quintessential London swinger, and would easily give Felicity Shagwell a run for her money.

These type of films are all too rare. Although there are a few American films that touch on the same issues with the same styling ("The Sweet Smell of Success" and "Love With the Proper Stanger" both spring to mind), the British just had a knack for making solid "class struggle" films. They also had the actors that would make the films work and the characters believable. Reed and his fellow cast members excel in this one, and Welles is wonderful. Don't pass it up!

Oliver Reed as a disillusioned advertising executive
Oliver Reed stars as Andrew Quint, a successful advertising executive who has been balancing his family life with the demands of his mistress, Josie (Marianne Faithful), when he decides he is not really happy and decides to break free from his life. Andrew does this by showing up with an ax and demolishing his office. So, while his outraged boss, Jonathan Lute (Orson Welles) pursues him, Andrew goes on a bittersweet tour of Swinging London trying to get his head together. When this film came out in 1967 it was a controversial film because of its explicit language and sexuality. However, while the film is extremely tame by contemporary standards, "I'll Never Forget What's 'is Name" remains a potent testament of the disillusionment of the late Sixties. Harry Andrews, Michael Hordern, Wendy Craig and Frank Finlay are key members of the supporting cast in this film. The DVD edition contains audio commentary by director Michael Winner, who would later direct "Death Wish," which is just ironic on so many levels. ... Read more

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A Hollywood scandal springs to life in Peter Bogdanovich's lively Cat's Meow. In 1924 the immensely powerful publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst held a yacht party that ended with a gunshot. Between Hearst's influence and that of his glitterati guests (including Louella Parsons and Charlie Chaplin), no satisfying account of what happened ever made it to the public. The Cat's Meow reconstructs one of the more whispered-about possible scenarios and has quite a bit of fun doing so. Cast and crew alike skewer 1920s Hollywood decadence and, by extension, today's. Eddie Izzard is a boldly odd casting choice as Chaplin, but he succeeds, refusing to fall back on Little Tramp mannerisms. There are several other good performances, but best of all is the cool-as-sherbet Joanna Lumley as the deliciously jaded Elinor Glyn. The script is a strong one, never stooping to the excesses of its characters--Bogdanovich's take is far from the most lurid allegations of what happened that weekend. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Movie: 2 Television Series: 10 Too bad!
First of all, let me say that I am American and "Are You Being Served? (the t.v. series) is one of my all time favorite shows. It is rife with clever humor, memorable characters, excellent actors, wonderful innuendo, and often sharp writing.

This movie is not.

Possibly the biggest mistake is taking the characters out of their natural element: Grace Brothers Department Store. Granted, at the time, the writers must have thought they needed to do so in order to expand the scope for a film. I'm sure that they were correct, in part. But the way in which they took the characters out of the store is pitifully lacking.

Grumpy, tipsey Mrs. Slocumb; fey Mr. Humphreys; superior Captain Peacock; dottering Mr. Grainger; sexy but common Miss Brahms; randy Mr. Lucas; and jug-eared Mr. Rumbold are very lovable and very loved characters. Add in cockney and sly Mr. Harmon and you've got a recipe for hilarity.

Sadly "The Movie" doesn't really deliver on that. The beginning of the movie is the funniest - it is set in the department store. It is also slightly surreal as we are introduced to the characters as if we were seeing them for the first time and as if they didn't already have a history with each other. (Since the movie is a spin-off of the highly popular television series, this introduction seems unwarranted).

The premise is that the store must close and Mr. Grace has sprung for a vacation for the department to go to Costa Plonka in Spain. Sound familiar? Of course it does. It was a premise of one of the episodes. Once there the staff is relegated to staying in tents in the garden of the hotel. Sound familiar? It's another episode. (the whole Mrs. Slocumb and the flatulant air mattress is even included). Mr. Humphrey's dons women's clothing; and Mr. Harmon outsmarts everyone.

Basically what I'm saying is that there is no real new material here......except for the finale....and that ain't good news.

Why, oh why, anyone would find it funny having a revolutionary general beginning his insurrection in the hotel? Not only does it not make a lick of sense pragmatically, but comically it is the death knell for the movie.

There is one thing that the movie did that the series never did: Mr. Humphreys is definitely gay in the movie, but it was always a source of fun speculation in the series. It's a mistake.

Though written by the same writers as the series, it seems to have taken all the things that were wrong in the series and used them to make the film. Gone is the banter at the ubiquitous "staff meetings" or the "canteen lunches". Instead, the writers miss the chance at an al fresco dinner to do the same. Mr. Grainger was always a source of hilarity with his dottering ways - and yet here he's almost written as an afterthought.

I don't understand the mistake with this movie. In 1977 the series was still in production and was quite funny. What happened here? I speculate that the writers didn't have the time to really give the time necessary to the film.

I bought this DVD without having ever seen the film. I don't regret it as it is part of what I consider my AYBS collection, but if you want to get your first taste of this phenonomenal series by seeing the movie first - DON'T! Watch the episodes on your local PBS station here in the U.S. or rent the episodes or buy them at your local store or here on Amazon. Each one is a gem, though as with any show - some are better than others. However, not a single one of them is bad - something I cannot say about this film.

It's really a shame. "And I'm unanimous in that!"

If there was a no star rating, that's what it would get!
How sad to see such a pathetic attempt at making a movie of a really good series. It was absolutely horrible. The video and audio are really bad. I was highly disappointed and I wish I hadn't bought it. Very Corny. TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY.

Not up to snuff
Having viewed and enjoyed just about every episode of the Are You Being Served? TV show, I finally got down to seeing the movie recently. While it had a smattering of mild-to-moderately entertaining moments and a few snickers here & there, overall it wasn't quite "up to snuff" (as it were) in the laughs department when compared to the series it was based on. Sadly, a great deal of the gags and banter were lifted (or slightly modified) from various eppies of the TV show, but were not executed quite as well this time around. Even the obligatory stock gags (e.g. allusions to Mr. Humphries' alleged... er... fluffiness, Mr. Lucas' endless array of smart@$$ remarks & lustful leering at Ms. Brahms, Mrs. Slocombe's feline companion, etc.), which usually kill me every time they pop up on the telly series, didn't do much for me here.

On the upside: at least I finally got to see the Grace Bros. staff outside their usual environment, something I seldom saw in their small-screen misadventures. And it was also interesting to see how AYBS looks on a movie budget-- which apparently isn't too different from what it normally looks on a TV budget. From what I can gather, the only real diffs are the widescreen format, a better film stock, and the lack of a laugh track...

Bottom line: if you're a fairly close follower of the Are You Being Served? TV show but haven't seen this yet, this is worth at least a rental... if only to sate your curiosity. Otherwise, the AYBS movie ain't exactly what I'd consider a "keeper". And I am unanimous in this opinion, by the way...

'Late

Do Not Buy This DVD
If you love the series you will hate this movie. How it could be this awful but still have John Inman and Mollie Sugden in it is a mystery. It is painfully, PAINFULLY, bad. Not at all funny and a complete waste of a very talented group of actors.

Very Disappointed
I bought this for my husband as he is a long time fan of the TV show but after he watched about 30 minutes of it, he gave up and added it to the things we were taking to Goodwill. Money wasted. ... Read more

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Monty Python's John Cleese makes this lighthearted farce work as a tightly wound, punctilious public school headmaster whose well-organized life unravels in a series of disasters on his journey to a conference. Cleese is a master of fussy, fastidious characters in exasperating situations, bottling up his frustration under good manners and sardonic comments until he finally blows, but he's also startlingly vulnerable as he systematically loses all sense of himself. Dressed in monk's robes and stranded on a lonely country road, he looks down at his naked wrist and sighs, "I've even lost the time." Michael Fryan (the playwright of Noises Off) doesn't really have much of a story behind the situations, but he provides plenty of complications, and Cleese holds the film together with his brittle manner, single-minded drive, and hilarious headmaster's condescending haughtiness. While it will seem slight to many, Cleese fans will love it. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

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A certain lime-green bikini reaches icon status in Fathom, clinging as tightly to Raquel Welch as those phagocytes that attacked her in Fantastic Voyage. Raquel was the reigning sex goddess of the moment, which is all you need to know about Fathom, an otherwise extremely silly example of proto-Austin Powers spy spoofery. She's a poster come to life, and the movie is geared around her '60s outfits (a purple-and-cornflower ensemble is particularly stupefying), her orange-peach lipstick, and the way her hair seems perfectly in place even after a high-speed boat chase. Sadly, Raquel's dialogue delivery is as stiff as her brunette mane, but the movie perks up when she is chased around by an angry bull, a sequence that may have you wondering whether you ate some bad cheese. By the way, her character is a dental assistant, visiting Spain as part of a skydiving troupe. Enjoy! --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Fathom on DVD... worth the wait!
I just got my copy of "Fathom" on DVD ..being a huge Raquel Welch fan,and of 60's spy capers i have patiently waited for this movie to finally come on the market.I saw this movie originally when i was 14 years old,and i tried to see if i could get it on video & DVD,but it wasn't avalible.
Probably because of the nastolgia for 60's spy movies,in part due to the sucess of Austin Powers,these gems are finally being re-released i couldn't be happier!
I really enjoyed this film alot,beautifully shot in Spain,i enjoyed chracters,the sets,cars,the costumes,gadgets,and the music..and ah-em ... Raquel Welch,especially in the lime green bikini peddaling the catamaran.
In today's very graphic, sex-voilence action films,Fathom is refreshing,a throw back to the care-free 60's.
I've been turned on to alot of 60's movies,because of the current tastelessness.. of contemporary Hollywood films,Fathom,the Avengers,early Bond flicks,are the perfect antidote for me.
The whole time i was watching Fathom i could image Austin Powers sitting down next to me saying "yeah baby" whenever Raquel would appear on film.
This movie is a must have for any collector of 60's spy movies,and of Raquel Welch.
Definatly recomended.
The plot is easy to understand,no complicated Tom Cruise "Mission Impossible" here,the bull chase is definatly original in Fathom.Greta Chi who is also very sexy like Raquel in this film is her nemesis,and pulls it off very well...

A TREAT FOR RAQUEL FANS
A very enjoyable spy movie that won't change your life,but will entertain the guys for sure.Wifes and girlfriends will say:you only bought this because you can look at RAQUEL WELCH bikini clad,and they will be right.She was obviously at the prime of her beauty;her legend is justified there.The film is good clean fun with no erotism.So girls if you want your guy to stay at home one night,buy him this movie for father's day or on his birthday.Beware of the inevitable comparaison with a true beauty.Maybe this will force you to start a diet.Sorry,no offense.Oh yeah,about the story,it starts with FATHOM in the sand...No kidding!

It's Pure Raquel
It's not possible for me to think clearly when I'm watching a film starring Raquel Welch. However, when it comes to Raquel, I don't mind a befogged state, so FATHOM is a film I've truly enjoyed the five or six times I've watched it thus far. That I would like this film this much surprised me, as I obtained the DVD as one of the films included in the 5-disc RAQUEL WELCH COLLECTION, which I bought mostly for MYRA BRECKINRIDGE, about which I'd heard so much but had never seen. My sheer enjoyment of FATHOM, then, was lagniappe. It's a delightful farce, very light entertainment, and typical of the pop culture feature films of that period. And Raquel's almost constant screen time, combined with the fact of her jaw-dropping pulchritude, makes this an easy film to watch again and again. Admittedly, my affection for FATHOM is slightly nostalgic, as it is so fluffy, it reminds me of my own innocence during the time this film was produced. Also Raquel was the reigning screen goddess of my generation, her rise to stardom synchronous with my puberty. I assume if you're considering buying this DVD, you're motivated by similar affections. Let's fact it: This is not LAWRENCE OF ARABIA; the only art on the screen is what Nature itself embodied in the person of Ms. Welch.

And that's enough art for me. The rest of it is just plain fun. To my taste, this is a sort of extended video, and, instead of it showcasing some MTV rock star, it permits me an uncluttered appreciation for this phenomenally beautiful and graceful woman. If you're a Raquel fan and you're looking for an opportunity to indulge your membership among her fandom, this is a film you'll enjoy. You'll find it a very relaxing, G-rated, escapist fantasy starring the premier screen goddess of our time. It'll be time well spent.

Fathom
I LOVE this film. Raquel welch is so good in it. This is a great movie for the whole family.

ROCKY SHINES IN ENJOYABLE SPY SPOOF!!!
Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I have always liked this film! Raquel Welch (a very under-rated actress IMHO) is very good here as a amateur sky-diver who gets caught up in the spy game in Spain. The new DVD has a wonderful anamorphic widescreen transfer. It is sharp and colorful and sounds great (the music is quite good). The only extras is a poor looking trailer for this film (full screen) and trailers for Fox's other spy spoof releases, "IN LIKE FLINT", "OUR MAN FLINT", etc. I think it is time to re-evaluate Miss Welch's career and admit that the lady has talent. Start by checking out this film and the wonderful "THREE MUSKETEERS" and "FOUR MUSKETEERS" from Anchor Bay and "FUZZ" with Burt Reynolds and Yul Brynner on MGM DVD. You won't be sorry you did! ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Comedy and pathos as cultures clash
This 1999 British film is about the culture clash within a multicultural family living in Manchester, England, in 1971. The father, played by Om Puri, is Pakistani; the mother, played by Linda Basset, is English. They have seven children between the ages of 13 and 24 and run a fish and chips shop in a working class neighborhood. With a mixture of comedy and pathos, we feel the father's frustration as he tries to instill traditional Pakistani values into his family. Naturally they rebel as they are being raised in England and don't even speak their father's language. Each of the children copes in his or her own way, and there are some moments of hilarious comedy as the father tries to arrange marriages for his sons. But behind the humor, there's sadness, and I especially felt sorry for the 13 year-old boy who is forced to be circumcised. Mostly, the children want to be English and when the father becomes abusive to the mother, even the son who opted to be Muslim rebels against the father.

Acting is wonderful. Om Puri makes the audience both laugh at him and understand his grief. And the rest of the casting feels genuine. I was troubled about a few things though. One was the simple fact that there was no indoor plumbing and there are a lot of scenes including urinating in chamber pots. Another was that the joke is always on the Pakistanis; the father looks like a fool over and over again. We laugh at him and are angry at him and even understand him a little bit. But he doesn't get any sympathy and we learn nothing positive about the Pakistani culture. If I were Pakistani, I'd be angry. I did enjoy the story and the acting. But it's a bit too painful to be a comedy. And it just doesn't work as a drama. I therefore can only give it a lukewarm recommendation.

If you want comedy, put this one back on the shelf...
I have been reading what other people have thought of EAST IS EAST, and just want to know: WHAT WAS SO FUNNY? I watch alot of british comedies, and this was not that funny at all. I was very disappointed with this film. It was more dramatic and tragic than comedic. It's about a family in which the Pakistan father of a large group of children, whose mother is English. The father is trying to keep with tradition of Pakistan and arrange his sons' marriages. There was very little humor in my opinion, I laughed maybe four times in the entirity of the film. The acting was pretty good, but it was so sad how the father treated his family especially his wife. It was disturbing to me how it ended. I don't recommend this movie at all, it was fair.

Worst movie ever!
This has been the worst movie ever, look at what the characters are eating in the movie. BEACON. What is bacon made of? PIG. One of the major rule of islam is never to digest anything with pig ingredits, if this movie was a comedy then WTF are the producers doing by dissing a major religin.

Another aslpect of the movie was the idea of the screwed up family, the time frame isn't right for one thing if the first kid dropped the engagement then the whole family would have been thrown out of the community and shamed to harshly that would be looked on as a lowlife. There would be no way to set the second and the third wedding. This movie was a major turn off and a waste of time.

A drama - comedy about a multicultural family
How to get a heap full of problems caused by a multicultural family? - Put together a strict religious Pakistani man and a woman coming from a British working class family!
The film „East is East" is very interesting because it shows a multicultural family, the Khans, and their problems. At the beginning you are involved in the actions immediately, because the conflict between the father and the rest of the family is represented very well. This conflict is about the Muslim tradition of the father and the rest of the family, who wants to live the British way of life. The father, George, forces the typical Pakistani tradition upon to all of his children. Therefore the children are not allowed to live their own life. The consequence is a strong and at the same time humorous rebellion against the father.
The plot is plausible and easy to follow. The film has a good mix between humorous and dramatic scenes. Furthermore, the variety of characters is the most positive aspect of the film for me. George for example is a character who is lovely and sympathetic, but he can also become violent. Each member of the Khan family occupies a different position along a cultural fault line. Especially the seven children have interesting characters. One of them is gay and flees from his arranged marriage. Moreover there is a party-loving rebel and another child is a very religious Muslim. The only daughter wants to live as a boy and loves to play football.
The only negative aspect for me is the end of the film. It is very superficial and does not fulfil the viewers expectations since you do not know if the father really changes his attitude.
But I think the film is very good, because it describes the typical problems of such a family. If you are interested in this kind of family conflicts, the film will entertain you.

A definite must see movie!
In the same vein as Bend It Like Beckman and Monsoon Wedding, East is East tells the story of one family and the traditional but very different family values that each member shares. It's a simple story but told from all view points and through out the movie you wonder how will it all come together! United States fans of the British soap Eastenders will want to take note that the actor Jimi Mistry who plays the son Tony was also Dr. Fonseca! ... Read more

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Could this be the funniest movie ever made? By any rational measure of comedy, this medieval romp from the Monty Python troupe certainly belongs on the short list of candidates. According to Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide, it's "recommended for fans only," but we say hogwash to that--you could be a complete newcomer to the Python phenomenon and still find this send-up of the Arthurian legend to be wet-your-pants hilarious. It's basically a series of sketches woven together as King Arthur's quest for the Holy Grail, with Graham Chapman as the King, Terry Gilliam as his simpleton sidekick Patsy, and the rest of the Python gang filling out a variety of outrageous roles. The comedy highlights are too numerous to mention, but once you've seen Arthur's outrageously bloody encounter with the ominous Black Knight (John Cleese), you'll know that nothing's sacred in the Python school of comedy. From holy hand grenades to killer bunnies to the absurdity of the three-headed knights who say "Ni--!," this is the kind of movie that will strike you as fantastically funny or just plain silly, but why stop there? It's all over the map, and the pace lags a bit here and there, but for every throwaway gag the Pythons have invented, there's a bit of subtle business or grand-scale insanity that's utterly inspired. The sum of this madness is a movie that's beloved by anyone with a pulse and an irreverent sense of humor. If this movie doesn't make you laugh, you're almost certainly dead.--Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (630)

one of the best comedies ever and dvd extras to rave about!
This is what dvds were invented for -- there are so many great features here! So in addition to seeing one of the funniest movies ever made, you can be entertained for hours with the extras, and the extras are terrific: subtitles in English, French or Spanish; audio track choices -- English (the original mono or a brand new full stereo version), French, a directors' (Gilliam and Jones) track or a commentary track with Cleese, Idle and Palin; a copy of the script overlaid on the film; a painstaking, hilarious Henry the IV-ish subtitle for those who don't like the film; a hard-of-hearing feature; killer rabbit easter eggs; animated menus using Gilliam's original animation; karaoke renditions of 'Knights of the Round Table', 'Sir Robin' and the 'Monks Chant'; a delightful 45 minute visit to the locations with Jones and Palin; an educational film about the 'other' uses of coconuts; Japanese versions of the French Castle and Knights Who Say Ni scenes, including references to the 'holy sake cup'; a 1974 BBC Film Night visit to a location site during filming; photos of tickets, press releases, reviews, posters, production stills and original artwork; trailers; cast credits (Palin played over a dozen parts!) with pictures of each character; a Lego knights version of the Camelot scene; pictures of sketches that were never used (a killer snail?!); a web link.

A lot of effort went into this special edition dvd, and it shows. I particularly enjoyed seeing Jones and Palin visit locations. They were in a jolly mood, their comments are interspersed with film footage, and they meet affectionate and funny fans along the way.

If you like this film you will love this dvd version; if you love the film, you wil adore this two-dvd set. An essential item for your collection.

Highest recommendation.

I Never Thought Looking For A Shrubbery Would Be This Fun!!
In the early 1970's the Monty Python troop (Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, and Terry Jones) stars from the immensely popular television series Monty Python's Flying Circus began producing, with the help of a fundraising concert headlined by Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd (You lie!! No, I didn't!), initial photography on what would later become (from all my extensive years of movie watching) the single most unforgivably sidesplitting, enormously irreverent, shrewdly perceptive, unremittingly uproariously aggressive, gruesomely hysterical, and endlessly quotable comedies EVER. Not even Mel Brooks's Best Efforts (The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein) comes very close to the revolutionary medieval merriment sustained in this royal purebred of cult classics. BAR NONE. No contest here.

Endlessly stockpiled with hauntingly hysterical sketches that will probably never leave your mind (no matter how hard you try) including, The Knights Who Say Nei, The Self-Abusing Monks (Eah aay ess eay dom eay nay), The Black Knight, The Trojan Rabbit, the Ever-Appearing Verbally Abusing French (I don't want to talk to you no more!!!), The Enchanter Named Tim, The Killer Bunny, The Bridge of Death (What is the capital of Hysteria?), The Old Woman Named Dennis, and so many countless more great sketches to include here that I'd die trying. Monty and Python and the Holy Grail remains an ever-enriching mirthful cult-classic that just seems to improve with age. Since Columbia has a bountifully hefty new special edition of the Holy Grail out now there should be no excuse, if you've never seen it (I think I'll go for a walk!!), just drop everything your doing (including Bringing Out Your Dead) and go experience this life changing movie today. You won't be disappointed, just tell them the Knight Not Appearing In This Film sent you, and they'll know what to do.

As for the options on the special edition here's a run-down:

Disc One: -"21st Anniversary" cut of the film running an extra 24 seconds; -Anamorphic Widescreen; -Dolby 5.1 track; -Original Mono Track; -Audio commentary with Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, John Cleese, Eric Idle and Michael Palin; -subtitles "for people who don't like the film" (you get the text from Shakespeare's Henry IV instead); -an "on-screen screenplay" feature which lets you read the screenplay as you watch the film; -"Follow the Killer Rabbit" feature;

Disc Two: "Three Mindless Sing-Alongs"; -"The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations" featurette; -"How to Use Your Coconuts" educational film; -"Monty Python and the Holy Grail in Japanese" (with English subtitles); -the BBC Film Night special "On Location with the Pythons; -an interactive cast directory; -still galleries with Terry Gilliam's original sketches and behind-the-scenes photos; -"A Load Of Rubbish" with mystery items; -unused ideas and other material; -two trailers
and web-links.

Both discs represent the absolute final word resource for EVERYTHING and I do mean everything you'd need to know about the Python's greatest film. An Absolute Necessity for any Python Fan!!

P.S. You can't base a system of government just because some watery tart threw a sword at you.

What are you going to do, bleed on me?
excellent. Possibly the funniest movie ever made. Who could forget such a line as "I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of eldeberries." This is a great movie and a great dvd edition that gives it justice. This is completely worth the money. A comedy Classic.

This movie didn't make me Run Away! (or) Run away FASTER!!!
Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail is, by far, my favorite movie -and I'm sure it always will be! Being a truly hilariously-random film, this DVD does an awesome job of showcasing this fact to the highest extent. The killer white "rrrrabit" will live on in my heart forever, and I will always be knowledgeable that African swallows are non-migratory. What other movie has a group of knights requesting shrubberies -from King Arthur, no less- to create a 'two-level effect with a path through the middle'? Only Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
The movie might sound strange as I mention these things out of context, but I assure you it is much stranger when Monty Python says it!
So, to conclude this review, I definitely give "Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail" DVD a 5 star rating, as I know it will entertain millions for years to come. Enjoy!

The Lego Camelot Number Alone is Worth the Price
Who would have thought that, after nearly 30 years, the world's goofiest movie could be made even moreso? Not only is this DVD a comedy triumph (it would be simply if it were the DVD version of the classic film, in which a crew too broke to afford horses for King Arthur and his Knights changed history and college kids' banter forever by introducing coconuts as migrating props). Oh, no, this DVD is one that may become a standard for other DVDs. Just look at this list of extras above! To be sure, some of them are fluff. The "load of rubbish" selection is simply some receipts and a few odd notes. But most of it is stupendous.

The first disc contains the movie itself, along with some choices of how to watch it.... subtitles, commentary by directors Terry Jones & Terry Gilliam or by John Cleese & Eric Idle & Michael Palin. Then "for people who don't like the film", there's subtitles from Shakespeare's "Henry IV, Part II". Now, these do not faithfully follow Henry IV verse by verse, but they do come from the play, and it's hilarious how the phrases Shakespeare wrote do actually match up with the action on the screen.

Disc Two contains several mementoes: a film of John Cleese, Terry Jones, and "Grail" production manager John Young (who also played the hapless "Historian" towards the end of the film, and the "I'm not dead!" guy) paying a return visit to Castle Doune , in 2000. At first it's fun to hear them reminisce at the filming site, but since it's a very small spot with nothing but a wall and a bit of ground, they appear uncomfortable and that quickly gets old. More interesting is the home movie made by the two Terries when they looked for prospective film locations in the seventies. Their excitement is palpable.

A somewhat painful scene (except for the chance it gives us to watch Terry Jones in action as a director) is the BBC documentary made during filming. The interviewer seems more interested in trying to be funny himself than in the Pythons. But there are several great comic extras, including words to some songs, a coconut skit, two scenes dubbed in Japanese, and best of all, an animated feature of the "Camelot" scene and song done entirely in Lego...must be seen to be believed.

Finally, someone has made good use of the storage space on a DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A cheeky comedy about love's labor being well beyond lost, Born Romantic stutters out of the gate and never quite recovers. Perhaps it's the gaggle of local quips, jokes based on British television personalities, for instance, or the cameo-like nature of its ever-revolving cast, but director David Kane can't seem to sit still long enough to artfully set up his punch lines--anathema to a feature-length comedy. Set mostly in a London salsa club, the film trails behind a series of lonely thirtysomething singles as they search out one-night stands in the hopes of stumbling upon something more meaningful, namely love. As they shuttle to and fro in late-night minicabs, we're afforded insight into their shortcomings, past disappointments, shagging abilities, and ostensible charms, the cab serving as both confession booth and makeshift bedroom. Featuring a cast of recognizably talented faces, including Jimi Mistry (East Is East) and Olivia Williams (Rushmore), Born Romantic unfortunately never manages to shake its initial impression of being an inflated sitcom better pared down for television. --Fionn Meade ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Fun Romantic Comedy for an Evening's View
Hubby and I have finally solved our problem of being unable to understand English accents that are other than what one hears on the BBC and are referred to as "posh" or upperclass. We now turn on the English subtitles and watch them that way. It used to be that fifteen minutes into a movie like this we'd be turning it off because we had such trouble understanding them. With the advent of English subtitles being on all DVDs, those days are over. The film is a relationship film set in London and involves rougly 7 different men and women and their attempts to get together through the use of their local Salsa dance club. Every character in here has relationship problems but they tend to be funny ones. There is minimal contact with the world of divorce and even less with the world of single parenting. Instead, these are all singles trying to connect and flopping fabulously at it most of the time. Each character has his or her own eccentricity which is well handled too. I can't say I need to own this film but for an evening's viewing, it was a lot of fun. There are two men who play cab drivers in a restaurant who have some absolutely hilarious dialogues with one another. They aren't part of the other action but as comedy sketches, their scenes together are gems.

A Very Nice Surprise
I saw this DVD sitting on the shelf at my local movie rental store and the cover sort of turned me off--that faux jovial happy couple look. But then I read the list of actors in it, and I figured 'hey, it can't be as bad as it looks with that cast.' Luckily, I was proven correct. I thoroughtly enjoyed this English comedy! I even watched it twice and got more out of it the second time. Some of the characters are very sharply drawn, and I think Adrian Lester, who plays the catalyst cab driver, is outstanding in his low-key intense performance. Jimi Misti is also comically effective.

Give this film a try!

The darker side of comedy
BORN ROMANTIC cuts a slice of life out of London life that includes a myriad of characters all of whom border on pathological types. And it is this very aspect which makes this tasty little film so addictive. The homing center for these disparate people is a Salsa Club and whether they are committed to the dance routine or not, they weave in and out of each others lives with the salsa music as the glue. One woman is a grave decorator with anatomical phobias in abundance, another is a bisexual who fears relationships, another is leaping toward the bed the moment she meets a new male. The men are equally edgy, from a Scotsman who pines for a truly classy woman, to a ATM robber, to a wonderfully warm taxi driver who serves as a paterfamilias and has the only clear view in the bunch. How they all eventually find each other is the point of hte journey. The acting is excellent, the timing first rate, and if you have any difficulty with the various accents of the Londoners, just turn on the English subtitles and you won't miss a thing. A lovely film full of surprises.

Surprisingly good, actually
You know, I normally have no use for romantic comedies--let alone romantic comedies that revolve around quasi-obscure cultural traditions--but this was--I must admit--quite good. This is largely due to the fact that its creators saw fit to insert some actual *comedy,* rather than just the cutesiness which typically passes for humor in these affairs, in spite of not being at all funny. The fact that the characters are, by and large, well-drawn helps too, and including the cab driver (the only one in London, apparently) as a central, unifying figure was a good idea that worked. I cannot help but compare Born Romantic to Sidewalks of New York, a film I hated (two stars was a bit generous, methinks). That film was also an ensemble piece examining multiple relationships, but it got bogged down in its self-satisfied smugness, never allowing the charaters to actually be people. This, on the other hand, does; it has a relatively unaffected charm that made it a highly enjoyable experience (of course, it also didn't hurt that it appealed to my inner anglophile either). Recommended.

salsa-riffic!
i just rented this movie without hearing anything about it. i am a lover of foreign flicks to begin with especially anything the bbc films produce. this film combines humor, romance and the energetic salsa music together perfectly. i was intrigued by all of the various characters and felt that they all blended together in perfect harmony. i can't wait to find the soundtrack and keep it for my collection. a great surprise and heartwarming film about romance and love and its many ways. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Rachel Papers
Perhaps not on par with the novel but more accessible. Although brilliant and highly original, I think Martin Amis' first book contains some obscure passages and insider English schoolboy jokes. Also, the 1970's setting of the book has been replaced by the 1980's in the movie.

Ione Skye and Dexter Fletcher portray the growing relationship between Rachel & Charles rather well. James Spader fills in nicely as DeForest, the rival boyfriend. The college scene with Michael Gambon as Doctor Knowd is particularly humorous.

A good study in adolescence.

OK, I admit the real reason I first saw this movie...
... ten years ago was because I heard from a friend that Ione Skye had a pair of nude scenes in it. However, I found myself completely taken in by the movie...One scene in particular was priceless. Rachel has just climbed into a taxi and closed the door but left open the window. Just as Charles works up the nerve to try to kiss her through the window and leans foreward, the cab pulls away. The look on his face is pitiful. But when you see her smile back, it's just magical...Oh by the way, Ione Skye DOES take off her clothes repeatedly, so guys who normally shun this sort of movie have a valid reason to watch it, too!

Movies never are as good as the books...
A very good movie, not quite up to the standard of the book it is based on (and follows rather closely).

The book was written from the point of view of the main character, but it has two voices. One was Charles Highway's inner meanderings and pronouncements, the other (still by Charles) was the unadorned, unanalysed description of the things that happened to him. And generally there is a glaring difference between the two - they don't match up. In the view of the first voice, Charles is a wise and funny schemer. But the events related in the second voice show him to be inept, unlucky, and chronically unsure of himself. The ending was similarly riven. You can't tell if things ended-up the way they did by choice or design. Perhaps the author didn't know.

So anyway, the movie has to deal with that dichotomy, and it does it by pretty much ignoring the second voice. Charles comes across as boastful and shallow, for the most part, and a lot less likeable. The film also has to drop a lot of his hilarious caustic monolgues, so it's less funny than the book, too. That being said, there's enough left to allow fans of the book to fill in the blanks, and it doesn't attempt to force in a standard Hollywood ending. Plus the three main actors and the supporting cast were very good - Jonathon Pryce as Charles' deranged uncle is so good that it's hard to keep your eyes on Ione Skye in the few scenes they have together.

Skye, Fletcher, Spader, who could ask for anything more
In Skye's only movie worth seeing other than the incredible Say Anything, we see a slightly edgier "romance" than in Say Anything.

Fletcher, who lives with his sister (like in Say Anything) has a crush on the gorgeous intelligent Skye (like her character in Say Anything).

In this film, however, there is another man (Spader). That adds a bit of intrigue to Fletcher's pursuit. Another significant difference is that the relationship is, shall we say consummated, onscreen (thus the R-rating). Notwithstanding the joy of seeing Skye in her most "revealing" role, this film has that kind of British sensibility that makes it an enjoying ride.

However, don't expect the sophistication of Say Anything. Just an entertaining little flick with good dialogue and intriguing relationships.

Creepy guy gets lucky.
The Rachel Papers is a showcase film intended to introduce the world to Dexter Fletcher whose obvious appeal is he is Mick Jagger at 16 if Mick Jagger could be sixteen again. The Rachel Papers refers to a computer diary Fletcher's character keeps about his relationships with women. As he is too young to have any relationships of consequence and is trying too hard to be clever and a sophisticated man of the world "the papers" are insipid. If your sister was dating him, you would find him a little creepy. However persistance pays off and in a moment of generosity or lapse of good judgement, Rachel agrees to a date. Rachel is played by the lovely Ione Skye who you will remember from a much better movie, "Say Anything". In a double stroke of good fortune, Rachel likes sex. To quote the film, "For Rachel, sex was Disneyland and I was the ride." This is the only real reason to purchase this film. The two of them go at it in several fairly long scenes. Ione looks absolutely wonderful so if you ever had any fanatasies about her, this is the film for you. You will not be disappointed if that is what you are looking for. I will suffice it to say that this is a boy meets girl, boy loses girl film and I leave it to you to discover how this unravels. Its a downer not because you feel bad he gets dumped but because you feel sorry for her getting hooked up with the guy in the first place. In keeping with the spirit of the film, Ione Skye went on to bigger things more worthy of her charms and Dexter Fletcher sailed on to oblivion. The best way to enjoy this film is to pilot the remote with a heavy thumb on the fast forward button stopping regularly to get a gist of the story 'til the relationship gets going. Then enjoy the film to its inevitable conclusion. Its a poor film but a must see for Ione fans. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

dull dull dull
I gave a scathing review for Takashi Miike's dreadful "Happiness of the Katakuris". Not good. It turns out that it was a remake of a Korean film, namely "The Quiet Family". While much better than the remake, the film still struggles under the weight of trying too hard to make the black humor strike home, although several moments are quite well done and elicited a minor chuckle. The basic story is a family who opens a lodge on a hiking trail and their guest keep accidentally dying off so rather than have it reflect badly on their lodge, they start hiding the bodies. THe main problem here is that its just not that funny and not at all scary which a horror/comedy should have at least one of those qualities. It left me, quite frankly, bored. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

The best that can be said for There's a Girl in My Soup is that it is not quite as bad as its reputation. A belly flop in the careers of Peter Sellers and Goldie Hawn (she was fresh off her Oscar® for Cactus Flower), this Boulting brothers production did nothing to showcase the sparkling comic talents of those two performers. Sellers has some nice moments early as a famous TV-host twit, whose career as a serial seducer is halted after meeting hippie chick Goldie. It's one double-entendre after another:"You only want one thing," says one of Sellers's conquests. "Yes, but what a lovely thing," he sighs. Seen now, the movie is most fun for its goofy look at the gestalt of swinging London: Sellers' automated bachelor pad was surely an inspiration to the Austin Powers folks, and his checkered beige suit must be seen to be believed. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Gene Wilder At His Irish Best!!
Quakser Fortune(Gene Wilder)is a somewhat eccentric,uneducated humble,fertilizer merchant in Dublin Ireland when a rich,sophisicated American visitor Zazel Pierce(Margot Kidder)becomes fascinated by him when they first connect,their different lifestyles become irrelevant but they later grow tired of each other especially by Zazel's snobbish friends.Quakser then retreats to his old job of gathering horse manure to sell as fertilizer.When his cousin in the Bronx dies he leaves a small fortune for Quakser that changes his livelihood forever.This is quite an interesting,offbeat comedy/drama with Gene Wilder at his Irish best!!

A Gentle Classic Comedy
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, a variety of films were made that would have little chance to exist prior to that period, and little chance for approval after that period. A good example of such a film is this gentle tale of an Irish dung collector in love, with Gene Wilder in the title role. Other usual classics from this era include "Get to Know Your Rabbit," with Orson Welles as the instructor at a school for tap-dancing magicians (also includes Katharine Ross from "The Graduate," along with Tommy Smothers and a great comic performance by John Astin), "Evil Roy Slade" (a made-for-TV parody western), "Inserts" (a rarely-seen film about the making of porn, with a strong cast), Marlon Brando's controversial erotic classic "Last Tango in Paris," the Beau Bridges film "The Landlord" (about a rich kid who buys a tenement), the French film "Get Out Your Handkerchiefs," and various others. Most are not easy to find, but are available on video or DVD, and worth seeking out.

Pleasant, Pleasant, Pleasant
The previous Amazon reviewers have given this five stars. QUACKSER FORTUNE is not one of the greatest movies of all time, and not one of the near-greatest. But it's a solid film, worth seeing. The two main characters are three-dimensional, for a change. Both Kidder and Wilder are wonderful in their roles. The picture drags too much; some good editing would have helped. Also there is a bit too much of -- how can I say it? -- reverse condescension. The Irish are a bit "quaint," which endears them to American audiences, I suppose, and also supplies a bit of distance. If this film were set in the US, we'd see two rather flaky people -- a do-it-alone selfish Wilder, and a silly college student Kidder. So it wouldn't work here. But set in Dublin, the trick is pulled off. Bottom line: a solid three-star film, each star standing for "pleasant."

Bittersweet gem
Beautiful sleeper of a film featuring two excellent leading performances and fine photography of Dublin. Margot Kidder and Gene Wilder make an offbeat pair and work very well together. Kidder is stunningly beautiful in her first leading role, almost ten years before her success as Lois Lane. Wilder is totally believable as Quackser -- watch this movie after "Young Frankenstein" and you'll see the enormous range of which this actor is capable. Viewers expecting Mel Brooks-type humor will be disappointed -- "Quackser"'s humor grows from the differences between the two lovers' backgrounds. Warm, simple and sad, "Quackser" also delivers a gentle message about nonconformity. A highly original love story worth adding to your collection.

this film is a must for dubliners
this film brings back fond memories to me for it was as a fourteen year old that i watched it being filmed in the ivy market in dublin i had never even heard of gene wilder but to see him dancing around like a man possessed made me laught so much it was a number of years later when i saw the movie it was so enjoyable sadley the dublin it depicted no longer excites i would recommend this film to any one from three to onehundred and three i have looked for this film in every video shop in dublin so it was a great joy to find this site i would like finaly to say to every out there get this film on dvd it will be the best money you will spend this millennium or any other millennium ... Read more

Description

The comic duo behind Ab Fab bring their unique sense of humor to movies, music, magazines, and mid-morning television in this collection of classic spoofs. Includes Rock Stars and Their Toilets, Opera Divas, Womanly World, and the original Ab Fab sketch. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Sweetie Dahling
I recently purchased this fabulous DVD of "Gentlemen Prefer French & Saunders." The reason I say "Sweetie Dahling" is because this one contains the original skit of "Absolutely Fabulous". Warning: don't expect big laughs from this skit on AbFab. You'll be disappointed. J. Saunders is dressed in some funky bohemian outfit as D. French is wearing a very dorky schoolgirl frock, in which the real Saffy wears. It's safe to say that the AbFab episodes have toned down their characters and aren't as haphazardly animated. They've refined it in the AbFab tapes if you can believe that.
Despite the disappointing AbFab skit, the rest of the skits are brilliant. I nearly died laughing when Jennifer and Dawn play two back-up singers for a cheesy recording of Kylie Minogue's "I should be so lucky". They join the real opera diva, Sarah Walker.
There is a hilarious spoof on "The Exorcist". Dawn French plays little Reagan, who sticks her lizard like tongue out at Jennifer during a medical examination.

The best part about this DVD is that it has newer F&S skits that you can't find anywhere else. Don't bother looking for them on their own seperate DVD or VHS. You can however find the skits shown on BBCAmerica from time to time.

Belly-Laughs Galore Parodies of Well-Known Hollywood Scenes!
Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders have no equal in their hilarious way of making fun of Hollywood. Watch them "impersonate" bombshells Marilyn Monroe & Jane Russel, playing "Two Little Girls From Little Rock", or see their version of "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane" (the infamous -lunch is served!- routine we rememebr so well), and many other great comedy skits.

During one particular scene, I actually had to leave to get a drink of water, or else I may have passed out from exhaustion, that's how hard I had to laugh! While Jennifer Saunders (in the role of an entertainment executive) rambled on about new ideas, Dawn French (who at first paced the office, listening to the babble) suddenly grabbing her throat saying in a whisper "...this is all so trivial, it doesn't seem to matter at all... our whole lives are nothing but rubbish!" Quickly Saunders interjects "No, no, no, darling, it does matter, everything we say an do is of utmost importance!" - Instantly French regains her composure, and the two continue the senseless babble about new ideas.--This scene could have ended in the ER for me!

These two British Comedy Wonders are the funniest thing to come across the ocean since Monty Python and Benny Hill! This particular DVD is on the very top of my list of favorites. You will never laugh harder than at French & Saunders' Comedy routines!

F&S - Better than S&M!
"Gentlemen Prefer French and Saunders" is truly the best of the 4 F&S DVD's. I bought the "Set", and what a bargain! I watched the first three DVD's today, and laughed for hours. If you are looking for some silly, yet witty entertainment I suggest these DVD's. I have begun to refer to F&S as "Monty-Pyfemme. A wonderful addition to my growing BBC DVD library! Make sure to watch the bonus sections - usually they are the best parts.

If You Are a Fan
You can't live without this DVD!! Hilarious!! If you need your humour wet, enough to soak you with a super soaker...or shall I say, if that kind of thing amuses, you won't like this....but if your sense of humour is dry as the desert and you can understand heavy BRIT...you'll love THIS!!! Run and buy it!!

These Two Women Are Chameleons
I rate these folks fairly highly because I understand British idiom and humo(u)r. If you are an American, trust that your mileage may vary on how well this tickles your funny bone. It is a good bit more sedate than "Monty Python", that's for sure.

No doubt about it - Saunders and French are chameleons. I suspect a big award goes to the wardrobe and makeup crew who work with them, but we have a somewhat convincing 250 pound Jane Russell (French) doing schtick with a middle-aged Marilyn Monroe (Saunders).

The DVD has sketches, not one running story. In this one, they lampoon opera divas, publishers of utterly worthless "stocking stuffer" books (I am resisting spoiling it and will not post the title of the dreadful book,but it is funny.), boring chat shows (one has the two women chatting earnestly about what the Queen had for "elevenses"), two rustic housewifes bragging about fleecing the yuppies ("She offered me 100 quid for the loo!"), and (my favorite) a couple of dour and indestructible old women in Wellies with two large dogs under the table.

The sketches I did not like were the "Gone With The Wind Sketch" ( Too many "Fiddle-dee-dees" for my taste) and the visit to the friend in jail sketch (I got bored, so sue me.).

Oh, yeah, this DVD also has the sketch that spawned the entire "Absolutely Fabulous". ... Read more

Amazon.com

When orphaned shop clerk Arthur Kipps inherits a fortune, his future seems assured--but money doesn't buy happiness, as the gawky lad learns when he mixes with the swells. The splashy musical Half a Sixpence was adapted from H.G. Wells's novel, Kipps, and it saw considerable success as a stage vehicle for the exuberant Tommy Steele. The film version gets caught in that mid-1960s mode of the lumbering super-production (the kind that helped kill the movie musical). Lavishly mounted by old pro director George Sidney, and boasting some echt-sixties photography by the great Geoffrey Unsworth, Half a Sixpence offers its share of eye candy. The blowhard presence of Cyril Ritchard and the spectacular dancing of Grover Dale help. Then there's Tommy Steele, whose stage-scaled performance is all teeth and hair; he attacks the razzmatazz numbers with ferocity--maybe more ferocity than charm. Songs by David Heneker. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Half a Sixpence on DVD--Better Than None
Contrary to what another reviewer has said, Half a Sixpence was a throughly delightful show on stage, at least on Broadway, thanks to a great performance by Tommy Steele, a charming cast, and wonderful choreography by Onna White who went on to do the choreography for the film version of Oliver! The movie version of Sixpence didn't quite have all the charm of the show, but it does have Steele, who gives his all, a touching performance by Julia Foster as Anne, and Grover Dale from the Broadway cast (who would also appear in the Demy film musical The Young Girls of Rochefort. The production values are pleasing to the eye. I'd say one of the flaws of the movie is the unimaginative choroeography by Gillian Lynne (who eventually worked on Cats)--I'm not sure why White wasn't available. The movie includes most of the score of the show, but it cuts one of the show's best songs, Long Ago--it's sung briefly by a chorus at the beginning and is also used as background music but it was an important number in the show because it reaffirmed the love of Kipps and Anne. Having said all this, Half a Sixpence is worth owning because it is an example of lavish filmmaking we don't get to see much anymore. And it's a good musical that for some reason isn't performed very much, at least in the US. I just wish they would have done an interview with Steele about being in the musical. I believe this movie did much better in England than in the US when it was originally released.

Wide-screen musical - Needs DVD Treatment
Director George Sidney gave this tuneful London/Broadway musical the full Hollywood treatment - leaving the film audience with a dreamy, family-style comedic, romantic romp. Tommy Steele, the lead of the theater productions and the movie, does his talented best and leaves the audience well entertained. At this point in time - 2002 - the film deserves a widescreen, stereo sound, DVD restoration to be fully appreciated. Irwin Kostal's (Sound Of Music, Mary Poppins) sparkling musical orchestrations and musical direction plead for return of the stereo tracks to any future DVD release. Sadly famed Hollywood director - George Sidney died on May 5, 2002.

A constant joy
I resent the Amazon reviewer's caustic remarks about the movie, Richard and Steele. This movie was a true delight from beginning to end. The dancing was glorious and lots of it. The songs by this time were old friends. Incidentally, I've heard the cast recordings of the London, Bway and movie versions. A few songs were the same in all 3, others came and went, which I thought was odd. Tommy Steele (35 years ago, can you believe it!) was wonderful as was everyone, it was a little long (2 hours and 25 minutes), but it was always fun and exciting. I loved it. Incidentally, the villains were just nasty enough to get their point across, nothing to enrage you, and their comeuppance was also just right, not some scathing triumph. I found the whole thing a pleasure, just as I did 35 years ago.

cute by corny
When I was a bit of a wee lad I traveled back and forth across the ocean on the HMS Orianna from the U.S. to Great Britain. On both voyages I visited the on-board movie theater and enjoyed the same movie twice, the only movie they showed. Made sense, British liner, british popular film of the time. On both trips I was the only one sitting in the dark theater. "Half a Sixpence" - thanks to today's modern everything we can re-live so much of what we did back then, and have these toys bring our sweet memories back to life. But for the life of me, I couldn't remember anything, short of a couple of song lyrics, about the movie. Now that I've seen the DVD I understand why. What an empty bit of fluff. Cute songs, pretty scenary. But what was the message? What was the story? Part socialism (perhaps they thought edgy communism at the time - those wild sixties people) / part religious morality / all very confusing - I'm still not sure of the point. Are we meant to be happy being poor, but, money is ultimately ok to have? And, looking into the face of what is clearly a 'common girl' at the end and saying 'You're lovely" - is that the social statement? The subtle hidden message? But then, the final consumation, they barely kiss during the entire movie but at the end Tommy and his young bride actually rub noses, longer and harder than any other romantic display. Was that a message? Fortunately while on board I did meet a romantic interest, Allison. Ah, now that's a memory. And purchasing this DVD had me remember much, all very sweet. And isn't that part of the reason we grow nostalgic?

HALF A TRANSFER IS BETTER THAN NONE
For the longest time I thought I was the only one in the world who could be hoping against hope for a widescreen stereo DVD of "Half A Sixpence" and thought it would never happen. I'm delighted to be proven wrong on both counts.

While I had no problem with what looked like a fine visual transfer, the stereo sound seems to be from faded magnetic tracks that have not been restored. It all sounds a bit muted, and in one scene one of the channels has a wobbling-hissing sound underneath the dialogue and music. I just wish they would have gone the extra step to polish the great soundtrack. But still, half a "Half A Sixpence" is better than none; this is a lavish, fun, boisterous musical.

Now if they would FINALLY release "Flower Drum Song" in widescreen and stereo...Anyone know what's taking so long? ... Read more