Golden Years of British Comedy [DVD]

Product Details

• Format: PAL
• Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
• Number of discs: 3
• Classification: PG
• Studio: Universal Pictures UK
• DVD Release Date: 9 April 2007
  

By : Rated:Parental Guidance|Format: DVD
Price : £4.99

Customer Reviews

Originally released in the 1990s as three separate VHS tapes, this set presents some brilliant moments from the comedy archives. There's some amazing footage from performers as diverse as Norman Evans, Breyl Reid, Tommy Trinder, Michael Bentine and Jimmy James, the best of it performed in front of a live audience. However, the editing and general presentation leaves a bit to be desired. Colour footage- like Sandy Powell's brilliant bad ventriloquist routine- is presented in black and white, presumably to make it look more authentically old. In fact, this routine was recreated by Powell for television towards the end of his life, in the late 1970s, but they've put it on the 1940s disc, so presumably they wanted to disguise the fact. In other cases- like Norman Evans' salesman of quack remedies- the routine appears to have been filmed in an empty studio, and the laughter of a much later studio audience dubbed onto it. Watching these DVDs, you long to see whole, uncut routines. Why is Jimmy James' in-the-box sketch interrupted by Roy Castle's talking head commentary? Why is the amazing footage of Monsewer Eddie Gray's brilliant live act cut up and shown in separate pieces? They even cut out the hilarious bit where he reveals that the reason the suitcase is moving around by itself is because it's got a live dog in it. On the other hand, the talking head footage which links the clips is used sparingly, and it's not intercut with the frenzied pace of modern clip shows- and the interviewees (like Castle, Max Bygraves and Harry Secombe) have some nice anecdotes and make some intersting points. With 3 discs of essentially great- if mangled- stuff, this is very good value, and for now it'll have to do. I just wish somebody has the nous to release a DVD with uncut footage of comedians of the past- and, come to that, footage of a whole host of other types of variety act, like jugglers, magician, performing animals, mentalists, adagio acts, etc.

A word of advice for DVD makers. If you are going to produce DVDs using VHS sources, remember to adjust the "tracking".

Picture quality for the 1940s disc is often terrible due to VHS quality footage.

The set is a nice idea and the interview clips are enjoyable, but I only give 2 stars for the quality which is shoddy.

 

Golden Years of British Comedy [DVD]