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'Allo 'Allo!: The Complete Series 1 [1982] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
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I must admit that I had never seen `Allo `Allo before my wife bought me this DVD set, but I was quite pleasantly surprised by it. The ensemble of actors does an excellent job of playing this lively group of wacky people, none of whom are playing with a full deck. The jokes come fast and furious in this farce, and each show is actually better than the last. (I can't wait until the second season becomes available!) Now, on the downside, there is a certain amount of adult situations involved, with René trading his waitresses' sexual favors for supplies for his restaurant, for example. But, overall it is not too bad, and can be ignored. So, let me just say that I loved this DVD set, and I recommend it to anyone who likes a good comedy, especially a good British comedy! Incase you are interested, the episodes on this DVD set are: The British Are Coming - Pilot (30 December 1982) - When the Resistance comes to René to hide a pair of downed British airmen, and the local German commandant some to him to hide a valuable stolen painting, his juggling act begin. The Fallen Madonna - Series 1, episode 1 (14 September 1984) - When the local Gestapo agent demands the missing painting, René convinces the Colonel and his aide-de-camp to loan their uniforms to the pair of British airmen, so that they can get the painting to England and get a forged copy to hand over. What can possibly go wrong? Quite a lot, actually. Pigeon Post - Series 1, episode 2 (21 September 1984) - The Colonel and his aide are now uniformless, and must disguise themselves as onion sellers, but when they are spotted by the Gestapo man, they must think quick! Saville Row to the Rescue - Series 1, episode 3 (28 September 1984) - René and company can now meet an airplane from London and get the forged painting and replacement uniforms. But, nothing can go smoothly for this unlucky troop. The Execution - Series 1, episode 4 (5 October 1984) - When a side trip to blow up a railroad line goes wrong, René and company wind up in a German jail. How embarrassing for the Colonel! And, how unlucky for René! The Funeral - Series 1, episode 5 (12 October 1984) - Having survived his execution, René must now pass himself off as his own twin brother. Worse, the Gestapo will be watching his funeral, and his casket is full of explosives! Reds Nick Colonel - Series 1, episode 6 (19 October 1984) - To avenge René's "death" the communist resistance kidnap the Colonel and his aide, and want René to shoot them. Worse, the Gestapo wants to know where the Colonel is, and are questioning the inhabitants of the restaurant. The Dance of the Hitler Youth - Series 1, episode 7 (26 October 1984) - It is time for the German's annual celebration of the burning of the Reichstag, and now is a perfect time for René to steal the painting from Gestapo headquarters. Wow, things are getting complicated now!
Our Price: £13.64 (subject to change)
Excellent!
Review date: 2005-03-15 Rating: 10 out of 10
Life is hard in Nazi-occupied France, especially for one René Artois (played by Gorden Kaye). As if keeping two mistresses secret from his wife weren't enough, the local German commandant wants him to hide a priceless painting, the DeGaulle resistance wants him to hide two downed British airmen, the communist resistance wants him shot as a collaborator, and there's a ruthless Gestapo agent who wants to know just what he is up to. Can René juggle all of these conflicting designs on him and at the same time keep his sanity and his life? Well...possibly.
Reviews
Risque' Rene'
Review date: 2004-02-09 Rating: 10 out of 10
"Allo Allo!" Has been around since 1982 and has just recently become available in the USA on a decent media. This particular complete series one contains eight episodes:
"The British are Coming" starts the series and explains many things that happen later in the series.
"The Fallen Madonna" with the big whatever. Will set a reoccurring theme as Colonel Kurk von Strom has pilfered the painting for his retirement. Keep you eye on it through the series as it becomes a shell game.
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Basic story is of a café owner René; this is in France during the WWII occupation. He must balance dealing with the local Germans, the Gestapo, the good Resistance, the commie Resistance, having affairs with his female help, dealing with his wife and mother-in-law. Throw in some downed British airmen and some onion soup.
I will not go though this series in detail because for those that have not seen it or if it has been while since viewing the series, the surprise factor and the one liners are worth discovering first hand.
I will say that the highlight for me was when they mistakenly fed grain laced with nitro glycerin to the chickens.
One nice thing about this series is that they place the name next to the actor at the end of each episode. Most of the actors are well known out side of this series. I was shocked however to find that Gestapo Herr Otto Flick (Richard Gibson) Played British Capt. Newman in Ken Follett's "The Key to Rebecca" (1985) and completely changed his accent.
I hope the will release the others "Three Hail Mary's and two Heil Hitler's."
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Moira Foot
Recording label: BBC Warner
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
EAN: 9780790783703
Binding: DVD
ISBN: 0790783703
Number of items: 2
Format: Closed-captioned, Colour, DVD-Video, NTSC,
Release date: 2004-01-20
Universal product code (UPC): 794051186720
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 1
Running time: 250 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1989-07-03
Language: English (Original Language)