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Only Fools and Horses - A Royal Flush [1986]


RRP: £15.99
Our Price: £6.97 (subject to change)

A disappointment for collectors
Review date: 2008-09-14 Rating: 6 out of 10

A huge disappointment with this version. Most dvd releases of OFAH are relatively intact but A ROYAL FLUSH has been royally clipped beyond recognition, at least 14 minutes of footage.

The reason for this - Aparently, John Sullivan thought this particular episode showed Del boy in a negative light detracting from his usual happy go lucky to occaisionally aggressive and insulting. I didn't mind the dinner table scene being clipped because Del was indeed obnoxious and insulting with behaviour that didn't befit his general character. However, it was unforgivable to chop the Opera scene so heavily as I found it to be one of the funniest scenes in the entire episode.

Also, some banter in the market scene was removed plus other bits at the clay pigeon shoot, demolishing most of the funniest bits from this title. Basically, the person involved in the Editing process of this Dvd title must have undergone a personality bypass at some point in their life, I would have done a better job!

As an OFAH collector, I have resorted to selling this version and reverting back to the VHS release! What a shame!

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Reviews


What the heck is this mess?
Review date: 2008-08-05 Rating: 2 out of 10

In its original form, this would get 5 stars without question. Although it's not regarded as the best of the Xmas specials by some people, I personally view it as one of the genuine classics and think the criticism is over-exaggerated. The scenes back at the flat at the end of the story are quite dark, but OFAH has always had its darker moments. Unfortunately, this is in no way the original form. Twenty minutes have been removed, meaning there are scenes which make no sense, and a crudely-added-on laugh track has been dubbed on. Why do we need a laugh track? Do we need to be told when we're supposed to laugh? Quite frankly the BBC is always messing up DVD releases, tampering with things for no reason at all. They butchered Miami Twice, and removed classic lines from other Only Fools releases and things like Blackadder. I will only have to hope they will release the original version of Royal Flush, as the only uncut version I have is a fuzzy worn-out one taped off the telly years ago. It's a real tragedy, and terrible to think this hacked-up mess is the only version of a fine story future generations will ever see.

A Royal Disaster!
Review date: 2008-05-02 Rating: 6 out of 10

I don't really want to go over old ground as all the other reviews have nailed it, but I do want to offer a little ray of light.
The US version does contain the complete 90 minute episode complete without the laughter track. The US versions of OFAH in my opinion are a lot better with 5 volumes in a nice set. A Royal Flush is on disc 3 paired with To Hull and Back (notice no annoying single disc editions of a 60 minute episode)of series 4, 5 and the specials.

A Royal Farce
Review date: 2007-08-05 Rating: 2 out of 10

If you own this on VHS - treasure it. The DVD version has been cut to shreds, missing approximately 22 minutes of footage. 22 minutes! There are small edits on most Only Fools & Horses DVDs, but the hacking job on this one really takes the biscuit. Keep or buy the VHS copy, avoid the DVD.

A caution to fans
Review date: 2007-06-01 Rating: 2 out of 10

It looks like several people here thought they were buying a full uncut version of the 'Royal Flush' episode they remember & love (as I do, it's a great episode). Be warned though that writer John Sullivan was unhappy with this episode, feeling in retrospect that it showed Delboy in a negative light. Certainly, the original episode has a dark side to it and Del is portrayed as cruelly unpleasant at times. But for me that's what makes it unique - the BBC shouldn't have censored it. As a result what you get now is a sanitised 58 minutes shadow (with added laughter track) of the 75 minutes long original episode. OFAH fans should also be aware that the episode titled 'To Hull and Back' has also been censored for DVD release.


Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Nicholas Lyndhurst
Roger Lloyd-Pack
Buster Merryfield
Paul McDowell
David Jason

Creators:
David Jason (Primary Contributor)
Nicholas Lyndhurst (Primary Contributor)

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503156220
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2005-05-09
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 58 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1986
Language: English (Original Language)

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