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Rising Damp - The Complete Series Plus The Movie [1974]


RRP: £29.99
Our Price: £14.98 (subject to change)

Best comedy series ever!
Review date: 2008-02-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

I'll not add much to the already comprehensive reviews by others. Just to say this must be the bargain of all bargains - you get five DVD's with almost 13 hours playing time. To me Rising Damp is the finest of all the sitcoms although there were others on a similar level during that wonderful TV era. Rising Damp just makes you laugh - you can't help it and it is never forced. Unlike the tripe that is offered these days (either boring and bland or nasty and foul) Rising Damp has the finest ever comedy writng and the finest acting. It wasn't PC (thank goodness) but never caused nor meant any harm in its comedy.

If ever you are feeling a bit depressed or low just put on any of the Rising Damp DVD's and within minutes you'll be laughing like a fool.

Thanks Amazon for selling this top quality set at a brilliant low price.

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Reviews


Easily in my all time favourite British sitcom top ten
Review date: 2007-07-12 Rating: 10 out of 10

I know this might sound ridiculous to some but as far as I'm concerned, this is an underrated performance from an absolute national treasure, the late and great Leonard Rossiter, yes you read it correctly UNDERRATED.

I am sure you will agree with me when I that this really was an outstanding performance by Leonard Rossiter, it really was. I am not being biased as this is not the only sitcom I love but I honestly don't think that there has ever been a better performance in any sitcom than this, there maybe a few that have equalled it but certainly not bettered it.

I am not being biased or nostalgic when I say this because I wasn't even born when this was first aired, but I find it really depressing that this country can't produce sitcoms of this quality anymore and I don't believe all that rubbish about it being impossible because we live in a different time etc. I find most modern sitcoms either as bland as bread and water or just full of non stop smutty jokes that aren't even funny and I am not even a prude, it's just that when I watch a great sitcom, that is what I want to watch, not one smutty painfully unfunny joke after the next or bland as bread and water soapy type ones that focus more on sons and daughters first dates and exam results etc. Is it really so hard now to find an outstanding or even just great actor and put them in the role of a witty, clever, sarcastic, cynical, intelligent type to make a funny sitcom with great writing, perfect timing and situation that will be funny enough to stand the test of time, if not then thankfully I have this complete DVD boxset (Christmas special included) of one of very best British sitcoms to enjoy again and again. THANK YOU RIGSBY AND CO.



Absolute classic...
Review date: 2007-05-16 Rating: 10 out of 10

Not much to add to the review below, except to underline just how superb this series is (not was). Watching it again after having been a huge fan when the series first aired in the 70's (doesn't bear thinking about) and despite catching various reruns, this certainly deserves the cult status it now enjoys. Of course Leonard Rossiter is magnificent, and the rest of the cast are simply outstanding. And I'd also like to pay my tribute to Eric Chappell for his inspired genius.

Not much can compare with this. Get it now while they're virtually giving it away...

"My God".....a comedy classic given the box set treatment it deserves.
Review date: 2007-03-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

One of the great TV comic creations Rigsby, the sexually frustrated penny pinching land lord of "Rising Damp" was played with incomparable brio by Leonard Rossiter. Rossiters triumph , and make no mistake that despite some fine supporting efforts this is Rossiters show, was to make a character who is by turns lecherous , bigoted, ignorant , meddlesome and at times openly racist so sympathetic . Stalking the dilapidated boarding house (remarkably all the drama took place within those four walls) in some un-named Northern University town, cradling his mangy moggy "Vienna", often bursting in unannounced into his tenants rooms Rigsby should have been a figure who elicited nausea in the audience but remarkably we shared his desire for him to consummate his desire for Miss Jones. Rossiters performance is a true triumph and just to show it was no flash in the pan he did it again with Reginald Perrin.
The pilot episode for Rising Damp aired in 1974 and led to it running over four series and 28 episodes until 1978. Scripted by Eric Chappell the inspiration for the series came from a play Chappell wrote in 1970 called "The Banana Box" which featured a seedy character called "Rooksby". The play toured with the main character being played by Wilfred Bramble before Rossiter took over where it was eventually noticed by executives from Yorkshire TV who commissioned the pilot.
A massive ratings hit "Rising Damp" was aided considerably by the ensemble cast. Frances De la Tour is a wonderful mixture of vulnerability and frustrated longing while Richard Bekinsale shone as the immature gauche medical student Alan and Don Warrington brought a touch of class as sagacious "son of a tribal chief " Philip who as well as being as recipient of Miss Jones frustrated longings constantly turned Rigsby,s ignorance and prejudice back on him always having the last laugh, something that the purveyors of the oft used jibe that this series itself was guilty of racism conveniently forget.
Though these four provided main characters for the series there were line up changes throughout the run with Gay Rose as Brenda temporarily replacing Frances De la Tour during the second season and Richard Bekinsale dropping out for the final season ( he died of a heart attack shortly after) The movie made in 1980 had Richard Strauli in the role of Alan and isn't up to the standard of the series , the half hour format suited it far better and the movie feels like one idea padded out way beyond endurance though it's still funnier than any sitcom of recent times.
Happily an episode from the first series "Stand Up And be Counted" missing from some DVD releases is included here as well. Everyone will have their own particular favourite episode .Mine is "Things That Go Bump In The Night" where Alan convinces Rigsby the house is haunted by "The Grey Lady" but the boxing match is tremendous as is the one where Philip kids Rigsby into thinking burning a special wood will win Miss Jones over with it's aphrodisiac properties. The third series does rely overly on drafting special guest stars but taken as a whole this a magnificent collection and without doubt the finest comedy series ever produced by ITV. If only there was a comedy with half its wit and characters in today's schedules. Even then though, there is no one around today who could match Rossiters performance. A true comedy classic and at this price an absolute bargain.


Rossiter - pure genius
Review date: 2006-06-14 Rating: 10 out of 10

This box set, comprising the complete four series' of Rising Damp, plus the movie, is vastly improved when compared with the previous box set release. The picture has sharpened somewhat, and there are now subtitles. The movie is not really an important addition to the series (because its composition is comprised entirely from previously releasted material), but it does compliment on the whole a well rounded package for die hard fans who still, and who will always appreciate the inimitable genius of Leonard Rossiter.

An important point to note, which fans and completists will be pleased to know, is the inclusion of the previously missing episode 'For the man who has everything'. It is difficult to conceive why this was missing from the previous complete collection; anyhow, it is restored here - and one can only say that this present release is well worth the purchase even if you have previously purchased the earlier box set.

I would strongly recommend this set; and at such a paltry price, to dismiss it would be a crime in itself.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Leonard Rossiter
Frances De La Tour
Don Warrington
Richard Beckinsale

Creators:
Leonard Rossiter (Primary Contributor)
Don Warrington (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: ITV DVD
Manufacturer: ITV DVD
EAN: 5037115202536
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 5
Format: Box set, PAL, Subtitled,
Release date: 2005-11-21
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 771 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1974
Language: English (Original Language)

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