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Hong Kong Phooey - Volume 1
RRP: £12.99
Our Price: £4.49 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Fan-rrific! Hanna-Barbera's Hong Kong Phooey was the Saturday-morning cartoon answer to the mid-'70s martial-arts craze. Mild-mannered janitor Penry (voiced by Scatman Crothers) works in the police station alongside switchboard operator Rosemary (voiced by Kathy Gori) and beleaguered Sergeant Flint (Joe E. Ross), humans who never suspect that the diligent dog is actually "America's secret weapon against crime". Never mind that Hong Kong Phooey, although armed with his trusty book of kung fu and a Bond-meets-Wacky Races Phooeymobile, wouldn't even be able to get out of his quick-change file cabinet without a well-placed blow from his loyal cat, Spot (who's striped, naturally). The public is awed by him, Rosemary has a crush on him, and villains--including the Claw, the Giggler, Goldfisher, and the Gum Drop Kid--fear him, but no one notices that Hong Kong Phooey only succeeds through his own klutziness, Spot's help, or dumb luck. Classic stuff. And remember the catchy theme song? "Hong Kong Phooey, Number one super guy / Hong Kong Phooey, Quicker than the human eye". --David Horiuchi
A rinky dinky doo to you too!
Review date: 2008-09-11 Rating: 10 out of 10
My 6yr old ADORES this dvd which I got when the martial arts classes proved to be a hit - this is classic 70's cartoon humour at its finest, sadly forgotten about now that technology (and Pixar!) have snowballed.
Of course the quality of the cartoon is as you expect of the 70's and the colour can appear rather dull and grainy - but let's face it, it's OLD! The jokes are still laugh-out-loud-able, though, for all ages.
There is the obligatory, politically correct note on the U certification label: "Contains mild cultural stereotyping" - But bear in mind that this applies to the entire character set (eg. Rosemary the telephone operator, blond, mini-skirted and away with the fairies) and anyone with an ounce of intelligence can see that it is the same stereotyping which remains the backbone of contemporary cartoon pastiche.
This DVD contains 16 episodes, so I would recommend obtaining the 'Complete' DVD if you can get it, rather than buying the 2 separate volumes, purely for convenience.
Similar Products
- Hong Kong Phooey - Volume 2
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Reviews
The best cartoon company ever
Review date: 2008-05-18 Rating: 10 out of 10
Hanna Barbera is the best cartoon company and Hong Kong Phooey doesnt disapoint . I used to love this cartoon growing up and still do and my daughter loves to watch this every weekend her favourite bit is when Penry jumps into the filing cabinet .Apart from Scooby doo where are you this is one of Hanna Barberas best cartoons. I would recomend this to any thirty somethings .
HI-YAH!
Review date: 2007-08-09 Rating: 10 out of 10
I'm not a huge fan of Hanna-barbera but this is just classic stuff. Penry the quiet canine janitor at a police station listens out for distress calls to Rosemary the telephonist, before you knew it he was transformed into the mighty dog-wonder Hong kong phooey. Dressed up in kung-fu regalia he and his striped cat spot would drive around in the phooey mobile solving crime. The phooey mobile would change into whatever was needed with a bang on the magic gong. The beauty of it all was of course that phooey was a blithering idiot in the style of Clouseau who was always rescued by spot the cat. Spot never got any recognition for his work and each episode would end with phooey back as Penry the janitor being shouted at for some blunder by the 'sarge while he daydreamed of his crimefighting skills, all watched on by a headshaking, sighing spot.
The real skill here was getting Scatman Crothers to do the gravel voiced phooey. what could have been just another churned out cartoon became inspired by his ability to find dignity and humour in his character.
I just love this show and it's release on DVD is long overdue.
Product Details/Specifications
Artist(s):
Hong Kong Phooey
Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321904831457
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2007-08-13
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 170 minutes
Language: English (Original Language)