After re watching this a few days ago, ( I found a copy of the DVD on the internet) I sat and watched in the hope that something other than modern day so -called comedy would be hanging around in hibernation. I was not disappointed. The writers clearly have certain actors in mind as we see the script wrings out every bit of talent out of the stars.Household names like Len Rossiter, Richard Briers, the incredible Arthur Lowe,Roy Barraclough...the list goes on.Incredible comic performances and character structure makes this as fresh today as they were over 35 years ago. Each and every one of theses shows could have been made into a long running t.v series that would have been a million times better than todays rubbish. (A few to mention..The In-Betweeners..My Family...Out -Numbered..the list of shame goes on...)Modern day writers should be strapped into a chair with blinkers on and be sat in front of these episodes and MADE to look,listen and learn.Arthur Lowe could have taken his role and made it bigger than Dad's Army and Len Rossiters character Jim could have given at least 6 series ( I think Rigsby was Based on Jims character and made slightly less arrogant and toned down for the larger audience). Richard Briers is amazing as the frustrated husband and we see many big stars on their way up in cameos. Pushing the boat out I would say that maybe as far as British Comedy is concerned this is among the best of the best proudly sitting alongside such marvels as Steptoe, The 2 Ronnies. Morecambe and Wise,Rab Nesbitt,Dear John( Look it up),Dads Army,Nearest and Dearest,Love thy Neighbour....Classic real life pathos and genuine characters push this way up the list. It doesn't get better than this .
3 Reviews
A great series, with plenty of variety.
Sleepin_Dragon12 February 2024
Back in the day, this was a common way of finding the next big sitcom, viewers were spoiled for choice back in the 1970's, compare that to today, the whole sitcom format has all but died.
When I think of comedy complications, I think of The BBC's comedy playhouse, and also The Two Ronnies, the wonderful Seven of one series, but up there in terms of quality, the wonderful Galton and Simpson series.
Every single episode brings the laughs, they're all excellent, and hold up to the passing of time. What depresses me to think, is why comedy has just died a death, I find myself relying on shows from this era, so I'm so glad to have found this series.
My personal favourites are I tell you it's Burt Reynolds, Car along the pass and Cheers, only Variations on a Theme didn't quite hit the mark for me, but it's still good.
Terrific acting, lots of comedy talent, Arthur Lowe, Leonard Rossiter, Richard Briers and Warren Mitchell, I adored both Charles Gray and Freddie Jones, both arguably more straight actors, both were wonderful.
In reality, any of these could have become a series, two of them should have.
Well worth watching.
8/10.
When I think of comedy complications, I think of The BBC's comedy playhouse, and also The Two Ronnies, the wonderful Seven of one series, but up there in terms of quality, the wonderful Galton and Simpson series.
Every single episode brings the laughs, they're all excellent, and hold up to the passing of time. What depresses me to think, is why comedy has just died a death, I find myself relying on shows from this era, so I'm so glad to have found this series.
My personal favourites are I tell you it's Burt Reynolds, Car along the pass and Cheers, only Variations on a Theme didn't quite hit the mark for me, but it's still good.
Terrific acting, lots of comedy talent, Arthur Lowe, Leonard Rossiter, Richard Briers and Warren Mitchell, I adored both Charles Gray and Freddie Jones, both arguably more straight actors, both were wonderful.
In reality, any of these could have become a series, two of them should have.
Well worth watching.
8/10.
Ray & Alan's fun house!
Sthom-2215 September 2012
Warning: Spoilers
It is rare indeed for comedy writers' names to be incorporated into their own show's titles - Johnny Speight managed it in 1969 with his one-off B.B.C. special 'Spate Of Speight' - and in 1977, Ray Galton and Alan Simpson had engendered enough respect and affection from the television industry and general public alike for 'The Galton & Simpson Playhouse' to appear on I.T.V. Their faces were seen in the opening credits too with Ken Jones' brass-band theme tune incorporating clicking typewriter keys.
The seven episode comedy anthology was from Yorkshire Television and contained an impressive array of British acting talent, including Arthur Lowe, Frances De La Tour, Leonard Rossiter, Roy Kinnear, Freddie Jones, Charles Gray, Richard Briers, Mona Washbourne, and John Bird. 'Car Along The Pass' got it off to a tremendous start. A pompous xenophobe ( Lowe ) is trapped in a cable-car over the Swiss Alps with a smattering of the worst kind ( in his eyes ) of people imaginable - foreigners. With the B.B.C.'s 'Dad's Army' about to come off the air, the part was a natural for him. 'Naught For Thy Comfort' had an airline steward ( Kinnear ) returning home after a long flight to find his wife has walked out on him. 'Swap You One Of These For One Of Those' - originally intended for the authors' 'Casanova 73' - saw Richard Briers cast against type as a man eager to partake of the permissive society by going to a wife swapping party ( 'The Sun' called for the episode not to be broadcast! ). 'I Tell You Its Burt Reynolds' had Leonard Rossiter in top form as a know-all who becomes obsessed with the idea that he has spotted the macho movie star in a T.V. programme. His madness escalates to the point where he actually phones Burt at his home in Hollywood! 'Big Deal At York City' was also good fun, with Warren Mitchell as a lucky soul travelling home by train after a good day at the races, only to be preyed on by card sharks. Neat twist ending.
The shows varied in quality, but all were worth watching. None became a series, however, and Alan Simpson retired soon afterwards. Ray Galton teamed up with Johnny Speight to write 'Spooner's Patch'. He briefly reunited with Simpson in the mid-90's to update some material for Paul Merton ( including 'I Tell You Its Burt Reynolds' ).
Network gave all seven episodes a welcome D.V.D. release in 2009.
The seven episode comedy anthology was from Yorkshire Television and contained an impressive array of British acting talent, including Arthur Lowe, Frances De La Tour, Leonard Rossiter, Roy Kinnear, Freddie Jones, Charles Gray, Richard Briers, Mona Washbourne, and John Bird. 'Car Along The Pass' got it off to a tremendous start. A pompous xenophobe ( Lowe ) is trapped in a cable-car over the Swiss Alps with a smattering of the worst kind ( in his eyes ) of people imaginable - foreigners. With the B.B.C.'s 'Dad's Army' about to come off the air, the part was a natural for him. 'Naught For Thy Comfort' had an airline steward ( Kinnear ) returning home after a long flight to find his wife has walked out on him. 'Swap You One Of These For One Of Those' - originally intended for the authors' 'Casanova 73' - saw Richard Briers cast against type as a man eager to partake of the permissive society by going to a wife swapping party ( 'The Sun' called for the episode not to be broadcast! ). 'I Tell You Its Burt Reynolds' had Leonard Rossiter in top form as a know-all who becomes obsessed with the idea that he has spotted the macho movie star in a T.V. programme. His madness escalates to the point where he actually phones Burt at his home in Hollywood! 'Big Deal At York City' was also good fun, with Warren Mitchell as a lucky soul travelling home by train after a good day at the races, only to be preyed on by card sharks. Neat twist ending.
The shows varied in quality, but all were worth watching. None became a series, however, and Alan Simpson retired soon afterwards. Ray Galton teamed up with Johnny Speight to write 'Spooner's Patch'. He briefly reunited with Simpson in the mid-90's to update some material for Paul Merton ( including 'I Tell You Its Burt Reynolds' ).
Network gave all seven episodes a welcome D.V.D. release in 2009.
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