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United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Subtitles ), SPECIAL FEATURES: 2-DVD Set, Interactive Menu, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: A forgotten gem of British Comedy, Chelmsford 123 was the first ever production from Hat Trick (Outnumbered, Have I Got News For You). In 123 AD, a young Roman general, Aulus Paulinus (Jimmy Mulville) is found guilty of a most terrible crime - failing to grovel sufficiently to the Emperor. His punishment is the worst job in the Empire - governing Britannia. It's hard to believe, but in those days Britain was a cold, miserable dump, populated by beer-swilling hooligans... Based in Chelmsford, Aulus knows little - and understands less - of the peoples he has been sent to control, and so regularly finds himself at odds with, and more often than not outwitted by the local Celtic tribal leader, Badvoc (Rory McGrath). This two disc set contains all 13 episodes from both series. ...Chelmsford 123 - Complete Series 1 & 2 - 2-DVD Set ( Chelmsford 123 - Complete Collection - 2-DVD Set ) ( Chelms ford One Twenty Three - Complete Series One and Two )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Wahey! At last, after many years of waiting this little gem has finally been released on DVD!
Written by and starring Jimmy Mulville and Rory McGrath, the series is set in Roman occupied Britain in the year 123. Sent to be the governor of Britain as a punishment by the Emperor Hadrian, Aulus Paulinus (Mulville) finds himself struggling to adapt to life in the uncivilised and rather muddy province. Badvoc (McGrath) is the uncivilised leader of the local tribe, who has no time for the trappings of civilisation and just wants to be left alone to get on with his uncomplicated life of loot and pillage. He is a schemer, and along with his lieutenants Mungo and Blag enjoys making a few denarii out of the Romans while sticking two fingers at them.
A decent mixture of the erudite and stupid (the first episode is conducted largely in Latin, with some hilarious subtitles) and with quite a lot of attention paid to historical detail, these are well constructed with lots of clever one liners and situations. The characters are a little one dimensional, but it works so well you don't really notice.
Added to which is the roster of actors appearing here, many of them would go on to greater things, and it is packed with faces still familiar today. Neil Pearson (Drop the Dead Donkey, Between the Lines), Andy Hamilton (Drop the Dead Donkey, Old Harry's Game), Philip Pope (Old Harry's Game), Geoffrey Whitehead (Z Cars), Geoffrrey McGivern (Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Lab Rats) Mark Wing-Davey (Hitch Hiker's Guide To the Galaxy) and Chris Langham (The Thick of It) all make appearances. The wealth of good actors here ensures that this is a superior comedy, easily up there with, if not better then, Blackadder, it's main rival at the time.
This set contains all 13 episodes, 6 from series 1, 7 from series 2. In all a highly recommended buy! 5 stars.
Written by and starring Jimmy Mulville and Rory McGrath, the series is set in Roman occupied Britain in the year 123. Sent to be the governor of Britain as a punishment by the Emperor Hadrian, Aulus Paulinus (Mulville) finds himself struggling to adapt to life in the uncivilised and rather muddy province. Badvoc (McGrath) is the uncivilised leader of the local tribe, who has no time for the trappings of civilisation and just wants to be left alone to get on with his uncomplicated life of loot and pillage. He is a schemer, and along with his lieutenants Mungo and Blag enjoys making a few denarii out of the Romans while sticking two fingers at them.
A decent mixture of the erudite and stupid (the first episode is conducted largely in Latin, with some hilarious subtitles) and with quite a lot of attention paid to historical detail, these are well constructed with lots of clever one liners and situations. The characters are a little one dimensional, but it works so well you don't really notice.
Added to which is the roster of actors appearing here, many of them would go on to greater things, and it is packed with faces still familiar today. Neil Pearson (Drop the Dead Donkey, Between the Lines), Andy Hamilton (Drop the Dead Donkey, Old Harry's Game), Philip Pope (Old Harry's Game), Geoffrey Whitehead (Z Cars), Geoffrrey McGivern (Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Lab Rats) Mark Wing-Davey (Hitch Hiker's Guide To the Galaxy) and Chris Langham (The Thick of It) all make appearances. The wealth of good actors here ensures that this is a superior comedy, easily up there with, if not better then, Blackadder, it's main rival at the time.
This set contains all 13 episodes, 6 from series 1, 7 from series 2. In all a highly recommended buy! 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Having failed to flatter the Emperor sufficiently, Aulus Paulinus (Jimmy Mulville) is rewarded with the worst job imaginable - Governor of Britain. Here he is faced by terrible weather, awful food and worst of all, the native Celts under the leadership of Badvoc (Rory McGrath).
Issued on DVD after more than twenty years, this is simply one of the best comedies from the late 80's. Intelligently written, funny and memorable, few other comedies would have taken the risk of filming its first episode in Latin with subtitles. Sadly, Chelmsford only ran for two series but it's better to leave people wanting more than to risk outlasting its creative peak.
This two disc set contains both series, amounting to thirteen episodes but has no extras apart from a photo gallery. Nevertheless, it's a long anticipated and worthwhile addition to any collection of great British comedy.
Issued on DVD after more than twenty years, this is simply one of the best comedies from the late 80's. Intelligently written, funny and memorable, few other comedies would have taken the risk of filming its first episode in Latin with subtitles. Sadly, Chelmsford only ran for two series but it's better to leave people wanting more than to risk outlasting its creative peak.
This two disc set contains both series, amounting to thirteen episodes but has no extras apart from a photo gallery. Nevertheless, it's a long anticipated and worthwhile addition to any collection of great British comedy.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
At long last I have this brilliant series on DVD in great quality and I can chuck out the crappy Video tapes and crappy Video to DVD conversions that were really crappy quality. Been waiting for this for so many years!
Thank you Hat Trick Productions adn Acorn Media.
Thank you Hat Trick Productions adn Acorn Media.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
good fun
I bought this DVD based on reviews on the Amazon website and also the great price. It is a lot of fun, you can see the plot twists coming a mile off but it is handled in such a... Read more
Published 3 days ago by CassieS
TV comedy for Radio 4 Listeners
I loved this series when it was first shown. If you did latin at school and like Roman history this will be right up your via. I secretly love Rory Mcgrath - does that make me odd? Read more
Published 1 month ago by Skittles
Sillyness done cleverly.
A great show based around two not so clever leaders trying to outsmart each other, a kind of two halfs in a battle of a wit.
Published 1 month ago by Mr. G. Snowball
Still Funny
Still funny several years later. I wondered if it would be as good as I remembered, and it was. My elderly parents (80s) were also amused. A very much deserved re-release.
Published 1 month ago by AnnW
A rediscovered gem
I've waited for nearly 20 years for "Chelmsford 123" to become available for me to watch at home. I'd remembered it as an absolutely hilarious programme, with Rory McGrath and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Dave Barker
Chelmsford 123
I have waited a long time for this DVD to become available and it was worth the wait. Well scripted and acted in traditional British fashion, there is one episode however that... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Stewart
Super
Really quite a lost gem of British comedy.
Original and funny it is well acted and well produced. Read more
Original and funny it is well acted and well produced. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Bingibongi
Definte hit with me
I didn't see this the first time round but I'm glad I bought it - the two series are very funny and made me laugh a lot :)
Published 4 months ago by Ms. Margaret L. Kelly
very disapointed
Hadn't seen the title before we bought it. Watched 10 minutes and then threw the DVD away. Not my type of 'humour'. Not typical of British humour.
Published 5 months ago by Stewart Hogben
Not to be missed!
Just about the best comedy series EVER - but so under-rated at the time. It was aired at some un-Godly time on Channel 5 in the 1990s. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mrs L Cowley
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