The Goodies ...At Last the 40th Anniversary! - BBC [DVD]

Painfully slow in coming out [this is only the fourth batch of Goodies episodes in 7 years, and the first in three] this is nevertheless well worth the wait, as it's a basically sound and impressive line-up of offerings. I can't comment on any extras [although there is definately an extensively lavish booklet included] but I am well familiar with the shows on offer, and here's the basics:

CECILY: [1970] a bit of a low-key curio from Series One, as the lads take on the task of housekeepers at a vast Stately Home: some fine visual gags, as per usual.

The MUSIC LOVERS: [1971]: a real belter from SERIES Two, and the boys have found their early form in this elaborately-mounted musical farce, where musicians are being kidnapped by the comically suave Music Master [Henry Mc Gee, of BENNY HILL stooge-fame]. Corking visual gags, with a rousing version of 'Land of Hope and Glory.'

The NEW OFFICE: [1973]: the opening show of Series Three is a real tour-de-farce, as typically lazy and inefficient British workmanship see the GOODS up sticks and construct a literal 'mobile home' where they find peace at last: until a division of homicidal, driverless diggers and bulldozers loom on the horizon. Great episode, with much impressive sight gags.

CAMELOT: [[1973]; this Series Four debut episode is another beauty, with the emphasis on corny, medievel one-liners early on. Highlights include a non-too-convincing-but-hilarious fire breathing dragon, poor Bill getting stretched on the rack, and more cartoon-like fun and frolics in the closing reel, as Graeme unleashes a powerful magnet.

The GOODIES RULE OK: [1975]: the lad's longest-ever outing, at around 49 minutes. this is another visually impressive serving. Begins as a send-up of the pop music biz, where the GOODS save a gloomy Britain, made even gloomier as a quite literal Puppet Government bans all entertainment. Ends with a blistering finale, with a giant Dougal and Zebedee from the 'Magic Roundabout'.Poor Tim just misses a VERY painful prang quite near the end! This special was often slated as never-to-be-released, so good to see an official version surface at long last.

It MIGHT as well be STRING: [1976]: a Series Six entry centred around the cut-throat world of advertising [early Goodies series had, of course, featured mock TV adverts in the 'natural break', and here is a show dedicated to them.] The boys end up flogging the virtues of good old string, and this one ends with more exuberently visual gags and situations within a TV studio.

2001 and a BIT: [1976]: a futuristic satire, with the best parts coming early on, as the 'sons' of the 70s GOODIES are played by each other's characters. Some nicely bizarre gadgets of this future, and the closing reels centre around the good old MCC and stuffy old doddering cricketers. Skewed, but eccentrically satisfying.

ROYAL COMMAND; [1977]: this SERIES Seven serving is devoted to that eternal 'sitting duck' GOODIES target: the Royal Family. Also much slagging off of contemporary entertainment acts as they are wheeled out on stage for the Royals. The 'real' Royals appear entirely swathed in bandages, and this one ends with the endearing variation to the theme tune:

'ROYAL, ROYAL, RUM-RUM!' A solid entry, with typically farcical undertones.

This makes up around 31 GOODIES episodes available on DVD when this is released in very early November 2010. So not quite halfway there yet , with lots more gems still in the archives. This set is as good as any from NETWORK, who are doing a great job regarding this much-neglected series of manically delightful UK comedy.

This box set brings together the 3 previous DVD releases and one new collection- 'At Last, Back for More...Again' which again cherry picks 8 episodes from various years of this very long-running comedy series.(The series made for ITV is complete as it's the only one 'The Goodies' made for said channel) It goes without saying that this is a hugely enjoyable set with some truly stand-out moments and if you've never seen 'The Goodies' before I can highly recommend it as the actual shows are for the most part, hilarious. BUT....(and it is a big BUT), the first DVD releases of 'At Last' and 'At Last...A Second Helping' came loaded with excellent extras (audio commentaries, interviews, special sketches etc.) which are not present on this collection. The new release is also completely extra-free and for these reasons I have to knock 1 star off the rating. We all know that the BBC these days would rather the show did not exist-- Hence the devestating slowness of Goodies DVD's when inferior shows are readily dusted down and issued with much more regularity, but even allowing for this it seems the fans have been short changed again. Come on, BBC. Give us complete series and extra features sooner rather than later.

Created, written and performed by comedians Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie and Tim Brooke-Taylor, 'The Goodies' was a very zany hit British BBC comedy that ran for nine seasons until 1981. In the show the trio set themselves up as an agency for hire and call themselves 'The Goodies' (as they were supposedly the good guys), with the motto `We do anything, anytime'.

This DVD set follows on from the previous three excellent twin Goodies DVD sets: 'The Goodies At Last', 'The Goodies At Last: A Second Helping' and 'The Complete LWT Series'. Granted arguably the best Goodies episodes have now already gone to DVD in these last three sets, so this set of eight that follow can't ever be quite that good [and I guess should be rated lower at 4.9*]. This is the disadvantage with The Goodies being released ad hoc rather than on a per season basis, when you could have watched The Goodies series logically evolve - although it's great to see that giant Dougal from 'The Magic Round-a-bout' again [Goodies Rule - OK!].

This DVD set is the third instalment of the standard 2 disc BBC Goodies sets, containing another 8 Goodies episodes: Cecily [1970, guest star Ann Way], The music lovers [1971, guest stars Henry McGee, Cilla Black], The new office [1972, Guests stars Joe Melia, Julie Desmond], Camelot [1973, guest star Alfie Bass,], Goodies Rule - OK [1975 special, guest stars include Michael Barret, Tony Blackburn, Eddie Waring, Patrick Moore, Terry Wogan, Sue Lawley], It might as well be string [1976, guest star Raymond Baxter], 2001 and a bit [1976, guest star Oliver Gilbert], and Royal command [1977, guest stars Ricky Newby, Eddie Goodyear]. Also included in the box with the 2 DVDs is a large detailed 'Programme Notes' booklet written by TV historian Andrew Pixley running to 36 pages of small text. The 8 episodes run time is 260 minutes, and the sound is mono English audio with English subtitles [no other languages], and it's region 2 PAL locked. The video is 4:3 and in full colour and rated 12 [over twelves only] which is a bit odd as this was considered peak-viewing family entertainment in it's day. Picture quality and sound is quite good on the small screen, similar to the previous Goodies DVD sets, although the title sequences seem fuzzier for some reason [perhaps for period effect].

Unlike the previous sets there don't seem to be any extras on this 3rd BBC DVD set [although I suppose they are included on the two previous sets]. During their BBC years The Goodies twice won the Silver Rose of Montreux and conspiracy theories abound on why none of 'The Goodies' hit episodes were ever re-run by the BBC. However all is [almost] forgiven now that the BBC seems serious about releasing more of the 67 Goodies episodes they commissioned. In addition there's the Goodies final ITV season 'The Complete LWT Series' twin DVD set available [7 episodes dating from 1981 - although only one of the two DVDs in the set is actually Goodies episodes]. The LWT set is included on the new "The Goodies...At Last the 40th Anniversary!" 8 DVD set, along with episodes from these three 'Goodies at last' BBC double DVD sets.

To quote TVTome: "Using a unique blend of sketch comedy, slapstick and almost cartoon-like humour the show was often outrageously madcap, and only rarely failed to hit the mark". The Goodies was first screened during my teenage years and I became a massive fan - and now my 16 year old daughter and 14 year old son are totally committed ones as well. My daughter is the collector of these DVD sets after becoming hooked watching the 'Return of the Goodies' 25th anniversary show back in 2005. So The Goodies can still hit the entertainment spot with today's youngsters as well [despite the fact some of the topical 1970s gags must go over their heads] - so 5*.