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Aimed at a young audience but hugely popular with children and adults alike, Pardon My Genie was devised and written by future Roberts Robots and Rentaghost creator Bob Block. When a young shop assistant called Hal Adden casually tries to polish an old watering can well, you can guess what happens! But the genie who appears is as rusty as the can he lives in; he s four thousand years old, and his magic doesn't always work as well as it should... Ellis Jones plays Hal, with Roy Barraclough (Sez Les) starring as his long-suffering boss, hardware shop owner Mr Cobbledick, and Hugh Paddick (Round the Horne) as the Genie. This first series of the memorably quirky comedy series, screened in 1972, is available on DVD for the first time.
Product Description
Aimed at a young audience but hugely popular with children and adults alike, Pardon My Genie was devised and written by future Roberts Robots and Rentaghost creator Bob Block.
When a young shop assistant called Hal Adden casually tries to polish an old watering can - well, you can guess what happens! But the genie who appears is as rusty as the can he lives in; he's four thousand years old, and his magic doesn't always work as well as it should...
Ellis Jones plays Hal, with Roy Barraclough (Sez Les) starring as his long-suffering boss, hardware shop owner Mr Cobbledick, and Hugh Paddick (Round the Horne) as the Genie.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Written by Bob Block (Rentaghost) and broadcast back in 1972, this quirky comedy series was essential viewing for this 12 year old at the time, along with the rest of the family. Having not seen it since and then rediscovering it was a very pleasant experience.
The show revolves around hardware shop assistant Hal Adden (Ellis Jones), his boss Mr Cobbledick (Roy Barraclough) and the Genie of the title (Hugh Paddick).
The charmingly daft and madcap fun begins when Hal innocently begins polishing an old watering can, followed by the materialisation of the Genie who informs Hal that every wish is his command. The 4000 year-old Genie can only grasp his instructions in a literal manner, which naturally leads to a series of amusing and embarrassing situations, with the blissfully ignorant Mr Cobbledick often on the receiving end, his bemused expressions are a joy.
The special effects may be dated but this only adds to the charm of this innocent and simple comedy series, which was aimed at children but enjoyable for adults as well. This 2-disc complete first series of thirteen, 25 minute episodes (some are a little shorter) features good picture and sound quality. No extras or subtitles.
The show revolves around hardware shop assistant Hal Adden (Ellis Jones), his boss Mr Cobbledick (Roy Barraclough) and the Genie of the title (Hugh Paddick).
The charmingly daft and madcap fun begins when Hal innocently begins polishing an old watering can, followed by the materialisation of the Genie who informs Hal that every wish is his command. The 4000 year-old Genie can only grasp his instructions in a literal manner, which naturally leads to a series of amusing and embarrassing situations, with the blissfully ignorant Mr Cobbledick often on the receiving end, his bemused expressions are a joy.
The special effects may be dated but this only adds to the charm of this innocent and simple comedy series, which was aimed at children but enjoyable for adults as well. This 2-disc complete first series of thirteen, 25 minute episodes (some are a little shorter) features good picture and sound quality. No extras or subtitles.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The recently deceased Bob Block was a comedy writer who contributed to, amongst other things, 'The Frost Report' and Dave Allen At Large'. But it is his work for children's television for which he is probably best remembered: 'Ken Dodd's Diddymen', 'Robert's Robots', 'Galloping Galaxies', 'Grandad', and, of course, 'Rentaghost'. 'Pardon My Genie' was the dry run for the latter, running for two seasons in the early '70's, and hailing from Thames T.V. Ellis Jones plays 'Hal Adden' ( alright, its 'Aladdin' really ), a shy young man who works in a hardware shop ( one of those musty smelling places in the high street that used to sell everything under the sun. Remember them? ). Whilst clearing out the stock room one day, he finds an old watering can, and gives it a polish - out pops a 5000 year old genie ( 'Round The Horne's' Hugh Paddick ). The genie can use magic to grant Hal any wish he cares to make. Unfortunately, he is not always capable of understanding Hal's instructions. For instance, when Hal innocently exclaims "Well, I'll be Cleopatra!", the genie proceeds to turn him into an Elisabeth Taylor lookalike. In the episode when Hal is in bed with a cold and upset at having to miss his driving test, the genie proceeds to make the bed leave the house and speed down the road. Another agreeable absurdity was when Hal was made small enough to fit inside a dolls house.
The show, though intended for children, was also enjoyed by adults ( as also happened a few years earlier with 'Do Not Adjust Your Set' ). Paddick is wonderfully camp as the genie, but Roy Barraclough steals the show as the put-upon shopkeeper Mr.Cobbledick ( now there's a Dickensian name for you ) to whom strange things keep happening for no reason. Most episodes used to end with him saying "I think I'll have a lie down. Its been a funny sort of day!".
'Pardon My Genie' is still lovely, daft fun. In fact I found it funnier than many modern comedies intended for adults! Dated? Well yes, in the nicest possible way. It will bring back happy memories of Monday afternoons in front of the telly. Don't buy this expecting state of the art S.F.X. though. Both this and Season 2 are available to buy. Though Paddick was amusing as the genie, he did not return and the part was given to Arthur White - David Jason's brother - who was just as good in the role.
Before anyone asks, yes there was an American show made before this called 'I Dream Of Jeannie' ( starring Barbara Eden ), but 'Pardon My Genie' is not an adaptation.
The show, though intended for children, was also enjoyed by adults ( as also happened a few years earlier with 'Do Not Adjust Your Set' ). Paddick is wonderfully camp as the genie, but Roy Barraclough steals the show as the put-upon shopkeeper Mr.Cobbledick ( now there's a Dickensian name for you ) to whom strange things keep happening for no reason. Most episodes used to end with him saying "I think I'll have a lie down. Its been a funny sort of day!".
'Pardon My Genie' is still lovely, daft fun. In fact I found it funnier than many modern comedies intended for adults! Dated? Well yes, in the nicest possible way. It will bring back happy memories of Monday afternoons in front of the telly. Don't buy this expecting state of the art S.F.X. though. Both this and Season 2 are available to buy. Though Paddick was amusing as the genie, he did not return and the part was given to Arthur White - David Jason's brother - who was just as good in the role.
Before anyone asks, yes there was an American show made before this called 'I Dream Of Jeannie' ( starring Barbara Eden ), but 'Pardon My Genie' is not an adaptation.
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