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Product Description
All six episodes from the first series of the popular prison sitcom. In 'New Faces, Old Hands' Godber is facing his first spell inside and Fletcher decides to teach him the ropes. 'The Hustler' has Ives try to get involved in Fletcher's gambling exercise. 'A Night In' finds Godber worried about spending his first night in his cell. 'A Day Out' sees the boys excited about the chance of going outside on a work party. 'Ways and Means' has Fletcher try to wangle a nice easy job in the library. And 'Men Without Women' finds the inmates asking for advice from a most-unlikely agony aunt.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Mono ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: All six episodes from the first series of the classic TV comedy. New Faces, Old Hands: "Twenty-three and you want to go straight? What kind of talk is that? You've got your whole life in front of you!" It's Godber's first time in prison, and Fletch is going to teach him the ways. The Hustler: Ives is such a loser that if Elizabeth Taylor had triplets, he'd have been the one in the middle. But there's no way he's going to be left out of Fletch's gambling enterprise. A Night In: Fletch explains to Godber that the best way to cope with his first night in prison, is to see it as just a "quiet night in". Trouble is, Godber's got another 698 to go... A Day Out: The rest of the working party are thrilled to have a day out, but Fletch is masking indifference - what's so exciting about digging a ditch anyway? Ways and Means: Who would want to spend eight hours a day sewing fishing nets? Not Fletch, who is hell-bent on a cushy job in the library. Men Without Women: Fletch fancies himself as a bit of an agony aunt and is called upon by his fellow inmates to help out with affairs of the heart. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, ...Porridge - Series One ( Porridge - Series 1 )
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Aux
Format:DVD
As a child Porridge always signified the end of fun and bedtime. This was the show your parents wanted to watch and you hated because 'it was just people talking.'
Watching it now (I am 32) this is comedy of the highest calibre. From the wonderfully grumpy seasoned prisoner Fletch (Barker), ex army screw...sorry warden, Mr. McKay, the green, first timer Godber (Beckinsale) and the ever nervous and powerless Mr Barraclough (Wilde) the core of the show is timeless. It's all about men without women and biding your time. It is fully aware the warders are as much prisoners as the convicts ('who's been 'aving your old lady while you've been on nights then?) and for a 70s sitcom highlights some poignant issues.
As with all sitcoms of this era there are some minor racial jokes that are less than 'enlightened' but as they are from the mouths of such realistic characters it always feels the opinion is the characters and never the writers. The dialogue is fast and sharp and flows from the actors as if it was second nature. I have recommended this DVD to a lot of the young 'nerks' in the office and all have loved it. And rightly so, it's a joy.
Watching it now (I am 32) this is comedy of the highest calibre. From the wonderfully grumpy seasoned prisoner Fletch (Barker), ex army screw...sorry warden, Mr. McKay, the green, first timer Godber (Beckinsale) and the ever nervous and powerless Mr Barraclough (Wilde) the core of the show is timeless. It's all about men without women and biding your time. It is fully aware the warders are as much prisoners as the convicts ('who's been 'aving your old lady while you've been on nights then?) and for a 70s sitcom highlights some poignant issues.
As with all sitcoms of this era there are some minor racial jokes that are less than 'enlightened' but as they are from the mouths of such realistic characters it always feels the opinion is the characters and never the writers. The dialogue is fast and sharp and flows from the actors as if it was second nature. I have recommended this DVD to a lot of the young 'nerks' in the office and all have loved it. And rightly so, it's a joy.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By wizzardpoet
Format:DVD
Two things struck me about this old favourite. It's not quite as funny as I remember it, and it's actually more serious and poignant. It doesn't glamourise prison life. It is great fun, but you're never allowed to forget that these men have lost their right to freedom. This delicate balance means that the programme resonates in my mind for longer than the laughter. I'm always amazed when I watch Ronnie Barker in Porridge. I have to constantly remind myself that he is Ronnie Barker, the very same Ronnie Barker of The two Ronnies and Open all hours. Such is the mark of the actor. Not only a top, top comedian. The supporting cast is also top class.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Mister
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The first in a great line of 3 DVD's worth buying, put the cat out make a cup of tea & enjoy, I really liked it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Gooner
Format:DVD
From a dark dingy prison comes a show you can watch endlessly - and actually feel a warmth towards the main character - a common thief!
That takes good writing, but most importantly great actor's - enter Barker and Beckinsale - a perfect combination. They work so well off of each other, a great testimony to Ronnie as he had the same ifinitey with David Jason in Open all hours.
Life lessons with a smile - excellent.
Sit back - get comfortable and prepare to laugh!
That takes good writing, but most importantly great actor's - enter Barker and Beckinsale - a perfect combination. They work so well off of each other, a great testimony to Ronnie as he had the same ifinitey with David Jason in Open all hours.
Life lessons with a smile - excellent.
Sit back - get comfortable and prepare to laugh!
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Only Fools and Horses often gets voted the "best commedy series of all time", but I think it should be Porridge. Such an accolade could be awarded solely for the inimitable Ronnie Barker's performance as Fletcher - in real life a soft and well-spoken, almost timid character, he is hardly type-cast for the role of a sharp-tongued cockney rogue, yet he acts the part so well it is a shock hearing him speak normally. And there is also the ingenious writing of Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais (the writers also behind The Likely Lads and Auf Wiedwersehen Pet), who were at their creative peak, writing well-crafted one-liners that make most of today's commedies appear primitive and dull in comparison (forgiving the occasional slightly politically-incorrect line). And besides the commedy there is the harsh reality of their predicament - the plots and moral undertones of each episode of Porridge so well crafted, that it parrallels the creative geniuses of Ilk and Petrov, Russian commedy writers of the 1920s, with similar portrayals of the social "underclass" imbued with commedy and satire. The superb performances of Ronnie Barker, Richard Beckinsale (Godber), Fulton Mackay (Mackay!) and Brian Wilde (Barrowclough) alone make it the most memorable tv series, as well as being applicable to everyday life - chiefly, keep your nose clean, and don't let the buggers grind you down... or more generally, (in episode 5 "Ways and Means", trying to tame McLaren) - turn the other cheek! It is more than just a commedy, it is a lesson in life!
This DVD sadly excludes the pilot episode of porridge "Prisoner and Escort", to which some reference is made in the series.... Read more ›
This DVD sadly excludes the pilot episode of porridge "Prisoner and Escort", to which some reference is made in the series.... Read more ›
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Porridge will be 40yrs old next year and its still one of the best comedy shows on TV, they really don't make show like this anymore. Ronnie Barker at his best.
By RobDob
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Enjoyed all 6 episodes so much I immediately went back into Amazon and bought series 2, 3 and the Christmas specials. Have now watched all 3 series and really looking forward to the specials - A must see for anyone with a sense of humour, Ronnie Barker, Richard Beckinsale, and David Jason, how could you go wrong! Enjoy!
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Writing of this quality never feels dated, this disc completes my Porridge collection, next stop will be to acquire all 'Open all Hours' !
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
one of the very best comedies ever
Very funny. I have been watching this since I was a child (early '80s reruns) and it makes me laugh every time. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Lord Anon
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Old Shows are Always the Best
Have always liked Porridge and having seen this god knows how many times it still gave lots of laughs it was very entertaining. Read more
Published 17 months ago by apricot 2008
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Clasic!
Worth every penny, classic comedy that stands out from the rest. Ronnie Barker at his best.
Published on 3 July 2010 by Ms. Ann S. Ballard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Comedy at its best
This is how comedy should be, timeless and classic, funny yet gritty, it does sound silly but you may never see comedy like this again. Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2009 by Ms. C. A. Lorac
5.0 out of 5 stars
I'd Give it 10 Stars if I could
Easily one of the top TV comedy series of all time, Porridge is just about perfect: the scripts, acting, direction and flow of each and every episode just work so well. Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2007 by Geoffrey Millar
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pure Genius
Thirty years old and the comedy is as fresh and incisive as ever. Porridge hasn't dated one bit and remains one of the best TV comedies ever. Essential viewing. Read more
Published on 7 Nov 2006 by Mr. Ross Maynard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Prison Comedy
Although I have seen the ocassional episode on the TV, I never really watched Porridge, but I had often considered getting it, which I did and was not in the least bit... Read more
Published on 21 Oct 2006 by DB
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