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This definitive collection includes all 21 episodes from the three series of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, as well as an array of additional features which are new to DVD, including the post-Reggie series The Legacy of Reginald Perrin and a special 1982 Christmas sketch. The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin remains one of the greatest comedies ever broadcast. From a terminally frustrated commuter who fakes his own suicide, to the boss of Grot, a shop selling useless junk, to running a commune for the middle-aged and the middle-class, Reginald Perrin – and his family and colleagues – provided a hilarious satire on modern life. The magnificent performance of Leonard Rossiter held the series together, but the show also boasted David Nobbs’ consistently witty scripts and a supporting cast of fantastic characters and a host of enduring catchphrases. The series The Legacy of Reginald Perrin (made after the sad death of Rossiter) saw the return of Jimmy, CJ, Tom, Doc and the others, as a deceased Reggie’s will inspires them to do something totally and utterly absurd. And, from the BBC’s The Funny Side of Christmas (which featured festive versions of top comedy shows) comes a five-minute sketch of Reggie’s Christmas Day. The BBC Comedy Connections documentary on the making of the series completes this comprehensive collection. Extras: The Legacy of Reginald Perrin (7episodes) Comedy Connections & The Funny Side Of Christmas (short sketch)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
54 of 55 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Episode 5 of series 1 has been cut.
This is baffling. Two cuts of about fifteen seconds total. Two jokes cut short, two scenes ruined. Why? It's not as if they were even the slightly outdated jokes - just the one where Reggie says "shush" to an owl when he's trying to sleep in the van, then the one where CJ dismisses the "crank" note, before changing his mind and taking it more seriously.
It's like the bad old days of movies on TV, where stations cut for time. Only, it doesn't even make that amount of sense. This episode was complete and uncut on the old VHS release, so why isn't that the case here?
As far as the rest of the collection goes, it's good enough. The first series is quite possibly the single greatest - and most subversive - sitcom ever to be broadcast on BBC1. The second series drops the ball a little as far as focus, pacing and purpose go, but it's still better than pretty much any of its contemporaries.
The third... well, the third's very much of its time. The jokes still work, Rossiter's performance is still magnetic and winning, but the basic concept behind it has aged badly and is unlikely to have any real relevance to modern viewers' lives.
The 1990s', post-Rossiter series, The Legacy of Reginald Perrin, is awful, and the perfect demonstration of just how brilliant a performer the show's deceased star was: it's obvious from the first moments of the first episode of Legacy that Rossiter was previously the glue holding the entire thing together, his performance the one thing that lifted it above predictable, dull, cheap catchphrase comedy and made the show something special. Without his presence, it fails dismally.... Read more ›
This is baffling. Two cuts of about fifteen seconds total. Two jokes cut short, two scenes ruined. Why? It's not as if they were even the slightly outdated jokes - just the one where Reggie says "shush" to an owl when he's trying to sleep in the van, then the one where CJ dismisses the "crank" note, before changing his mind and taking it more seriously.
It's like the bad old days of movies on TV, where stations cut for time. Only, it doesn't even make that amount of sense. This episode was complete and uncut on the old VHS release, so why isn't that the case here?
As far as the rest of the collection goes, it's good enough. The first series is quite possibly the single greatest - and most subversive - sitcom ever to be broadcast on BBC1. The second series drops the ball a little as far as focus, pacing and purpose go, but it's still better than pretty much any of its contemporaries.
The third... well, the third's very much of its time. The jokes still work, Rossiter's performance is still magnetic and winning, but the basic concept behind it has aged badly and is unlikely to have any real relevance to modern viewers' lives.
The 1990s', post-Rossiter series, The Legacy of Reginald Perrin, is awful, and the perfect demonstration of just how brilliant a performer the show's deceased star was: it's obvious from the first moments of the first episode of Legacy that Rossiter was previously the glue holding the entire thing together, his performance the one thing that lifted it above predictable, dull, cheap catchphrase comedy and made the show something special. Without his presence, it fails dismally.... Read more ›
54 of 56 people found the following review helpful
By G. CAROLAN
Format:DVD
Two words can describe this dvd set.
Great...............Super
I didn't get where I am today by describing this dvd set in more than two words.
Great...............Super
I didn't get where I am today by describing this dvd set in more than two words.
61 of 64 people found the following review helpful
By A. PADGHAM
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
At last, the entire collection of Leonard Rossiter at his very best - as Reginald Iolanthe Perrin! Having purchased it and already seen the first 3 series, I would thoroughly recommend this beautifully packaged collection. The chance to laugh and weep along with with Reggie as he struggles through the monotony of life in the rat race and indeed, the fast lane. As the pressure grows on Reggie as a Senior sales executive, he longs to escape from it all. The series charts his battle with his complacent life, through his eventual escape from it all, and his ups and downs as he returns to his old life after living as a tramp, then supping champagne as a multi-milionaire, yet always having his roots firmly at home despite his wandering fantasies. I first saw this excellent programme at the age of 16, and now at 48 I just cannot tire of it. Recommended for anyone who saw it on TV first time round or perhaps has seen the new - and very good - series with Martin Clunes and is curious about the original series. You can't go wrong if you buy this product - there are many guaranteed laughs to come. I didn't get where I am today without knowing there are many guaranteed laughs to come!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
One of my all time favourite sitcoms. Brilliantly written with superb characters - the ego maniacal CJ (1,2,3,4,make them wait outside the door, 5,6,7,8 always pays to make them wait, 9,10,11,12 COME!), the incompetent Doc ('feeling a bit chesty Joan'?), the clueless brother in Law, Jimmy ('bit of a cock up on the catering front') Thirty years on it still makes me laugh. The disillusioned middle manager surrounded by a boss who didn't get where he is today without humiliating his subordinates, the 'great,super' young graduate recruits, the dysfunctional family and the mother in law who creates a recurring hippopotamus image at her mere mention. No wonder the faked suicide seemed like a good option. Rossiter is at his best as the much put upon, long suffering Reggie whose response to the banality of his everyday life is to engineer a dramatic escape. The second series with the growth of his Grot Shop concept and the employment of all the old favourites is a good development. The third series is less strong with the commune concept being perhaps a series too far.
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
A year or so ago I saw series 1 for the first time in many years when it was repeated in the UK by the BBC. It was wonderfully nostalgic to become engrossed once again in the story. David Nobbs had created Reginald Iolanthe Perrin (played by Leonard Rossiter), a frustrated and stressed business executive, living a comfortable but boring suburban lifestyle, fed-up with British Rail always getting hime to work 11 minutes late. Many could identify, at least in part, with Reggie. The faked suicide and his new identities create hilarious situations but always with a hint of sadness at his predicament - sometimes it is uncomfortable if you have been in a similar situation yourself. Sadly the BBC did not choose to screen the full trilogy, so it was with relief that I discovered this box set. Series 1 deals with Reggie's build-up to a breakdown and his "disappearance", followed by his very amusing appearance at his own memorial service as an old friend of Reggie's. He then wins the heart of his "widow", Elizabeth (Pauline Yates). In series 2 he accidentally founds "Grot", an empire of shops selling useless objects, also greatly entertaining. Series 3, in which he founds a commune for the middle classes works a little less well for me, partly because of a change of actor playing his son-in-law. But it is because all three series are here that this set is so great - the story needs to be complete... that said, there were two spin-off series; one of these is "A Fairly Secret Army", starring Reggie's brother-in-law Jimmy, played by Geoffrey Palmer. The other, in 1996, being "The Legacy of Reginald Perrin", with more or less the same cast as "Fall and Rise" (except of course, the late Leonard Rossiter, whose character, Reggie, is also absent).... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent entertainment
We really enjoyed watching this series of Reggie, first saw it in the 70s. Asbsolutely enjoyed it, good entertainment. Leonard Rossiter and rest of crew were fabulous in this. Read more
Published 20 days ago by The Duchess
5.0 out of 5 stars
Leonard Rossiter IS Reginald Iolanthe Perrin!
Ignore the typically grainy picture, I didn't get where I am today without ignoring the typically grainy picture, which reflects older prouction qualities and you find an absolute... Read more
Published 20 days ago by I. I. L. Surridge
5.0 out of 5 stars
reginald perrin dvd
my kind of humour a clasic series from the past shame comedy has now had to be politically correct good value
Published 23 days ago by dave dobson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Happy days
Very funny man, c d del within a few days, well packed, would def buy again, this cd reminds me of my mother in law, hippo lol
Published 2 months ago by Stevex22
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it or hate it
Very few people think it was "OK"
This series was either loved with people tuning in every week so they watched every minute of the episodes or not watched at... Read more
This series was either loved with people tuning in every week so they watched every minute of the episodes or not watched at... Read more
Published 3 months ago by HB
4.0 out of 5 stars
Spectacular!
I watched this in the early '80's in the UK on a student work(drink)abroad program. I saw it on amazon later in life and on a lark ordered it up. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Brett Summers
5.0 out of 5 stars
CLASSIC COMEDY! - As good as it was when originally telecast
This is one of my all-time favorite TV shows and it has definitely aged well. I can recommend it without reservations and am glad we have such an excellent showcase preserved of... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Barry M. Pattengill
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Absolute Classic
I watched some of the episodes back in the 80s and 90s, with these dvds you obviously get to watch all the episodes in the correct order. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. Rn Turner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Retro
Bought it for my husband, he is a bit alternative like Mr. Perrin. They both makes me laugh to watch them.
Published 5 months ago by Andree
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reggie Rules
Bought for a Christmas gift for my son in law, He was delighted with it, I may borrow it and have a watch when he is done with it,
Published 5 months ago by neilly
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