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DVD Description
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
35 of 35 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 It's not as if they were even the slightly outdated jokes - just the one where Reggie says "shush" to an owl when he's trying to sleep in the van, then the one where CJ dismisses the "crank" note, before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.
The addition of the related Comedy Connections show and the Christmas sketch is welcome, but the BBC are missing the ball by failing to provide on their DVD releases the kind of extras that classic movie DVDs have enjoyed for some time, commentaries being the main one.
At the time of writing, this is listed at under £20. It's a bit of a bargain for that price and if you haven't seen the show before, I can't recommend it enough. However, the fact remains that the first series is the true classic here, and on this boxset, for whatever reason, it *isn't* truly complete.
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.
The addition of the related Comedy Connections show and the Christmas sketch is welcome, but the BBC are missing the ball by failing to provide on their DVD releases the kind of extras that classic movie DVDs have enjoyed for some time, commentaries being the main one.
At the time of writing, this is listed at under £20. It's a bit of a bargain for that price and if you haven't seen the show before, I can't recommend it enough. However, the fact remains that the first series is the true classic here, and on this boxset, for whatever reason, it *isn't* truly complete.
56 of 57 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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!
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Without doubt, my absolute favorite comedy. Period. The writing was sharp and witty, the acting solid, and the characters instantly memorable. The rapid-fire exchanges between Reggie and C.J. were incredible. The timing of the lines was perfect. Sadly, it is only available in Region 0 DVD format, so those of us in the states have only to dream of the day when they decide to place it in Region 1 format. Fingers are crossed. There are a lot of us Yanks out here who adore this show. I didn't get where I am today without having to dream of the day when they decide to place it in Region 1 format. Great. Super.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent classic comedy
The fall and rise of Reginald Perrin is a wonderful classic British TV Comedy from the 1970s. This DVD set is easily worth buying since there are plenty of very good original... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ms. M. Potter
Fantastic!!!!!
Fantastic!!! Plain and simple!! Nothing else needs to be said really! If you like classic British comedy then this is an essential buy!!
Published 7 months ago by C. Tomlinson
the fall and rise of reginald perrin box set
A wonderful trip down memory lane, having seen it first time round in black and white, it brought a new dimention to see it in colour.and brought back happy memories
Published 13 months ago by Ann
Leonard Rossiter is the best
A vintage 70s sitcom, that is, the first 3 disks. I just love to watch Reggie being Reggie.
The 4th is a sequel to this, but was made in the nineties, long after Leonard... Read more
The 4th is a sequel to this, but was made in the nineties, long after Leonard... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Yeti
Mostly Brilliant
Great, Super to see this again after so many years. I last saw it as a child when the catchphrases were the thing that were funniest. Read more
Published 15 months ago by R. NEIL
The original and the classic
I quite liked Martin Clunes's take on Reginal Perrin - I may be in a minority - but watching Leonard Rossiter at work underlines the genius and superioty of the original, a lot... Read more
Published 17 months ago by P. N. I. Jeffrey
Good for a LAUGH
This was a surprise for my husband, he was very happy when opening it. This collection has proved a great distraction to 'feeling unwell, flu like symptoms'. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mrs. D. Leyland
The past is Another Country
Leonard Rossiter is just as fantastic as he ever was, But memory is a tricky cove.
Something as unique as Reggie Perrin can never be as fresh the second time around. Read more
Something as unique as Reggie Perrin can never be as fresh the second time around. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. William Healey
A bit on the dated side
I ordered The Rise and Fall of Reggie Perrin because I used to watch it with my dad many years ago, but the humour has not weathered well and the gags are repetitive and wear a... Read more
Published 17 months ago by R. N. Strelczenie
the original Reggie Perrin rocks!
We are working our way through delicious episode by episode of this classic series which is far funnier than the current re make. Well worth buying if you remember it ...
Published 19 months ago by S. J. Clow
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