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Product Description
All twelve episodes plus the Christmas special from the early 1990s British sitcom about a former footballer who becomes a housekeeper to an dynamic businesswoman. After a career-ending injury, down-on-his-luck single dad Charlie Burrow (Joe McGann) applies for a job as housekeeper at the elegant country home of advertising executive Caroline Wheatley (Diana Weston). Initially sceptical, Caroline's attitude to Charlie soon softens, aided by her more appreciative mother Laura (Honor Blackman). Episodes comprise: 'Just the Job', 'Briefless Encounter', 'Dinner for Two', 'The Old Girl Network', 'Caroline's First Fight', 'Who's Who', 'Growing Pains', 'Paint Your Wagon', 'Welcome Home: Part 1', 'Welcome Home: Part 2', 'Just Like Charlie' and 'First Kiss'.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), SPECIAL FEATURES: 2-DVD Set, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: When advertising executive Caroline Wheatley places an ad for a live-in home help, she's a little perturbed when Charlie Burrows, a footballer whose career has stalled following an injury, appears at her luxurious country home claiming to be the applicant. However, Caroline's alluring, vivacious mother, Laura, is rather more appreciative of the good-looking and resourceful Charlie, who is also bringing up his daughter alone. Caroline's seven-year-old son, Tom, also warms to him, and, before long, so does his mum; despite the unconventional circumstances and a few painfully awkward moments, a tentative romance begins... This engaging comedy series stars Joe McGann as Charlie and Diana Weston as Caroline, with Avengers siren Honor Blackman as Laura and future Bad Girls star Kellie Bright as Charlie's streetwise and tomboyish daughter, Joanna. The Upper Hand was based on scripts for the hugely popular US sitcom Who's the Boss and was a major success for Central Television, running for seven years in total. This release contains every episode of series one, screened in 1990, plus that year's Christmas special. ...The Upper Hand - Series One - 2-DVD Set ( The Upper Hand - Entire Series 1 )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By Blackhorse47
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
Made in the early 90s, this was an enjoyable sitcom that managed to provide its fair share of laughs, but which was elevated into something memorable by an excellent cast with Joe McGann and Diana Weston as the appealing leads, and a classy Honor Blackman as Diana's intrusive mother. The premise is that Diana's character is a busy woman who hires a housekeeper to look after her children, but, shock horror, the best person for the job turns out to be a man.
At first the series gets laughs out of the gender reversal situation that was fairly radical in the early 90s, but rapidly it develops into a question of how long it'll take the leads to realize the obvious and get together. The show lasted for seven seasons and in truth, at times, it could be formulaic and repetitive as unlike most British sitcoms that usually provide around six episodes a season, this show churned out 13 or even more a year. Luckily the show managed to re-invent itself several times by allowing the arc storyline of the leads' romance to develop, so there's always much to enjoy.
At first the series gets laughs out of the gender reversal situation that was fairly radical in the early 90s, but rapidly it develops into a question of how long it'll take the leads to realize the obvious and get together. The show lasted for seven seasons and in truth, at times, it could be formulaic and repetitive as unlike most British sitcoms that usually provide around six episodes a season, this show churned out 13 or even more a year. Luckily the show managed to re-invent itself several times by allowing the arc storyline of the leads' romance to develop, so there's always much to enjoy.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I half heartedly watched The Upper Hand when it was first on TV in the 90's but wouldn't have called myself a fan, even so, I decided to order this box set partly for nostalgia and partly because there doesn't seem to be very many good comedies produced at the moment.
I must say, I enjoyed seeing it again far more than I expected to. Honor Blackman is especially good as Caroline Wheatley's mother and the kids are bearable to watch, even though I'm not keen on children in sitcoms. It was nice to see the kids grow up as the series developed and of course the relationship between Charlie and Caroline blossoming from employer/employee to husband and wife at the end of the series six.
I am greatly looking forward to series two which is due for release on the 10th May and series three which should follow later in the year. I understand that all seven series will be released and I will certainly be adding them all to my collection.
The cover of the dvd features a very strange looking Diana Weston, (Caroline Wheatley) bearing hardly any resemblance to the actress as she appears in the show. She almost looks like a bad waxwork model. I wouldn't be surprised if Ms Weston cringed when she saw the cover picture, assuming she has seen it of course.
All in all, The Upper Hand is a warm hearted family sitcom that covers some important issues in a sensitive and humorous way. I can't wait to see more.
I must say, I enjoyed seeing it again far more than I expected to. Honor Blackman is especially good as Caroline Wheatley's mother and the kids are bearable to watch, even though I'm not keen on children in sitcoms. It was nice to see the kids grow up as the series developed and of course the relationship between Charlie and Caroline blossoming from employer/employee to husband and wife at the end of the series six.
I am greatly looking forward to series two which is due for release on the 10th May and series three which should follow later in the year. I understand that all seven series will be released and I will certainly be adding them all to my collection.
The cover of the dvd features a very strange looking Diana Weston, (Caroline Wheatley) bearing hardly any resemblance to the actress as she appears in the show. She almost looks like a bad waxwork model. I wouldn't be surprised if Ms Weston cringed when she saw the cover picture, assuming she has seen it of course.
All in all, The Upper Hand is a warm hearted family sitcom that covers some important issues in a sensitive and humorous way. I can't wait to see more.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Mikey
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
Back in 1984 a role reversal comedy, Who's The Boss? went to air in the USA starring Tony Danza, Judith Light and Katherine Helmond and ran for nearly 200 episodes over eight years.
In 1990, Central Television made 13 episodes of The Upper Hand using scripts from the US version. The layout of the hosue is exactly the same as in the US version and the characters could not be any more similar either. With a first class cast in The Upper Hand including Joe McGann, Honor Blackman and Diana Weston, ther programme would run for a further six series. The comedy in this set is fantastic and it's just a shame that this sort of thing isn't amde anymore.
Well worth a watch!
In 1990, Central Television made 13 episodes of The Upper Hand using scripts from the US version. The layout of the hosue is exactly the same as in the US version and the characters could not be any more similar either. With a first class cast in The Upper Hand including Joe McGann, Honor Blackman and Diana Weston, ther programme would run for a further six series. The comedy in this set is fantastic and it's just a shame that this sort of thing isn't amde anymore.
Well worth a watch!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Bought it for the wife
It's an undemanding and pleasant way to spend 25 minutes. The chemistry between the two leads, rather than the script, is what makes it worth watching.
Published 2 months ago by Andrew Beer
2.0 out of 5 stars
s1
Upper Hand S1 Wanted for a while, As before quick delivery & price was better than HMV, Ebay, Play & others, inc any p&p
Shame I forgot how "wodden the acting was"... Read more
Shame I forgot how "wodden the acting was"... Read more
Published 3 months ago by L. Parker
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Upper Hand
Thank God for the good old days when TV series were full of fun and laughter! This series are the best and we have just bought series two of the same programme from Amazon.
Published 6 months ago by D. O. Davies
5.0 out of 5 stars
found by coincidence
I found this serie by coincidence as I was searching for a film starring Honor Blackman (I'm a big fan of the Avengers). Read more
Published 16 months ago by Karin Langenegger
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