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From Amazon.co.uk
The Very Best of Steptoe and Son is wonderful collection of "Steptoe" moments...but not entirely what it claims to be. This selection, is in fact a collection of five episodes from the two surviving series of the four shot in colour in the 1970s--the four black and white series shot in the 1960s are neglected entirely. However by the 1970s, Wilfred Brambell and Harry H Corbett had been playing Albert and Harold Steptoe for almost a decade and the parts of the greedy needy old man and his witty feeble son were second nature to them. One of the best episodes on show here is "The Desperate Hours", which sets the father and son duo off against a similar couple--Leonard Rossiter's escaped bank robber and the old lag who taught him everything he knows--both couples come to understand the shared dynamic of their relationships. The 1970s episodes included more external shots and opened the show out from its original two-hander format--"Oh What a Beautiful Mourning", for example, introduces us to a large selection of the Steptoe clan, played by a variety of well known character actors.
On the DVD: The DVD is presented in a standard television 4:3 aspect ratio and adds the luxury of Dolby Sound to the show's original mono; the Ron Grainger signature tune has never sounded so good. There are no subtitles, but the DVD includes a short account of the two stars' careers and an extended interview in which Galton and Simpson, the scriptwriters, talk about the history of the show from its origin as a one-off Comedy Playhouse episode through to the eventual decision that after the eighth series it was time to call it a day. --Roz Kaveny
Product Description
Five classic episodes of the popular rag and bone sitcom. In 'Upstairs, Downstairs, Upstairs, Downstairs', Harold has to look after Albert when the old man slips a disc. 'The Bath' sees Harold's romantic date ruined by his father eating pickles in the bath in the living room. In 'Porn Yesterday', Harold picks up an old 'What the Butler Saw' machine on his round, while 'Seance in a Wet Rag and Bone Yard' sees Albert talking to the spirits. In 'And So to Bed', Harold buys a waterbed to ensure success with his girlfriend Marcia.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By Liam Gretton
VINE™ VOICE
If you're a fan of Steptoe & Son and you're replacing your VHS collection, then this disc is worth buying, if only because we're unlikely to see a better effort. The picture quality isn't very good as might be expected with such old material, but the main problem is that a disc with an entire series could have been produced instead of the rag-and-bone collection we have here. As there are three episodes from series 7 conspicuously absent even though they've been released on VHS in the past, I can only hope the BBC haven't managed to lose them in recent years, as they've managed to do with so many other Steptoe episodes.
On the plus side, there's what appears to be a recent interview (about 25 minutes long) with Galton and Simpson which is a nice extra.
Encouragingly, the disc calls itself volume 1, so hopefully we can expect some more episodes on DVD soon.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Nigel Drake
I am not a die hard Steptoe fan, I am too young to have seen them on TV. I was simply looking for something to show my students here in Japan. I thought that it would be dated and stale, how wrong can you be, although these episodes are now 30 years old they still made me laugh, the acting is superb, the scripts timeless. All five episodes are excellent, from the opening scrabble game to the final curtain, a joy to watch.
I would recommend it to anyone. Thank you Galton and Simpson, stand up and take a bow.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By M. Williams
They dont make classic like these any more.Steptoe will always be tops for comedy.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Steptoe & Son was the best comedy (sorry that should say best programme) that the BBC ever made. The writing, acting and production were superb. The Desperate Hours is wonderful as Leonard Rossiter escapes with his father from the scrubs and finds the Steptoe residence as a refuge. Albert and Harold are, of course, even worse off than the escapees and finally Johnny (Rossiter) has to lend Harold a shilling for the meter. Johnny is not amused when Harold says he has no car and offers a horse as a means of escape (well it was good enough for Dick Turpin). Men of Letters is equally strong, as Albert proves he is the definite Scabble player and Harold shows his intellect to the vicar by arguing that Kant was in fact a "berk". All in the best possible taste - no modern comedy effort comes close. This is THE classic. Buy it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
Have not watched this series since it was on television; took a little while to get used to again but was enjoyable.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Jay
In reality, Wilfred Bramble (Steptoe) and Harry Corbett(Son) never got on with each other. However on camera, they were a formidable duo, and some of the acting seemed so natural, you wonder if all the scenes were performed on the first take itself. The two episodes 'Desperate Hours 'and 'A Star is Born are real gems. Steptoe is indeed a crafty character far more cunning than his son who is doomed to follow 'his old man'.
Menu isn't bad but nice extra is the interviews conducted
Menu isn't bad but nice extra is the interviews conducted
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Stephen
Steptoe and son is an addictive comedy which proves that bbc comedy is going downhill recently, anyone who witnessed the horror that was Mad about alice bbc's 2004 release of a shameful unfunny and overall sickeningly boring 'comedy' (the word is being used in its loosest sense mind)will know excactly what i'm talking about. Even though Steptoe and son is old it keeps being funny each time you see it. Fair enough it may not be totally 'PC' and unsuitable for new comedies but so was porridge and fawlty towers, two of the best sitcoms ever made. Therefore i suggest strongly that you purchase this hilarious comedy. Ladies and Gentlemen I rest my case.
By jaylew
Amazon Verified Purchase
It is one of the old time greats for my wife and I, we enjoyed the dvd so much. wonderful
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
very good
this is a very good classic comedy. Well worth the watch.
I would recommend this . Shame these two aren't with us anymore.
I would recommend this . Shame these two aren't with us anymore.
Published 1 month ago by Mrs Mary Marta Shaw
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rag and bone men at their best.
It's a good while since I saw these two on my screen. Father is his usual, obnoxious old self, a really 'dirty old man', and always getting the better of 'arold. A good giggle.
Published 5 months ago by masuk
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