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One of Britain's most popular and versatile character actors Leonard Rossiter famous for his portrayal of Rigsby in Rising Damp and the unforgettable Reggie Perrin stars in his final comedy role as Norman Tripper, an irascible and manic supermarket manager desperately trying to motivate his motley crew of sales assistants amid his frantic world of rising prices and falling standards.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
This is a brilliant sitcom from 1984 which I often watch on VHS which was recorded off the TV.
The story revolves around Norman Tripper, the manager of a London Supermarket who gets into all sorts of scrapes with the useless staff, head office and customers. At the time when this originally aired it was a huge flop and attracted many negative reviews, but to be honest I really enjoyed it and the fact that it has been released on DVD means that it went down well with the public too. You will also see a few famous faces - the main one is Andrew Paul who went on to play Dave Quinnan in the Bill.
This series was also the final ever work done by Leonard Rossiter who died between the broadcast of episode 2 and 3. The series was revived a couple of years later with Bruce Forsyth as the lead character and that ran for 2 series as "Slingers Day".
This is a great comedy and a must for Leonard Rossiter fans.
The story revolves around Norman Tripper, the manager of a London Supermarket who gets into all sorts of scrapes with the useless staff, head office and customers. At the time when this originally aired it was a huge flop and attracted many negative reviews, but to be honest I really enjoyed it and the fact that it has been released on DVD means that it went down well with the public too. You will also see a few famous faces - the main one is Andrew Paul who went on to play Dave Quinnan in the Bill.
This series was also the final ever work done by Leonard Rossiter who died between the broadcast of episode 2 and 3. The series was revived a couple of years later with Bruce Forsyth as the lead character and that ran for 2 series as "Slingers Day".
This is a great comedy and a must for Leonard Rossiter fans.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
This DVD will, I imagine, sell on the strength of Leonard Rossiter's name - and it is indeed worth acquiring for his performance if you are already a fan.
The casual purchaser needs to be warned, however, that Rossiter's final sitcom is not another Rising Damp or Reggie Perrin: this is a broad and knockabout sitcom of the sort which might have been more common when it aired in 1984.
Of its type it's okay, and Rossiter certainly knew what he was getting into, saying he had been warned it was "smash-bang basic comedy in short, sharp scenes", but there's no doubt it has dated more badly than either of the above.
It might be that blame can be placed at the door of writer Brian Cooke - and, ironically, Rossiter himself. Cooke says in an accompanying text (the extras don't run to a filmed interview) that the show was conceived as more of an ensemble piece, but when Rossiter came on board - attracted, Cooke says, because it was the first part he'd been offered which wasn't a carbon copy of Rigsby - Cooke rewrote the scripts, placing Tripper more firmly at the centre.
Whether or not it's down to that decision, while Rossiter gives a good performance as the maanager, you can't help feeling sorry for the rest of the cast, who aren't always given much to do - especially as there is quite a large company for the comparatively limited running time of an ITV sitcom episode. A love interest (of sorts) was apparently added for Tripper, but you can't quite buy it, maybe because there isn't enough time devoted to it. And quite often you are aware of other cast members being given Funny Lines to speak at the expense of character.
That said, some episodes are better than others,and it does seem to improve along the way. I liked Tokens of Esteem, which features Reginald Marsh, and has a neat ending. And Rossiter's character goes off on a riff about Arthur English and comic catchphrases which is well developed. Another episode, about an unexploded bomb, may not be terribly adventurous, but it does allow Rossiter to do a convincing impression of abject fear.
In comparison to Rising Damp, however, there are limited opportunities for the carefully choreographed comic business which was such a regular feature of that series, and the reader is strongly advised to purchase Rigsby and Reggie box sets before considering this DVD. Three stars seems a fair assessment, however, as Rossiter serves the material well. even if it has started to looks a bit threadbare by today's standards.
The casual purchaser needs to be warned, however, that Rossiter's final sitcom is not another Rising Damp or Reggie Perrin: this is a broad and knockabout sitcom of the sort which might have been more common when it aired in 1984.
Of its type it's okay, and Rossiter certainly knew what he was getting into, saying he had been warned it was "smash-bang basic comedy in short, sharp scenes", but there's no doubt it has dated more badly than either of the above.
It might be that blame can be placed at the door of writer Brian Cooke - and, ironically, Rossiter himself. Cooke says in an accompanying text (the extras don't run to a filmed interview) that the show was conceived as more of an ensemble piece, but when Rossiter came on board - attracted, Cooke says, because it was the first part he'd been offered which wasn't a carbon copy of Rigsby - Cooke rewrote the scripts, placing Tripper more firmly at the centre.
Whether or not it's down to that decision, while Rossiter gives a good performance as the maanager, you can't help feeling sorry for the rest of the cast, who aren't always given much to do - especially as there is quite a large company for the comparatively limited running time of an ITV sitcom episode. A love interest (of sorts) was apparently added for Tripper, but you can't quite buy it, maybe because there isn't enough time devoted to it. And quite often you are aware of other cast members being given Funny Lines to speak at the expense of character.
That said, some episodes are better than others,and it does seem to improve along the way. I liked Tokens of Esteem, which features Reginald Marsh, and has a neat ending. And Rossiter's character goes off on a riff about Arthur English and comic catchphrases which is well developed. Another episode, about an unexploded bomb, may not be terribly adventurous, but it does allow Rossiter to do a convincing impression of abject fear.
In comparison to Rising Damp, however, there are limited opportunities for the carefully choreographed comic business which was such a regular feature of that series, and the reader is strongly advised to purchase Rigsby and Reggie box sets before considering this DVD. Three stars seems a fair assessment, however, as Rossiter serves the material well. even if it has started to looks a bit threadbare by today's standards.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
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For the false-intellectuals, this is not a heavy show. But it is a very funny show, with some real ball-bouncingly funny moments. It is a tragedy that Leonard Rossiter's death prevented a second series with him. Although they did make a couple of other series with a slight title change with a new leading actor. I would love to get the extra series also, however, they are not out on DVD. For the uninitiated I have included links to a couple of other Leonard Rossiter series. Basically get everything you can find with Rossiter in it!!!
Tripper's Day - The Complete Series [DVD]
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin: Complete Box Set [DVD]
Rising Damp - Complete Collection [DVD]
Tripper's Day - The Complete Series [DVD]
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin: Complete Box Set [DVD]
Rising Damp - Complete Collection [DVD]
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great Comedy
Although not his best Tripper's Day gives us another memory of the great Leonard Rossiter. This series was far better than the second when Bruce Forsyth was bought in after... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr. Brian S. Adsett
Didn't trip on Tripper's day
I loved Rising Damp with Leonard Rossiter so I thought I'd give this ago. It was okay but I wouldn't watch it over and over again like Rising Damp. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Sammy
sad end to a great career
It would be great to be able to say that this, Leonard Rossiter's last sitcom, was an unjustly neglected gem. Read more
Published 12 months ago by gille liath
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