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Amazon.co.uk Review
The first series of the elegant sitcom-cum-farce-cum-sophisticated political satire Yes Minister, setting off Paul Eddington's Jim Hacker, Minister for Administrative Affairs, against Nigel Hawthorne's discreetly obstructive civil servant Sir Humphrey. Series One features the pilot episode, "Open Government", curious in that it contains different and distinctly inferior opening and closing credits to the rest of the series. You also sense that Mrs Hacker was originally intended to have a larger role, with comedy focussing on the clash between political and domestic commitments, until the writers wisely decided to focus on the stand-off between Jim and Sir Humphrey, with Derek Fowlds' mousy private secretary Bernard making occasional interjections.
While the series doesn't quite come fully to light--Sir Humphrey is at times a little too sinister for sitcom consumption--all the classic features quickly show up. Hacker's occasional Churchillian bombast, followed by panicky blank double-takes when flummoxed, Sir Humphrey's unflappable verbosity as he brings the dead weight of civil service bureaucracy to bear against Hacker's naively optimistic schemes for open government, Quangos and slashing red tape in episodes like "The Economy Drive". Ironic, that when this was first screened in the 80s, it was during the rampages of early Thatcherism in which Government had never been less like the ineffectual politicking satirised here.
On the DVD: Full screen, no special features except scene selection and straightforward text profiles of the principal actors here. --David Stubbs
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dvd season 1.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I was a wee nipper when this first series was released so missed out first time round. I was expecting it to be too dated to move me. Not a bit of it. This is classic, well written, well observed comedy. If you want an insight into the real working of the British Constitutional balance and the independent role of the civil service, then as satire goes this is a masterpeice. I can't wait to see the rest.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A highly intelligent delightful comedy about the intrigues of the political office.It is a satire on how the Minister of a government Department runs his Department or so is led to believe by his Undersecretary. A dazzling display of wit by Nigel Hawthorne who plays the undersecretary and schemes behind the back of the Minister and in fact runs the Ministry by playing the the minister like a puppet. The undersecretry's objective throughout the episodes that follow is how to housetrain the minister, while in meantime the minister slowly realises the game and resists.there is an endles amounts of quid pro quo in the endless battle of wits betwen the elected member of parliament and the goverment bureaucracy. Although a comedy, it appears to be a good reflection of political life and is an informative must see for students of political science and politics at large.i remeber watching this about 12 years ago but even watching it again now, it is still hugely funny and with an amazing repetoire of wit.It holds very true to the books of the same name.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Even after 20 years, the scheming Sir Humphrey is still fresh. The way he uses his knowledge to hinder and ultimately help his Minister out of a 'mess' is just priceless. Anyone who is looking for a career in the Civil Service, or any other government organisation, should view this 'training' DVD. Great viewing, superb scripts, fantastic acting. The best BBC sitcom ever. Can't wait for series 2 and the Yes Prime Minister series.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Question about audio in the Open Government episode
Is the OPEN GOVERNMENT episode a pilot episode? Did anyone notice lip-sync problems in the OPEN GOVERNMENT episode? I noticed this audio problem in this episode.
Published 4 months ago by NewDeep
yes minister series 1
I bought this dvd for someone who had broken their previous dvd. So it was a replacement copy for them. We both love this series.
Published 21 months ago by Mrs. Wendy Hope
Political gold
Yes, Minister is one of my all-time favourite sitcoms and this DVD includes all seven episodes of the shows first series, including the pilot episode. Read more
Published on 4 Dec 2007 by T. R. Alexander
Superb!
Yes Minister is one of the best examples of British comedy ever made. It is definitely up there with the likes of Fawlty Towers and Dad's Army. Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2007 by R Cunningham
marvellous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh, god, i am so grateful for this series, i've just finished watching the "big brother" episode and i have to say that was the first time in ... Read more
Published on 22 Sep 2004 by Michael Krammer
Best British Comedy Ever...
The "Yes, Minister" Series are considered as the best british comedy-show. It has everything that u'll ever need: politics, "british english" :), irony, reality and endless... Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2004 by ALP ATALIK
Hilarious
I've just watched this series again, and it doesn't go stale with repeat viewings. What's amazing is that more than 20 years after the series first aired, the jokes seem more... Read more
Published on 30 July 2004 by The Fisher Price King
Top British Sitcom.
This is what the British do best. Yes Minister 1 - 3 are probably my most watched DVDs. Paul Eddington and Nigel Hawthorne (both greatly missed) were superb in this classic... Read more
Published on 19 Jan 2004 by Silas Wegg
British comedy at its best.
One of the best comedy series ever writen.
Jim Hacker M.P. manages to get a job in the cabinet in the new government. Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2003 by M. J. Collins
Still Relevent
For a series recorded so many years ago it has a timeless quality and grasp of the political arena that makes it just as relevent today as then. Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2002 by MR IAN COX
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