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The Royle Family - The Complete First Series [DVD] [1998]
 
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The Royle Family - The Complete First Series [DVD] [1998]

DVD ~ Ricky Tomlinson
4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Royle Family - The Complete First Series [DVD] [1998]
52% buy the item featured on this page:
The Royle Family - The Complete First Series [DVD] [1998] 4.4 out of 5 stars (9)
The Royle Family Album - The Complete Collection [DVD] [1998]
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The Royle Family Album - The Complete Collection [DVD] [1998] 5.0 out of 5 stars (11)
£11.28
The Royle Family - Series 2 [DVD] [1999]
7% buy
The Royle Family - Series 2 [DVD] [1999] 5.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£19.59
The Royle Family - Series 1 [DVD] [1998]
7% buy
The Royle Family - Series 1 [DVD] [1998]
£19.99
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Product details

  • Actors: Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnston, Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash, Ralf Little
  • Format: Full Screen, PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 12
  • Studio: Granada Media
  • DVD Release Date: 6 Nov 2000
  • Run Time: 170 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000051WB3
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 39,662 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

    Popular in this category:

    #11 in  DVD > Television > TV Series > Royle Family

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
On paper, The Royle Family doesn't sound that promising: a working-class family from Manchester sit in their cluttered living room, watch the telly and argue over domestic details (the arrival of a telephone bill, for instance, provides the big dramatic event of the first episode, which aired in September 1998). But from such small everyday incidents, Royle Family creators Caroline Aherne and Dave Best (who play young couple Denise and Dave) have crafted one of the most successful shows on British television: a comedy about the joys and frustrations of family life that's warm, honest and very, very funny--Britain's answer to The Simpsons, whose success the show rivalled when it started broadcasting on BBC2 (the programme jumped channels to BBC1 for its second series).

The Royle Family marked an on-screen reunion for Brookside-actors Ricky Tomlinson (who plays bearded, big-hearted, banjo-playing Jim Royle) and Sue Johnston as his wife Barbara, the driving force behind the Royle household. It is smart casting because The Royle Family is as much a soap opera as a situation comedy. Now in its third series, The Royle Family has seen its characters develop like real folk. Denise and Dave got married and now have a little sprog; Barbara starts menopause (how many sitcoms are brave enough to use that for laughs?) and Denise's kid brother Anthony shakes off his surly adolescence when he turned 18 in series two. Unlike Oasis, who provide the shows theme song "Halfway Round the World", this programme just keeps getting better.

But no soap--not even Brookside in its dafter moments--has one-liners as brilliantly crafted as The Royle Family. (The scripts from the series are available to buy.) Slouched in his armchair, Jim's dour running commentary on the TV shows that are on at the time are particularly priceless: Changing Rooms, for instance, boils down to "a Cockney knocking nails into plywood... Is this what its come to?" Not quite: because as long as the Royle Family are around, there is something worthwhile to watch. --Edward Lawrenson

Special Features
4:3 Full Frame
DVD 9
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital Stereo English
Dolby Digital Stereo


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Customer Reviews

9 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant piece of commedy not to be missed!, 29 Oct 2000
By A Customer
After watching the first series, I couldn't wait for the second and haven't been at all disapointed with the quality of writing by Caroline Aherne. The Royle family is a brilliant portrayal of family life and is hilarious, I couldn't stop laughing. This series is a must have buy and is the sort of comedy that can be watched time and time again. All I can say is BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the funniest and smartest comedies in years, 29 Aug 2003
By "gattfloridia" - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   
I have not seen a comedy series this well cast and this well performed in a long time. Every single one of the actors portrays develops their character brilliantly ,each with different quirks and different personalities. Jim's one liners are wickedly funny and Dave's look of absolute dumbness is fantastic. You'll find yourself chuckling and for once we have a comedy not dubbed with fake laughter in the background.

The humour is honest and biting, coming very close to truth at times. You are drawn into the living room of this dysfunctional
family and can associate with their arguements and commentaries.

I thought that the scene in the second episode where Barbara looks on amazed at her daughter when she tells her that she will not be having chips for tea every single day just about sums up the family.

A brilliant piece of comedy that everyone should own.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastically Funny!!!!, 9 Mar 2004
I recently bought the first series, along with the others on DVD, after a T.V 'top 20' style programme reviewed it.
Fabulously funny the action (or in-action) takes place in the Royal family living room-occasionally venturing into the kitchen!!! The comedy comes from the predictability of the charactors but also the way they occasionally suprise you too!
The comedy is down to earth as well as the charactors.
I have to say, I found alot in common between my own family and the'Royals'-which made it even funnier!!
A classic and lots of laughs!!!!
Not to be missed!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Comedy
I never watched the series on tv when it first came out but got curious years later. The storylines are great. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Barnsey Boy

4.0 out of 5 stars Oddly engaging...
That's the best way to put it. I watched the first episode & was mostly confused, because (literally) nothing happens... then I realized that that was the gag. Read more
Published on 25 April 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars Great British comedy!
The Royle Family is such a great British comedy! I've seen them all so many times but I keep laughing each time I do see them! Read more
Published on 22 Jan 2005 by kellyh16

5.0 out of 5 stars "THE ROYAL FAMILY WRITTEN BY SCOTT DAVIES!"
A WORKING CLASS FAMILY SITUATED IN MANCHESTER, MUST BE ONE OF THE BEST FILMS I HAVE WATCHED, A FAMILY SAT IN THE LIVING ROOM, ARGUING OVER NORMAL DOMESTIC THINGS, TO MUCH DRINK... Read more
Published on 13 April 2004 by whywasiborn

1.0 out of 5 stars Over rated and boring
This has got to the be the most over-rated and boring show on TV. Basically all Ricky Tomlinson does is sit slouched on the couch squeezing out the word 'arse' in an attempt to... Read more
Published on 17 Sep 2003 by H A Chapman

5.0 out of 5 stars great series
this has got to be the best tv series ever made, it is about a family called the royles here is there names and a description of them :
Jim Royle is a loudmouthed lazy... Read more
Published on 19 May 2003 by joshthistlethwaite

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