Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8366 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-03-24
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 150 minutes

Synopsis
Features the entire first series of THE MORECAMBE AND WISE SHOW made for Thames Television. Contains six episodes. Also includes their first four Thames Television specials; the pilot show and three Christmas shows.

Customer Reviews

Superb - long, long overdue!
Absolutely delighted to see this release finally become available. So many classics on here: Sylvester & Tweety Pie, The Jungle Book, Ernie conducting the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, 'Evil Eric' the Stuntman, Des O'Connor trying to sing on the Christmas show, Ernie's au pair, and much more that's either long since deleted or never previously available. I've always liked M&W's work during this period, and it's nice to see the efforts of writers Barry Cryer & John Junkin, and director/producer Keith Beckett in the spotlight for once (regular producer John Ammonds and writer Eddie Braben returned for the '79 special and the 1980 series respectively). Oh, and Peter Cushing's still waiting to get paid!

What Do You Think Of It So Far...?
This is a long overdue release: Season 1 (from 1980) of M&W at Thames TV plus their first special with Thames from October 1978 and the Xmas Special also from 1978. Add to this a Xmas Special/Extended interview with M&W quizzed by David Frost and then the 1980 Xmas Special, and you have an excellent set of programmes. Most of this is new to DVD and has not been seen for decades. Most of this material stands up very well indeed. There's a great sense of energy and urgency about the 1978 Specials and the 1979 Xmas interview show is fascinating to see. (It's also a lot more inventive than you would imagine!) The 1980 series (back with Eddie Braben as writer) is also great fun and there's some nice anarchic touches to enjoy. Overall, a treat. At last you can judge for yourself the true quality of the Thames TV material - I've always thought that it was much underrated and thanks to Network hopefully more people will soon think this too.

The End of the Beginning
Hurry up and release series 2, 3 & 4!
Before Eric Morecambe's second heart attack, things were looking good. There is no discernable difference in quality between the 1976/77 specials and the two 1978 ones, and these mammoth spectaculars show what Morecambe and Wise were about to run out of - material.
Once Eddie Braben's back on board, the 1980 series is a rehash of old sketches from the BBC years, which thanks to the wonders of DVD, we can now compare side by side. And every time, the BBC version wins hands down.
Not that that is Braben's fault, or indeed Eric or Ernie's. This was 1980 - alternative comedy was snapping at their heels, the age of variety was dead, and these two were in their mid 50s. All of this is documented in numerous biographies, but even as the energy slowly dwindles away, there's always something magical about these two. Every comedian repeats material (Jasper Carrott did a whole series in 2004 rehashing his old stuff) and so the 1980 series stands not so much as a greatest hits package, but more a sturdy collection of reliable B Sides. Although one cannot forgive Thames the error of their freezing the picture at the end of the 1978 special and then inching frame by frame as The Sunshine Song finishes. It looks sloppy.
The DVD presentation is very pleasing too. Just hurry up with the rest of the series!