Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12419 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-01-19
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 175 minutes

Synopsis
British comedy’s maestros Ray Galton and Alan Simpson created the PLAY HOUSE series in the late Seventies, giving free expression to their renowned penchant for black humour and social drama realism. The collection features all seven episodes of the series.

Customer Reviews

Ray & Alan's Funhouse
Don't be put off by lazy, predictable comments of the 'the show has not aged well' variety ( I've never understood that complaint. Would 'Fawlty Towers' have been funnier if Basil had been seen using a mobile phone? ). Network deserves a medal for all the great D.V.D. releases they have given us, the latest being this seven-part comedy anthology series made by Yorkshire Television in 1977.

Let me just drop a few names; Arthur Lowe, Richard Briers, Frances De La Tour, Roy Kinnear, Freddie Jones, Warren Mitchell, John Bird, Henry McGee, and Leonard Rossiter. Top quality actors and with material to match.

Among the highpoints are 'Car Along The Pass' in which Arthur Lowe plays a xenophobic British tourist trapped with other holidaymakers in a cable car over the Swiss Alps, 'Big Deal At York City' has Warren Mitchell as a lucky gambler preyed on by card sharps while travelling by train, in 'Swap You One Of These For One Of Those' Richard Briers is cast against type as a would-be swinger wanting a piece of the so-called 'permissive society', but the cherry on the cake is 'I Tell You, Its Burt Reynolds'. Leonard Rossiter plays an idiot who becomes convinced he has spotted the movie star in an old television programme, and despite evidence to the contrary, refuses to let the issue go. You cannot help but laugh as this man falls apart before your eyes. The episode was later remade as a vehicle for Paul Merton. Take it from me, the original is funnier.

You cannot have enough Galton and Simpson D.V.D. releases in my view, and this is long overdue. Shame that none of the episodes became a series ( Alan Simpson retired soon afterwards ). The Arthur Lowe one had the most potential for further development. With 'Dad's Army' still in production at the time it was made, the role of 'Henry Duckworth' was a natural for him. He did however play a not-too dissimilar character in Roy Clarke's 'Potter' two years later.

Disappointing? Absolutely not!

come on bbc
this is a great package - what is stopping the BBC releasing more items from storage ? They have 4 channels and can find room for enough rubbish, how about a vintage comedy hour at least once a week?

Sad disappointment
Galton and Simpson have written some brilliant comedy in their day. Sadly, this is not some of their best.

The inclusion of world class actors and actresses, to play in these short stories, fails to excite - as it should have done. As it is, the stories are workmanlike and highly competent, but not of sufficient comedic calibre to warrant high praise.