Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2821 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-10-22
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Full Screen, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Dutch, English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 174 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The final Blackadder series, which first appeared in 1990, was the most highly evolved of all of the Richard Curtis/Ben Elton-scripted excursions. Having contrived to attain the Crown at the end of the third series, Rowan Atkinson's Edmund Blackadder is now reduced to a mere Captaincy in the trenches during World War I, with these episodes finding him shooting messenger pigeons, grumbling about Charlie Chaplin and unscrupulously evading his patriotic duty to pile over the top and be slaughtered pointlessly. Hugh Laurie plays the upper class silly arse to the hilt while Baldrick, who has grown progressively more stupid throughout the four series, can barely muster the intelligence to move from the spot. Blackadder Goes Forth stoutly refused to the end to abandon its relish for broad, puerile scatological puns: "Captain Darling will pump you thoroughly in the debriefing room," growls Stephen Fry's General Melchett. However, Blackadder's cynicism is laced with genuine despair at the recent madness of World War I. The closing moments of the final episode, as Blackadder and co. finally receive their orders, are handled with sober poignancy and became a frequent fixture in Remembrance Day TV scheduling. --David Stubbs

Special Features
4:3 Full Frame
DVD 9
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital Stereo English
Dolby Digital Stereo
Scene Selection
Dutch\English

Synopsis
This BLACKADDER collection presents WWI comic mayhem courtesy of Captain Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) and company. Edmund Blackadder finds himself in the trenches on the Western Front in 1917. Episodes include "Captain Cook" (where Blackadder tries to escape active duty), "Corporal Punishment" (which finds ol' Edmund facing an execution), "Major Star" (featuring a concert of sorts), "Private Plane" (in which Blackadder finds himself caught in the crossfire), "General Hospital" (where Blackadder searches for German spies among the wounded), and "Goodbyeee" (when the end of the war is at hand).

Customer Reviews

Blackadder in the Great War
Blackadder has always been one of the funniest and best written British Sitcoms around and this forth and last series is one of the best from the shows run. The six episodes of the series all show-off the great script and the brilliant performances by both the main cast and the guest stars. All the cast seem to be thoroughly enjoying themselves throughout the series but alongside Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson, my favourite has to be Stephen Fry for his brilliant portrayal of General Melchett.

Each episode never ceases to be funny and the last episode of the series is still surprisingly touching despite the number of times that I have watched it. The one slight problem with the series is the laughter track that can be somewhat intrusive at times but this is a flaw that most comedies of this era suffer from and doesn't distract too much from the overall enjoyment. Blackadder Goes Forth use to be my favourite Blackadder series and although Blackadder Three has now superseded it for my favour, it is still a very close second.

Four stars removed for canned laughter
Right, five stars out of five for the series itself, but four stars removed for the canned laughter, which is too loud and spoils all the jokes.

Any chance of a DVD with the canned laughter removed? Given that earlier series of Blackadder didn't have this pollutive noise, it's only fair.

Long Lost Comedy


Blacker than the Adder's heart and slicker than Baldrick's stage shows moustache, every episode of this final series of Blackadder?s history is a joy to behold. The writing by Curtis and Elton is exquisite comedy filled with sorrow, as you know that most of what was shown was actually going on. Performances by Atkinson, and Robinson are as worthy as they should be although my personal favourite has to be Hugh Laurie as the dim witted, gung ho, Eton batting Lieutenant George. Side performances by the ever-loveable Rick Mayall as Flasheart and Geoffery Palmer as Field Marshall ?Dougie? Haig, amongst many others, are by far the best. The BBC yet again uses the license payer?s money wisely adding to their vast comedy store from the past 50+ years. One watching will never be enough. I feel the War Poets would be proud.