Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4677 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-05-17
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 82 minutes

DVD Description
Arguably the greatest comedian to have emerged in post-war Britain, Spike Milligan came into television from the seminal radio comedy The Goons. Spike’s TV output was to lose none of that show’s anarchic, surreal and devastatingly funny humour, as his series Q (1968-1980) and There’s A Lot Of It About (1982) broke every known television and comedy rule in sketch after sketch of nonsensical brilliance.

This compilation captures the highlights of those series, including such classic sketches as The Eurovision Joke Contest, Spike as the singing Viking Maiden, insects auditioning for a David Attenborough series and much more assorted lunacy from the world of an indisputable comic genius.

Special Features

• Scene Selection
  
• Writers’ profiles

DVD Technical Information:

• Running Time: 1 hour 19 minutes approx.
  
• Region Code: 2

Synopsis
The cream of the comedy crop, from the surreal comedy clown Spike Milligan. One of the founders of legendary 1950's crazy comedy troupe The Goons on the radio, his own brand of comic entertainment boasts unexpected ad-libs and spontaneous surrealism. His own TV outing with the various Q series, through the 1970s brought him a wider audience of fans. Classic moments on this release include the likes of the Eurovision Joke Contest; The Lost Forever in the Bermuda Triangle Holiday; Michael Parkinson at the Soldierama Massage Parlour and the singing Viking Maiden! A true genius and purveyor of the abstract thought, Spike Milligan's limitless lunacy and mastery of disguise has assured him his place in the annals as a much-loved comedy legend.

Customer Reviews

"BBC You Say" - Spit
First of all, yes it's another grassed up and mucky compilation by the big Beeb - which has become a sign of them.
But unlike many of the other compilations, this one stands out, and why? 'Cause it's possibly the only BBC compilation to contain new footage - exclusive to this selection.

Originally released on video as 'Spike' by BBC worldwide in 1996, Milligan actually got involved with the release. The 80 minute show has Spike being interviewed throughout (by god-knows who?), with a small but pleasent collection of 'Q' clips (mostly 'Q7', but no 'Q5').

Many real fans of Milligan (like myself) will actually own a few of the 'Q' series in full - with many of Milligan's politically incorrect jokes, i.e Pakastani daleks (which was a disappointment not to see here).

We all knew Spike was exceedingly sexist, so its no surprise to see large breasted women walk accross the screen once so often - or once too often. The sketches were usually quite funny anyway.

OK! It's not the best release either, as a 'Q' compilation video was released by BBC video back in the 80's - to which I also have and again is pleasent.

So if you want to see jokes on the Irish, Michael Parkinson enter a homosexual scene, Spike play a working class married man - who wants to get rid of his wife and exchange her for the large..., a 'Game For A Laugh' spoof titled "Loose Your Furniture" and many BIG thoughts. Then this is the disc for you.

Incredible
This man was a comedy god. In times when the tripe that calls itself comedy is forced upon us by BBC and Channel 4 it's refreshing to see there is a DVD of the works of the founding father of modern British comedy. People who'd rather watch Catherine Tate, Peter Kay or Little Britain instead of this make my little heart weep.

`What are we going to do now? What are we going to do now?' Repeat to fade.

Disappointingly Dated
This DVD is an all round let down. It is very short at barely over an hour. It seems to be an old television special. Having seen clips from Q on other shows I am sure a better collection could have been made. There are a lot of sketches on this DVD that will make modern viewers wince. There are good reasons why on modern comedy shows there aren't lots of topless women and actors blacked up getting asked "What's the matter? Couldn't you find the soap?" The overly loud laugh track and the constant corpsing of the cast also grate. These things all detract from the good sketches that are present. The BBC really need to get someone good to go through the archives and put together a couple of full length DVDs of the best stuff.

I was disappointed especially as I bought this DVD having listened to episodes of the Goon Show, which despite being older still sounded fresh and were very funny.