Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20273 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-08-06
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 292 minutes

DVD Description
Bringing you sunshine all the way…

Morecambe and Wise are perhaps the best loved and most fondly remembered of all British comedy performers. They were the first truly great "double act" in Britain and although many duos have tried to emulate them, no-one has yet succeeded in the hearts of the country. The BBC continues to release their phenomenally popular TV shows and Morecambe and Wise: Series 3 delivers some of the funniest sketches from this period of Eric and Ernie's output.

Series 3 was broadcast from July through August 1970 and included seven 45-minute shows.

Synopsis
The third series of sketches and fun from one of Britain's most dynamic comedy double acts.

Customer Reviews

Slow Start...and then you're in for a treat!!!
After the excellent series 2 (which you can buy on Amazon), Series 3 started a bit shakily....it seemed they were struggling to get a formula for the show together...some of Eric's gags just seemed to go nowhere, but overall the shows were ok. Then from episode 3...4 BINGO!! They really hit their stride, and the two really seemed to play off each other well. Absolute laugh out loud moments in the later shows...excellent. Also included here is the 1970 entry for the Montreaux festival...about 30 minutes of them, doing an abridged show - very funny. Even the musical appearances, although dated, fit in very well, and Kenny Ball & his Jazzmen just rocked!! Overall, strongly recommended. You will feel better after watching this!!!!

Another feast - not yet cooked
The first couple of shows in this series seems nervous and clunky: lots of Eric's lines go for nothing, which is interesting in itself, since we have been used to seeing only their most successful sketches in Best of compilations.

Things seem to gel about halfway through this series. In the show with Fenella Fielding (who is as weirdly effective as ever, false-eyelashes akimbo) we get writer Eddie Braben's first attempt at making Ernie the playwright with delusions of grandeur. Up until then, the plays had served as vehicles for coarse acting. From here on, a more interesting game is being played: Ernie thinks he is a great playwright; Eric knows he isn't and sabotages the plays in order to redeem them. That's the way I see it anyway.

Ernie is a joy to watch with these new elements to his character. I found myself focussing on his reactions whilst watching this series: I find his work generous, subtle and a perfect foil for Eric's manic activity.

Excellent guest turns from Ian Carmichael and Richard Greene, real pros who were able to perform almost as equals with Eric and Ernie. The retro musical breaks are wonderful too, with Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen as ever providing brisk 'up' music (for the Dads) and ballads from the likes of Sacha Distel (aka Slasher Distillery) and Clodagh Rodgers (for the Mums) all in living colour as if they were recorded last week.

Watch out for Eddie Braben's appearance in one sketch - possibly the only time he did so?

Classic, Brilliant, Utterly Wonderful
Well if my review title hasn't give you a clue as to how I feel about this then read on & let me explain.

Morecambe & Wise (& particularly the Morecambe bit) were comedy genius. Its criminal that since they sadly stopped making the shows due to Erics death they have never been repeated in their entirety (with the exception of UK Gold back in the early 90s) but only the same old clips have been shown over & over again.

This stuff is just timeless & whilst some of the guest stars may be a case of never heard of him/her the gags, jokes, sketches & the whole attitude remain timeless.

Ern. Your not going to read that book are you?
Eric. No I'm just going to look at the words!

Eric standing at bedroom window as a police car speeds by with siren on.
He won't sell many ice creams going at that speed!

Erics daft smiles to camera, Eric daft strangulation gag behind the camera, Erics daft paper cup in mouth & "sitting at my piano, the other day"

And of course little Ern, the straight man he may be but he does get 'em in & it has to be said Eric is so much the funnier with him, buy this, buy the previous one & buy all the other ones. I can't recommend enough.

10/10