Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4275 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-05-04
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2

Synopsis
Including all seven episodes from Series Five of the BBC’s The Morecambe and Wise Show.

Including guest stars Flora Robson, Arthur Lowe, Glenda Jackson and Ian Carmichael.

The BBC series of The Morecambe and Wise Show was one of the most popular television series ever and represented the legendary comic duo at the height of their powers. In their magnificent sketches, musical numbers and magical tomfoolery, they would captivate an audience of millions and leave a thousand hilarious memories.

By 1971, their third year at the BBC, Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise were already established as jewels in the Corporation’s crown and now began to feature top drawer guests. Meanwhile, the catchphrases – including “You can’t see the join” and “There’s no answer to that!” kept coming – and Janet Webb continued to appear at the credits to take the applause.

This series kept to the tried and tested format as Eric and Ernie milk the introduction, the flat scenes and the confused welcoming of a star guest for every laugh they can. And, now ‘Ern’s plays’ really come to the fore with their own spoof opening credits. A contemporary BBC star Arthur Lowe (and, briefly, the rest of the Dad’s Army cast) appears in Mutiny on the Bonty and Glenda Jackson is sensational in the celebrated Cleopatra sketch.

Series 5 originally transmitted: 08/04/71 - 15/07/71

Due to the archive nature of the material the sound and picture quality may vary.

Customer Reviews

M&W hit their peak
Seven shows from 1971, with Eric and Ernie and Eddie Braben by now clicking on all cylinders. The opening titles still use their old 'Two of a Kind" theme rather than the classic 'Bring Me Sunshine' but in all other respects this series represents some of their best - and least repeated - BBC work. The BBC's obsession with comedy 'moments' means that many people will have seen little more of M&W than the 'Stripper' breakfast and the newsreaders doing 'Nothing Like a Dame'. 90% of the material here has not been broadcast since its original transmission and is top drawer Morecambe and Wise.

The first show features Dame Flora Robson playing 'straight' brilliantly in a 'Good Queen Bess' sketch. The second show has Arthur Lowe, one of the rare occasions when a guest star is allowed to dominate a show comedically (it happened on a Thames with Leonard Rossiter). In their opening spot, Eric stands aside to let Arthur Lowe take over as principle comedian, ad-libbing off-camera "It's an easy day for me, this." It is priceless stuff and thank goodness the DVD era allows these wonderful shows to see the light of day again at last.

Have yet to watch the last four shows but am looking forward to more star guests, sketches, bed routines and hilariously obscure musical guests!

The Old Jokes Are The Best
I am a very young 67 year old but old enough to have been watching Morcambe and Wise for many years. Eric Morcambe can make me laugh without even opening his mouth - just the thought. A lot of todays comedy can only relate to the young. I have always worked with young people but try as I might this modern comedy does very little for me. The young are fortunate because Morcambe and Wise comedy is simple but very effective as it relates to everyday happenings and situations which people of any age can enjoy. Sadly Eric Morcambe is no longer with us but thanks to Amazon it is still possible to enjoy his brand of magic. Well done Amazon