Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27502 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-10-01
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Full Screen, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 201 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The first series of the elegant sitcom-cum-farce-cum-sophisticated political satire Yes Minister, setting off Paul Eddington's Jim Hacker, Minister for Administrative Affairs, against Nigel Hawthorne's discreetly obstructive civil servant Sir Humphrey. Series One features the pilot episode, "Open Government", curious in that it contains different and distinctly inferior opening and closing credits to the rest of the series. You also sense that Mrs Hacker was originally intended to have a larger role, with comedy focussing on the clash between political and domestic commitments, until the writers wisely decided to focus on the stand-off between Jim and Sir Humphrey, with Derek Fowlds' mousy private secretary Bernard making occasional interjections.

While the series doesn't quite come fully to light--Sir Humphrey is at times a little too sinister for sitcom consumption--all the classic features quickly show up. Hacker's occasional Churchillian bombast, followed by panicky blank double-takes when flummoxed, Sir Humphrey's unflappable verbosity as he brings the dead weight of civil service bureaucracy to bear against Hacker's naively optimistic schemes for open government, Quangos and slashing red tape in episodes like "The Economy Drive". Ironic, that when this was first screened in the 80s, it was during the rampages of early Thatcherism in which Government had never been less like the ineffectual politicking satirised here.

On the DVD: Full screen, no special features except scene selection and straightforward text profiles of the principal actors here. --David Stubbs

Special Features
4:3 Full Frame
DVD 9
English
Region 2
Mono English
Mono
Scene Selection
Artist Profiles
None

Synopsis
In the 1980s sitcom, YES MINISTER, James Hacker (Paul Eddington) is the new Minister for Administrative Affairs. However, Hacker meets continual opposition in the form of the tenacious Sir Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne), Permanent Secretary of the Department. And stuck in the middle is private secretary Bernard Woolley (Derek Fowlds).
This collection presents the first series in its entirety, including the episodes: "Open Government," "The Official Visit," "The Economy Drive," "Big Brother," "The Writing on the Wall," "The Right to Know," and "Jobs for the Boys."

Customer Reviews

Timeless. As relevant now as 22 years ago.
I was a wee nipper when this first series was released so missed out first time round. I was expecting it to be too dated to move me. Not a bit of it. This is classic, well written, well observed comedy. If you want an insight into the real working of the British Constitutional balance and the independent role of the civil service, then as satire goes this is a masterpeice. I can't wait to see the rest.

Terrific Humour but not best technical quality
A genuinely fine example of subtle British humour and the fine use of bureaucratese language (witness Sir Humphrey in the episode when they meet an African ruler and haggle over the terms of settlement of an offending speech); the series is as delightful as it was when first released.

Anyone who has dealt with Government will recognise his experiences.

Unfortunately the technical quality is not the best, the print quality looks like VHS and no subtitles means you could lose some of the humour as it is entirely verbal.

Still a must add to any collection of classic comedies.I look forward to the rest of the series being made available on DVD.

An education in how the UK civil service runs the country!
Even after 20 years, the scheming Sir Humphrey is still fresh. The way he uses his knowledge to hinder and ultimately help his Minister out of a 'mess' is just priceless. Anyone who is looking for a career in the Civil Service, or any other government organisation, should view this 'training' DVD. Great viewing, superb scripts, fantastic acting. The best BBC sitcom ever. Can't wait for series 2 and the Yes Prime Minister series.