Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4970 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-03-03
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 3
• Running time: 408 minutes

Special Features
English
Region 2

Synopsis
This collection presents the first two series of the long-running comedy series that follows the goings-on at Maplin's Holiday Camp. Simon Cadell, Ruth Madoc, and Paul Shane head up the antics in episodes such as "Desire in the Mickey Mouse Grotto," "Charity Begins at Home," "Peggy's Big Chance," "Sausages or Limelight," and many more.

Customer Reviews

Long overdue holiday camp frolics
Thankfully at long last those nice people at Playback have seen fit to issue this classic comedy, all episodes of series 1 & 2 contained in this boxed set where first broadcast in 1981. The strength of all the Perry-Croft series is in the casting, and their real tour de force with HI DE HI! is the catalyst of Simon Cadell's beautifully observed Jeffrey Fairbrother, around whom the rest of the eccentric staff at Maplin's Holiday Camp weave their spell. By far my favourite characters though are the sour ballroom dancers Yvonne and Barry, looking down their noses at the dreadful vulgar activities run for the campers, they are a joy on every entrance. Other stand out performances include Gladys Pugh as the man hungry chief Yellowcoat Gladys Pugh and Su Pollard's infectious chalet maid Peggy Ollerenshaw.
In fact this is the first time that Jimmy Perry and David Croft had attempted to write strong comedy roles for women, their previous series together had been predominately male orientated due to their military settings. Highlights on these discs include "The Partridge Season" where the Punch and Judy man gets blind drunk and barracades himself in his chalet, "Day of Reckoning" containing the classic sequence where a pantomime horse is seen riding a real horse over the sand-dunes, "Peggy's Big Chance" stolen by Su Pollard's tearful performance and "A Night Not To Remember" where Mr. Fairbrother has his drinks laced by some rugby players and ends up drunk in his chalet with Gladys Pugh, but next morning Gladys isn't saying what actually happened... Each episode is a masterclass of ensemble playing, faithfully recreating the late 50's when holiday camps were all the rage. HI DE HI! won a BAFTA award and it's easy to see why here. This is broad comedy at it's finest, with expert characterisation provided by the legendary team of Perry & Croft.

still funny
I had fond memories of hi di hi as a young boy and I remember being a fan of Spike, Ted and Peggy. Now in my early 30s those characters still have a lot to offer but I was bowled over by the wonderfully understated performance of Simon Callow as Mr Fairbrother. While the volume of Ted and Peggy ensure the actors cannot be ignored, Mr Fairbrother's disquietude is enthralling and steals many a scene from his colleagues.
Watching the show as an adult I realised the nuances of the show eluded me as a child (obviously), and there is a surprising depth of characterisation that rarely becomes too involved or overly sentimental. Granted, some of the ‘jokes’ are dated but they reflect the gentler age of broadcasting and the BBC. However, some of the gags are certainly open to ‘contemporary adult’ interpretation.
I am looking forward to seasons three and four, even though my memory of these seasons suggests they were inferior. I am sure I will prove to be mistaken.

Laugh out loud fun!
Hi-De-Hi was a major favourite of mine as a child, and after watching them through again as an adult I feel it's even better than I remembered. The jokes and characters now take on a whole new dimension and it gave me a lovely warm, nostalgic feeling to again witness one of the all time classics of British comedy from an era now sadly past. Highly enjoyable stuff.