Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10467 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-07-18
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Subtitled, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 8
• Running time: 1161 minutes

DVD Description

Perfectly capturing the wit of P.G Wodehouse's novels, this impeccable series traces the insane shenanigans of Bertram Wooster and his faithful butler Jeeves. Fry and Laurie are simply perfect in the roles of the steadfast butler Jeeves and his dapper master Wooster. Set against a 1930s backdrop of Hooray Henries and splendidly indomitable aunts, Jeeves battles against Wooster's relentless list of prospective brides to hilarious consequences. This is a simply enchanting series which has been digitally restored; with 23 episodes this DVD will not fail to entertain!

Synopsis

This 8 disc box set features every episode of Jeeves and Wooster--Clive Exton's TV series based around characters from the P.G. Wodehouse novels. Bertie Wooster (Huge Laurie), a foppish rich gentleman, takes the title role in this sparkling comedy/drama, alongside his intelligent valet Jeeves (Stephen Fry), otherwise known as "Gentleman's Personal Gentleman". With a host of other eccentric and larger-than-life characters, each episode sees Wooster unwittingly caught up in some kind of scrape--and each time it's down to his trusty aide Jeeves to come up with a cunning masterplan to get him off the hook.

Customer Reviews

The new definitive Jeeves and Wooster
It is testament to the performances of Fry and Laurie that they have now supplanted Ian Carmichael and Dennis Price as my visual models for the lead roles. Comic delivery, facial expressions and slapstick timing combine to perfection and the adaptation is fantastic, so that each episode in the life of the eternal bachelor and his guardian angel valet seems fresh even though the plots and themes are somewhat repetitive, and at times a bit predictable. Full marks too for the locations and sets - it's a lot less stagey than the 1970's version. The episodes in the first and second series are generally stronger but the standard is very high throughout. Richard Greene may still be my favourite Robin Hood but Fry and Laurie are the perfect pairing for Wodehouses comedy classics.

Well worth buying
I was going to buy the separate series, but took the plunge and bought all 4 in this set. I'm glad I did. The only problem is that I thought they would last us for months, and they are that addictive that we have got through them in weeks rather than months - never mind, we can just start at the beginning again.
If there is a downside to this truly excellent series, it is the wretched anti piracy leader. You can't even skip past it. Let's face it, if I was into pirate copies I wouldn't have bought the proper version. My guess is that most people who get to see these leaders don't need to because they buy legitmately, those that do need to see them probably see copies with the leader removed - RANT over

What ho! Forty-seven ginger-headed sailors!
Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie seem to have been born just to portray Jeeves and Wooster (seriously, I see their faces whenever I read a Jeeves story). I cannot believe how well Clive Exton adapted Wodehouse's books onto the little screen (except for series four), and Anne Dudley's theme sets the tone perfectly. The crew, too have done their jobs well in recreating Wodehouse's 1920s and 30s, with excellent sets, costumes, and music selections for Wooster to play.

Granada Ventures' release of the complete series blows A&E's release out of the water. This is the collection to have. With the interactive and stylish menu, a play-all button, and subtitles, life is good... I just wish they didn't force you to watch that anti-piracy thing at the beginning of EVERY disc (there are eight discs!). Of course, it would be even better if they provided a synopsis of the episodes, even a descriptive title like "Jeeves Saves the Cow Creamer" (the only thing A&E did right). I mean, "Series Two, Episode One" is hardly helpful.

Okay, as near as I can figure with this programme, actors change. Often. It seems the only actors to remain constant are Stephen Fry (Jeeves, duh), Hugh Laurie (Wooster, duh), and Robert Daws (Tuppy Glossop). Scheduling can't always be helped, but it's okay. It can get confusing sometimes, but once you figure out who's who, it no longer matters and the farce continues.

However, because television networks can be fickle, it appears that Clive Exton used up the good bits in the first two series. He takes some liberties in series three (it's okay), and lots of liberties in series four (...). Nevertheless, with a few "selective omissions", this rates five stars. More than five stars.

And yes, I think Wodehouse would have approved this adaptation.