The sci-fi spoof RED DWARF finds chicken-soup-machine repairman Dave Lister (Craig Charles) as the last human being in the universe on a spaceship 3,000,000 years in the future.... more
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Grant's comedy SF series Red Dwarf was sketched on the back of a beer mat. When it finally appeared on our television screens in 1988 the show had clearly stayed true...
Grant's comedy SF series Red Dwarf was sketched on the back of a beer mat. When it finally appeared on our television screens in 1988 the show had clearly stayed true...
Grant's comedy SF series Red Dwarf was sketched on the back of a beer mat. When it finally appeared on our television screens in 1988 the show had clearly stayed true to its roots, mixing jokes about excessive curry consumption with affectionate parodies of classic SF. Indeed, one of the show's most endearing and enduring features is its obvious respect for the conventions of SF, even as it gleefully subverts them. The scenario owes something to Douglas Adams's satirical Hitch-Hiker's Guide, something to The Odd Couple and a lot more to the slacker SF of John Carpenter's Dark Star. Behind the crew's constant bickering there lurks an impending sense that life, the universe and everything are all someone's idea of a terrible joke. Later series broadened the show's horizons until at last its premise was so diluted as to be unrecognisable, but in the six episodes of the first series the comedy is witty and intimate, focusing on characters and not special effects. Slob Dave Lister (Craig Charles) is the last human alive after a radiation leak wipes out the crew of the vast mining vessel Red Dwarf (episode 1, "The End"). He bums around the spaceship with the perpetually uptight and annoyed hologram of his dead bunkmate, Arnold Rimmer (Chris Barrie, the show's greatest comedy asset) and a creature evolved from a cat (dapper Danny John Jules). They are guided rather haphazardly by Holly, the worryingly thick ship's computer (lugubrious Norman Lovett). On the DVD: Red Dwarf I arrives in a two-disc set, with all six episodes on the first disc accompanied by an excellent group commentary from Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Danny John Jules and Norman Lovett. (There's also a bonus commentary on "The End" with the two writers and director Ed Bye.) The 4:3 picture is unimpressive, but sound is decent stereo. The second disc has an entertaining 25-minute documentary on the genesis of the series with contributions from the cast, writer Doug Naylor and producer Paul Jackson. Navigate the animated menus to find a gallery of extra features, including isolated music cues, deleted scenes, outtakes ("Smeg Ups"), a fun "Drunk" music montage, model effects shots, Web links, audiobook clips, the original BBC trailer and even the entire first episode in Japanese. --Mark Walker
Grant's comedy SF series Red Dwarf was sketched on the back of a beer mat. When it finally appeared on our television screens in 1988 the show had clearly stayed true to its roots, mixing jokes about excessive curry consumption with affectionate parodies of classic SF. Indeed, one of the show's most endearing and enduring features is its obvious respect for the conventions of SF, even as it gleefully subverts them. The scenario owes something to Douglas Adams's satirical Hitch-Hiker's Guide, something to The Odd Couple and a lot more to the slacker SF of John Carpenter's Dark Star. Behind the crew's constant bickering there lurks an impending sense that life, the universe and everything are all someone's idea of a terrible joke. Later series broadened the show's horizons until at last its premise was so diluted as to be unrecognisable, but in the six episodes of the first series the comedy is witty and intimate, focusing on characters and not special effects. Slob Dave Lister (Craig Charles) is the last human alive after a radiation leak wipes out the crew of the vast mining vessel Red Dwarf (episode 1, "The End"). He bums around the spaceship with the perpetually uptight and annoyed hologram of his dead bunkmate, Arnold Rimmer (Chris Barrie, the show's greatest comedy asset) and a creature evolved from a cat (dapper Danny John Jules). They are guided rather haphazardly by Holly, the worryingly thick ship's computer (lugubrious Norman Lovett). On the DVD: Red Dwarf I arrives in a two-disc set, with all six episodes on the first disc accompanied by an excellent group commentary from Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Danny John Jules and Norman Lovett. (There's also a bonus commentary on "The End" with the two writers and director Ed Bye.) The 4:3 picture is unimpressive, but sound is decent stereo. The second disc has an entertaining 25-minute documentary on the genesis of the series with contributions from the cast, writer Doug Naylor and producer Paul Jackson. Navigate the animated menus to find a gallery of extra features, including isolated music cues, deleted scenes, outtakes ("Smeg Ups"), a fun "Drunk" music montage, model effects shots, Web links, audiobook clips, the original BBC trailer and even the entire first episode in Japanese. --Mark Walker
Grant's comedy sci-fi series Red Dwarf was sketched on the back of a beer mat. When it finally appeared on our television screens in 1988 the show had clearly stayed true to its roots, mixing jokes about excessive curry consumption with affectionate parodies of classic SF. Indeed, one of the show's most endearing and enduring features is its obvious respect for the conventions of SF, even as it gleefully subverts them. The scenario owes something to Douglas Adams's satirical Hitch-Hiker's Guide, something to The Odd Couple and a lot more to the slacker SF of John Carpenter's Dark Star. Behind the crew's constant bickering there lurks an impending sense that life, the universe and everything are all someone's idea of a terrible joke. Later series broadened the show's horizons until at last its premise was so diluted as to be unrecognisable, but in the earlier episodes contained in this box set the comedy is witty and intimate, focusing on characters and not special effects. Slob Dave Lister (Craig Charles) is the last human alive after a radiation leak wipes out the crew of the vast mining vessel Red Dwarf (episode 1, "The End"). He bums around the spaceship with the perpetually uptight and annoyed hologram of his dead bunkmate, Arnold Rimmer (Chris Barrie, the show's greatest comedy asset) and a creature evolved from a cat (dapper Danny John Jules). They are guided rather haphazardly by Holly, the worryingly thick ship's computer (lugubrious Norman Lovett). --Mark Walker
Grant's comedy sci-fi series Red Dwarf was sketched on the back of a beer mat. When it finally appeared on our television screens in 1988 the show had clearly stayed true to its roots, mixing jokes about excessive curry consumption with affectionate parodies of classic SF. Indeed, one of the show's most endearing and enduring features is its obvious respect for the conventions of SF, even as it gleefully subverts them. The scenario owes something to Douglas Adams's satirical Hitch-Hiker's Guide, something to The Odd Couple and a lot more to the slacker SF of John Carpenter's Dark Star. Behind the crew's constant bickering there lurks an impending sense that life, the universe and everything are all someone's idea of a terrible joke. Later series broadened the show's horizons until at last its premise was so diluted as to be unrecognisable, but in the earlier episodes contained in this box set the comedy is witty and intimate, focusing on characters and not special effects. Slob Dave Lister (Craig Charles) is the last human alive after a radiation leak wipes out the crew of the vast mining vessel Red Dwarf (episode 1, "The End"). He bums around the spaceship with the perpetually uptight and annoyed hologram of his dead bunkmate, Arnold Rimmer (Chris Barrie, the show's greatest comedy asset) and a creature evolved from a cat (dapper Danny John Jules). They are guided rather haphazardly by Holly, the worryingly thick ship's computer (lugubrious Norman Lovett). --Mark Walker
Advantages: Classic British Comedy Disadvantages: Although a good starting point, series 1 is by no means the best
...one’s for you!
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Red Dwarf Series 1
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The Cast:
ARNOLD J RIMMER played by CHRIS BARRIE (Brittas Empire, Chris Barrie’s Massive Machines)
DAVE LISTER played by CRAIG CHARLES (Robot Wars, The Games)
THE CAT played by DANNY JOHN-JULES (Blade 2, The Storymakers)
HOLLY played ... ...21st century deep-space mining ship Red Dwarf, third technician Dave Lister (Craig Charles), the chicken-soup machine repair man, is placed in suspended animation for 18 months as punishment for smuggling aboard his pregnant cat Frankenstein, thus breaching quarantine laws.
During this time, there is a radiation leak, which wipes out all of the other crew members. Lister is kept in stasis for three million years by the ship’s on-board computer Holly ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Very funny, great extras and cast commentary Disadvantages: Only if you hate Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf: Series 1
Red Dwarf was first aired on the BBC in the late Eighties. Riding a wave of new British comedy, think The Young Ones and Saturday Night Live, it brought a new take on the sitcom. Although the 'odd couple' dynamics of the show is a well worn comedy path the scripts and plot lines were refreshing and new.
Just in case you're not familiar with the premise of the show, here is a brief summary:
Dave Lister and Arnold Rimmer are ... ...Red Dwarf. Out of a crew of several hundred Lister is the lowest ranked member of the crew and Rimmer is his immediate superior. Returning from planet leave Lister smuggles aboard a pregnant cat, breaching ships quarantine laws. When the captain demands the cat be given up Lister refuses and is placed in stasis as punishment. While Lister is in stasis Rimmer incorrectly replaces a drive plate and a radiation leak kills all aboard except for the cat ...
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Advantages: Start of a classic comedy Disadvantages: Grey, grey, grey and a little more grey...
Red Dwarf is a 'Sci-fi Sitcom' set onboard the JMC Mining Ship 'Red Dwarf'. Written by Doug Naylor and Rob Grant, (often known under the pseudonym Grant Naylor), it follows our hero, Dave Lister (Craig Charles) who finds himself three million years into deep space after an accident onboard ship wiped out the entire crew whilst he was safely sealed inside Stasis. Once released, Lister's only company onboard ship are his dead bunkmate and superior ... ...its first airing in 1988, Red Dwarf has gone on to become known across the world, has seen various games and merchandise sold in its name and has even helped raise money for charity through special shows for Red Nose Day and Children In Need. The aptly named, "Series One" is where it all started.
Although perhaps not as polished as later series, Series One easily stands up on its own, with many of its own 'classic' moments, such as Cat's first appearance, ...
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Advantages: It's Red Dwarf!!!! Disadvantages: There are only 8 Series - and no Blockbuster Film (YET)
OK, so it Red Dwarf. So what. Well for those of you who have never seen Red Dwarf, it is not just a Sci Fi comedy. In fact Red Dwarf also looks at human behaviour (all be it with a very "interesting" group of people). It strikes just the right balance between comedy and sci fi. In fact the sci fi part seems incidental at times. Red Dwarf is the late 80's answer to Doctor Who and comedies like Yes Minister. In fact, this can be seen as a meeting of ... ...add to the charm of Red Dwarf, and the way in which characters grow is wonderful to watch.
It has to be said that this becomes a classic comedy. Although the edges are a little rough, the script is brilliant. For most episodes Red Dwarf only used 4-6 characters (with 4 being the core in most episodes). Listed below are some thoughts (but nor spoilers) on the episodes in Season One:
1. THE END
Laying down the major plot points for the entire series. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: The start of a great show Disadvantages: Episoded not so good as coming years
...two disk DVD set of Red Dwarf series one.
This is the region 2 format
Rated 12 years and over
Dolby Digital sound
4.3 format
This TV space comedy was overlooked for three years, after the scripts made by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor kept getting rejected by the BBC as the BBC didn't think this kind of programme would work or be very popular.
Red Dwarf started off as a series of sketches from Rob Grant and Doug Naylors radio sketch show "Son of ... ...sci-fi show about an old red spaceship 3 million years marooned in the future with one human survivor.
The pilot script for Red Dwarf was written in Doug Naylors fathers old cottage in Wales where it was then passed on to producer Paul Jackson who saw the potential in this series. The script was passed around to a lot of companies. Film four wanted to take them up on the offer but the writers refused as they wanted the show to go out on the BBC. ...
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Actor(s): Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, Norman Lovett, Clare Grogan
Director(s): Ed Bye
Genre: Comedy
Classification: Parental Guidance
Production Year: 1988
Running Time: 2 hours 55 minutes
Video Category: Television
Plot: The complete first series of the popular television comedy sci-fi series. 'The End' sees a radiation leak wipe out the crew of Red Dwarf leaving only one survivor - Dave Lister. In 'Future Echoes' Red Dwarf breaks the speed of light leaving the crew experiencing visions of their own futures. 'Balance Of Power' sees Lister about to take his chef's exam and if he passes he will be able to have Rimmer replaced as the ship's hologram... In 'Confidence And Paranoia' Lister gets a mutated virus which makes his hallucinations come to life leaving the ship beset by herring rain amongst other things... 'Waiting For God' sees the ship's computer, Holly, find a pod floating about in deep space and Lister pleased to learn that he is a god. In 'ME2' Rimmer creates a duplicate of himself, all seems perfect until they both find themselves in a conflict that only one can win...
Release details
DVD Region: Region 2 (Europe)
Studio(s): 2 ENTERTAIN VIDEO; SONY DADC
Release date: 04/11/2002
No of Discs: 2
Catalogue No: BBCDVD 1117
Barcode: 5014503111724
DVD Description
The sci-fi spoof RED DWARF finds chicken-soup-machine repairman Dave Lister (Craig Charles) as the last human being in the universe on a spaceship 3,000,000 years in the future. Along with the holographic image of his deceased bunkmate, Rimmer (Chris Barrie), and other odd characters, Lister navigates the stars on increasingly bizarre adventures. This collection includes the first six episodes of the series: "The End," "Future Echoes," "Balance of Power," "Waiting for God," "Confidence and Paranoia," and "ME2."
Languages
Main Language: English
Subtitle Language: English
Hearing Impaired Language: English
Technical information
Special Features: Cast Commentary, Writers And Director Commentary For Episode 1, Deleted Scenes, Smeg Ups, Original Trailer, Launching Red Dwarf Documentary, Drunk Featurette, Japanese Version Of The End, Special Effects Raw Footage, Isolated Music Cues, Talking Book Chapters, Photo Gallery, Weblink, Hidden Easter Eggs
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 Full Frame
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo
Dubbing Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo English
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