Rising Damp.
~Introduction~
Some points of interest before we start. First broadcast in 1974 Rising Damp was an instant success. Not just because of the wonderful casting or the writing but because of the chemistry between all the cast members.
Cast and Crew
~Eric Chappell~
originally ... Read review
First broadcast in 1974, the ITV bedsitland sitcomRising Dampwas an instant and enduring ... more
success. It starred Leonard Rossiter as the miserly and lovelorn landlord Rigsby who is constantly needling young lodger Alan (Richard Beckinsale), a science student whose long hair and earrings are symptomatic to Rigsby of the parlous effeminacy of the modern age. He's also in love with Frances De La Tour's dowdy spinster Miss Jones, though his tentative advances are forever rebuffed. She in turn carries a torch for Philip (Don Warrington), the elegant son of an African chief who also resides at Rigsby Towers.Some aspects ofRising Damphave not aged well, principally Rigsby's stream of racist jibes at Philip. Although these were doubtless well-meant and supposed to illustrate Rigsby's foolish bigotry, you suspect that that was a convenient cover for audiences in the 1970s to enjoy racist humour. However, Rossiter's Rigsby--stuttering, stammering, bent perpetually over backwards--remains a great comic creation, embodying all the festering prejudices, small-mindedness and self-delusion of the lower middle class Little Englander. --David Stubbs
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Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Rising Damp.
===========
~Introduction~
Some points of interest before we start. First broadcast in 1974 Rising Damp was an instant success. Not just because of the wonderful casting or the writing but because of the chemistry between all the cast members.
Cast and Crew
===========
~Eric Chappell~
originally working for the gas board, Eric quit his job and took to writing.
His first ... .../>
Eric went on write Rising Damp but after a complaint from an actual landlord called Rooksby he changed the name to Rigsby.
RIGSBY - Leonard Rossiter.
Miserly landlord who was married during the war and once said," It was a blunder on the scale of Anzio"
Miss JONES - Frances de la Tour.
Frustrated spinster who is a sufferer of headaches resulting in her having to wear 'blue glasses'.
... more
Rising Damp. =========== ~Introduction~ Some points of interest before we start. First broadcast in 1974 Rising Damp was an instant success. Not just because of the wonderful casting or the writing but because of the chemistry between all the cast members.
Cast and Crew =========== ~Eric Chappell~ originally working for the gas board, Eric quit his job and took to writing. His first play was 'The Banana Box'. This was a moderate success and coincidentally starred Leonard Rossiter, Frances de la Tour and Don Warrington. Points of interest, in the banana box the landlord was actually called Rooksby. Philip was already a tenant with his own flat. Eric went on write Rising Damp but after a complaint from an actual landlord called Rooksby he changed the name to Rigsby.
RIGSBY - Leonard Rossiter. Miserly landlord who was married during the war and once said," It was a blunder on the scale of Anzio"
Miss JONES - Frances de la Tour. Frustrated spinster who is a sufferer of headaches resulting in her having to wear 'blue glasses'.
PHILIP - Don Warrington. 'Son of a Chief' allegedly. Married with 10 wives, allegedly. The 2 marks on his cheek where part of an initiation ceremony on his 14th birthday. 1 for becoming a man and the other for his first sexual experience, or so he claimed.
ALAN - Richard Beckinsale. Scruffy, desperate, long haired student. Because he is always eating, Rigsby believes he has a tape worm. Alan sadly died of a heart attack in 1979. Aged only 28.
Some classic "Dampism's". ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alan points to skeleton hanging in the corner, "Don't you recognise him? He had this room before me" "He was the one who kept saying how cold it was up here".
"There's nothing between this house and the Urals" "You're so lazy you even shave lying down".
"Miss Jones has just had an intruder and she's very upset about it" "Why, did he get away?"
Rising Damp Episodes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Pilot episode was aired on the 2nd Sept 1974.
Pilot episode - The New Tenant. Philip arrives and moves in, eventually, with Alan. This was a huge hit and Rising Damp was commissioned instantly. Series one ran from 13th Dec 1974 till 17th Jan 1975.
Series one. ~~~~~~~ Episode 1. - Black Magic. Philip bangs on floor with his spear and Ruth magically appears at the door.
Episode 2. - A Night Out. It's Ruth's birthday, so they all go to the 'Grange' for a meal.
Episode 3. - Charisma. Rigsby burns some 'Love Wood' outside Miss Jones's door.
Episode 4. - All Our Yesterdays. Spooner won't turn his radio down so Rigsby shoots him.
Episode 5. - The Prowler. Somebody is sneaking around the house and then a detective magically appears.
Episode 6. - Stand Up And Be Counted. With Rigsby conservative and Philip/Alan labour, which way will Ruth vote?
~Opinions~ Was Rigsby a racist, well the comments could be nothing else but he was actually jealous of Alan and Philip, believing them to be living great lives, free and unhampered. Remember Philip always had the last laugh and showed Rigsby up. It held a light up to society showing how despicably awful racism was/still is.
Why is it still endlessly repeated when other comedies such as 'Love thy neighbour' have gone to oblivion? My theory is that it must be in the writing? And that the comedy didn't hinge on the racial aspects, there where lots of interplay between all of the other characters. The series will last the test of time both as a great comedy and a warning of how things should not be.
Maximus-Qualitus 07.11.2008 (09.11.2008)
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Review of Rising Damp - The Complete 1st Series (DVD)
...to write a review on Rising Damp and its first series, or rather the introduction to what could be one of the best sitcoms this country has ever seen. It was first in existence back in 1974, and stars the following as its main characters: Mr Rigsby: the late great Leonard Rossiter, who plays the king of bedsit land. He is against everything apart from the delightful Miss Jones, and if any person comes between them then watch out - or else! Miss Ruth ... ...reveal her age but still likes to think of herself as being younger than she may actually be. She works at the local college (by today's standards this could be classed as a university, by way of what we actually hear of it), and she manages to get a room at the house for a gentleman called 'Mr Smith'. Mr Phillip Smith: Don Warrington, the new person in the house who muchto Rigsby's disgust is black (not a racist remark on my part by any means). ...
dynamicnurse 24.02.2009 (18.02.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Rising Damp - The Complete 1st Series (DVD)
Advantages: Fabulous comedy acting Disadvantages: Only 4 series made
...landlord of a house with rising damp; Miss Jones, a college administrator and the centre of Rigsby's affection; Alan, a long-haired medical student, who puts up with Rigsby and the appalling conditions for the sake of cheapness; and Philip, a black student, who copes admirably with Rigsby's obvious prejudices. In this episode, Miss Jones finds accommodation for Philip in Rigsby's house, much to Rigsby's horro when he discovers that Philip is black. ... ...to thwart her. Philip also has to put up with Rigsby's attempts to get rid of him - until Miss Jones tells him that Philip is the son of a chief. Rigsby then upgrades him to a better room, unfortunately the one that Alan is living in. A fabulous introduction to the series. 10/10.
Episode Two - Black Magic
Alan discovers that Philip has 10 wives and is eager to get some tips on seducing women. Philip winds Alan and Rigsby up about his magical powers. ...
sunmeilan 11.09.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Rising Damp - The Complete 1st Series (DVD)
Advantages: VERY VERY VERY FUNNY Disadvantages: NOTHING
Rising Damp. ========== Rising Damp was a huge success for Eric Chappell was first shown in 1974 and made overnight stars of the cast. Starring RIGSBY - Leonard Rossiter. ALAN - Richard Beckinsale. PHILIP - Don Warrington. Miss JONES - Frances de la Tour. Rather sadly Richard Beckinsale died aged I believe 29 of a heart attack. 'We was robbed' as the saying goes. He would have gone on to even greater things I am sure. This single DVD contains all ... ...- The New Tenant. Series one. 1. Black Magic. 2. A Night Out. 3. Charisma. 4. All Our Yesterdays. 5. The Prowler. 6. Stand Up And Be Counted. Who can forget the barmy Rigsby, the Dopey Miss Jones, the insecure Alan and the confident, if not always truthful, Philip. Here we follow the first series where their characters are formed and the premise for the series is layed down. It really is one of those iconic comedies that will stand the test of time. ...
MaldivesHoliday 02.05.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Rising Damp - The Complete 1st Series (DVD)
All six episodes from the first series which centre on the antics of the land lord who lets out a number of bedsits: 'Rooksby', 'Black Magic', 'Charisma', 'Night Out', 'All Our Yesterdays' and 'The Prowler'.
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