I have recently written a review about the complete boxed set of every episode of the seventies comedy The Good Life in which I promised to do reviews on each of the individual DVD's in the set.
I have already done the review on series one and now here is series two .
I won't repeat ... Read review
When Tom Good, a 40 year old draughtsman, and his wife Barbara, drop out of the rat race ... more
and become self-sufficient they change their lives forever. To the horror of their neighbours, Jerry and Margo Leadbetter, the Goods turn their lovely Surbiton hom...
The Good Lifehas proved an enduring jewel in the BBC's mainstream comedy archive. More ... more
than 25 years after it first appeared in our living rooms, nostalgia must be a major reason for its appeal. A whole generation of young men--and their fathers--found the weekly sight of Felicity Kendal as Barbara Good, pert in denim dungarees, irresistible. But it's the quality of the playing that has really stood the test of time and triumphs over a premise--self-sufficiency in Surbiton--that now seems naοve. Even in 1975, a Tom Good (a masterpiece of comic eccentricity from Richard Briers) quitting the rat race would probably have sold up his semi and chanced his luck as a small holder somewhere more remote than suburban Surrey.Comic tensions arise not just from the Goods' daily struggle to beat the system on their own terms, but also from the relationship with their incredulous, often horrified, but usually supportive neighbours. Penelope Keith's Margo Leadbetter remains one of the great comic creations in British sitcom history--a simmering volcano of conservatism waging her own battle against creeping mediocrity in all aspects of life, whose human frailty somehow keeps her loveable. Paul Eddington as Jerry, her long-suffering husband, spars splendidly. --Piers Ford
Postage & Packaging:£2.69 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Time has, in general, not been kind to 1970s sitcom-land, butThe Good Life(1975-78), while ... more
inhabiting a cosy world few would recognise today, has managed to hold its place in the British public's affection. Basically a comedy of clashing cultures, the simple premise--one set of neighbours drop out of their comfortable middle class existence to lead a self-sufficient lifestyle--nevertheless yielded some rich humour. Focusing on a mere four characters, the show succeeded (and still succeeds) through the strength of its writing (by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey) and the quality of the performances. Felicity Kendal may have found herself elevated to the status of sex symbol (she was voted "Rear of the Year" during the show's initial run), but her Barbara is easily the weakest of the quartet, too often overshadowed by her well-meaning yet dominant husband. Richard Briers is excellent as Tom, a control freak hovering on the brink of obsession. But the most memorable pairing is that of neighbours Jerry and Margo (Paul Eddington and Penelope Keith): Eddington's bemused husband would later be echoed in hisYes Ministerrole, while Keith's character has rightly become one of the most memorable in British television. It might look slightly creaky and archaic next to some more modern examples of the genre, butThe Good Lifeisn't looking too bad for its age. --Phil Udell
Postage & Packaging:£2.69 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Christopher Ettridge, Victor McGuire, Emma Amos, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Elizabeth Carling
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
Advantages: Great laughs, series hasn't lost anything with age Disadvantages: None
...recently written a review about the complete boxed set of every episode of the seventies comedy The Good Life in which I promised to do reviews on each of the individual DVD's in the set.
I have already done the review on series one and now here is series two .
I won't repeat the set up here as I would be repeating what I said in the previous reviews and that wouldn't be fair on you as the reader or on Ciao who would ... ...goat!
The next door neighbours are Margot and Jerry Leadbetter who are good friends with Tom and Barbara. However Margot is a snob and is horrified at the new set up next door.
The sit com is then a series of various events and their consequences to all parties.
So the second DVD in the set has the seven episodes of Series Two which were originally broadcast in 1976.
I have recently written a review about the complete boxed set of every episode of the seventies comedy The Good Life in which I promised to do reviews on each of the individual DVD's in the set.
I have already done the review on series one and now here is series two .
I won't repeat the set up here as I would be repeating what I said in the previous reviews and that wouldn't be fair on you as the reader or on Ciao who would be paying me twice for the same information, so I will just give a very brief synopsis.
Basically Tom and Barbara Good live in a posh part of Surbiton and have decided to become self sufficient. This entails planting both their front and back gardens with vegetables and keeping pigs, chickens and a goat!
The next door neighbours are Margot and Jerry Leadbetter who are good friends with Tom and Barbara. However Margot is a snob and is horrified at the new set up next door.
The sit com is then a series of various events and their consequences to all parties.
So the second DVD in the set has the seven episodes of Series Two which were originally broadcast in 1976.
Just my Bill
In this episode Tom sets out to sell his surplus in order to pay the bills that need actual cash as opposed to bartering - in this case the Rates Bill. Sadly it isn't as easy as he thought that it would be.
The Guru of Surbiton
Two young people are fascinated by Tom and Barbara's lifestyle and try to emanate Tom in particular. Their interest develops into hero worship much to Barbara's amusement! A plot has to be hatched to get them to leave the Good's alone.
Mr. Fix It
The press takes an interest in Tom and Barbara and Margot is driven to distraction trying to get her comments and her photograph in the local news paper.
The Day Peace Broke Out
A thief is stealing leeks from Tom's front garden and Tom takes the law into his own hands shooting the man with his pellet gun. After a brief spell in jail he finds that he and the thief share an interest in cricket and, as boys will be boys, they end up as friends.
Mutiny
This episode concentrates more on the lives of Margot and Jerry as Jerry is forced to choose between going to the production of The Sound of Music with Margot in the starring role or obeying his boss and entertaining clients. The initial disagreement eventually all turns out for the best - but then it usually did in The Good Life.
Home Sweet Home
Tom and Barbara consider selling their Surbiton home in order to buy a small farm and take their self sufficiency to the next level. Neither really wants to leave their home but each thinks they will disappoint the other if they say anything. Eventually Jerry gets them to talk to one another and all is well.
Going to Pot?
Tom, Barbara and Margot take up evening classes with Tom taking weaving and Margot and Barbara taking pottery. Barbara and Tom don't get on with their classes and so they swap, whilst Margot gives up completely after just one lesson. Jerry however has already bought her a studio full of equipment which Tom uses to his advantage.
So there you are - the second DVD - seven more episodes of great laughs!
The DVD does have a PG certificate but for the life of me I can't fathom out why!
Also on the DVD there is also an interview with Bob Larbey, some scriptwriters' biographies, filmographies and some production notes. This isn't really of any interest to me as I just want to watch the programmes!
All the episodes from the second series in which the Goods continue in their attempts at self-sufficiency by growing their own food, keeping their own livestock and bartering for anything they can't produce themselves.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
ACORN MEDIA; ARVATO SERVICES
Release date
15/03/2004
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
AV 9171
Barcode
5036193091711
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Interview With Bob Larbey, Production Notes, Cast Filmographiews
DVD Description
The classic 1970s sit-com about an eccentric middle class couple who decide to leave behind the empty promises of the rat race and live off their the land -- without leaving the suburbs! Tom and Barbara Good, much to the horror of their conservative neighbours the Leadbetters, decide to turn their suburban home into a self-sufficient utopian garden, with hilarious results. This set contains all the episodes from the second series.
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