Customer Reviews

'Allo 'Allo! The Complete Collection

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From the creators of the venerable British sitcom "Are You Being Served?" comes this 85-episode collection: the continuing adventures of "humble cafe owner" Rene Artois (Gorden Kaye), who is constantly dragooned into aiding the desperate efforts of Resistance fighters against the Nazis in wartime France. Like "Are You Being Served?," the scripts are full of double entendres, single entendres, farcical pursuits and intrigues, crazy comedy props, and plenty of verbal and visual jokes, delivered by a solid ensemble cast. In the many bawdy situations where a broader comedian would mug shamelessly, Gorden Kaye's sheepish subtlety scores every time.

This is a serial, so the episodes must be watched in sequence to follow the insane storyline. Among the plot points running through the series are a frenzied hunt for a missing painting, the equally frenzied concealment of two clueless British airmen, pompous posturing by military officers and Gestapo spies, the tunneling INTO a prisoner-of-war camp, clandestine romances forced upon Rene by anyone in skirts (even the Resistance girls can't resist Rene, and one of the German officers has eyes for him, too), everybody adopting cross-dressing disguises at one time or another, and any number of wild schemes to harass and hinder German battle plans, involving ridiculous and ingeniously engineered props.

This viewer had seen the first three dozen episodes on public television before the station discontinued the series, so it was great to see so many more episodes. This 19-disc collection presents all 85 half-hours, and there isn't a lemon in the bunch. Even when the jokes are predictable, it's the reactions of the various characters that often carry the comedy. The series survived many personnel changes on both sides of the cameras, and viewers will probably become fans who will find their own favorite characters and portrayals.

There are many "Allo, Allo"-related bonus features in the DVD set, including an episode of "Blankety Blank" (the British "Match Game") and a documentary about the series as a whole (on disc 16 -- DON'T watch it until you've seen all 19 discs, because the documentary gives the series' ending away).

Highly recommended for comedy fans, and delightfully habit-forming viewing: we enjoyed watching an episode almost every night for three months.

Classic British comedy at its finest. Absolutely classic. I wonder if this show could even be made today, in this Politically Correct minefield...? Thank God it *was* made, as this is a true gem of television that is not likely to ever be replicated.

'Allo 'Allo! is such a classic comedy - it keeps me laughing...I have a friend who also loves British Comedy...he comes over and we have a "British Comedy Day" and just watch the classics...another favorite is "The Thin Blue Line."

Pure enjoyment! We thought we saw all of the episods and were delighted to see how many we missed. Glad we bought the complete set.

"Allo Allo!" Has been around since 1982 and has just recently become available in the USA on a decent media. This particular set contains series one through series six. Each containing approximately eight episodes:

"The British are Coming" starts the series and explains many things that happen later in the series.

"The Fallen Madonna" with the big whatever, will set a reoccurring theme as Colonel Kurk von Strom has pilfered the painting for his retirement. Keep your eye on it through the series as it becomes a shell game.

The basic story is that of a café owner René; this is in France during the WWII German occupation. He must balance dealing with the local Germans, the Gestapo, the good Resistance, the commie Resistance, having affairs with his female help, dealing with his wife and mother-in-law. Throw in some downed British airmen and some onion soup.
I will not go though each series in detail because for those that have not seen it or if it has been while since viewing the series, the surprise factor and the one liners are worth discovering first hand.

I will say that the highlight for me in the first series was when they mistakenly fed grain laced with nitro glycerin to the chickens.

One nice thing about this series is that they place the name next to the actor at the end of each episode. Most of the actors are well known out side of this series. I was shocked however to find that Gestapo Herr Otto Flick (Richard Gibson) Played British Capt. Newman in Ken Follett's "The Key to Rebecca" (1985) and completely changed his accent.

I hope they will release another series soon "Three Hail Mary's and two Heil Hitler's."

"'Allo 'Allo" is a great British product. The main characters, Rene and Edith, are brilliant with words (him) and very tone deaf (Edith) , as are Lt. Gruber (who carries a torch for Rene), Colonel Von Strohm and Captain Geering. Richard Gibson is great as Herr Flick who is in love with Helga but whose position prevents him from acting on those feelings. But the true masterpiece on this show is Officer Crabtree, the vowel-mangling gendarme. He is wonderful! He always makes me laugh and it is always a joy to see him. It is marvelous acting!

Totally original with a fantastic cast!

I love 'Allo 'Allo! It is an amazing and funny show for its time that still brings laughs today. I recommend it to anyone who has a fun, witty sense of humor.

We enjoyed this series when it was broadcast on PBS. It was great to find the complete set. This show is hilarious.

Fantastic, one of the best things I've purchased on amazon. Been looking for this for years. Hours and hours of fun. Picture quality amazing and episodes just as funny as I remember. Makes a great gift for those nostalgic about British comedy.
Absolutely great value for the price.

Watched this on TV for number of years and really enjoyed when it can out on DVD. Very irreverent in a funny way. One of the best British "sit-coms" available.