Customer Reviews

Are You Being Served? Vol. 2

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Every Are You Being Served fan should buy both box sets of these hilarious series but, if one is only willing to purchase one DVD, this is it! IMO, three of the all-time best episodes are on volume 2 as well as 3 other excellent shows. There is not one weak episode on here. My favorite is "Big Brother" where Mr. Rumbold installs a hidden camera in the department to find a shop lifter but, instead, spies on the staff including counting how many times Mrs. Slocombe visits the powder room, what Mr. Grainger eats behind the counter, and what Captain Peacock does to Miss Brahms "nether regions." My second favorite is "Cold Comfort" when Grace Brothers decides to turn off the store heating system to conserve energy during the fuel crisis leading to some very innovative methods to stay warm in the men's department. "The Clock" is also excellent when Mr. Grainger, fearing he will be given the customary retirement clock during his 37th anniversary party, hears a "cuckoo" in Mr. Rumbold's office. The other episodes are also tops: "The Think Tank" where the staff puts on a trial fashion show in the hopes to improve sales, "Hoorah for the Holidays" when Young Mr. Grace presents the staff with paid-for vacation options that may not even be worth the price, and "Hand of Fate" when promotion rumors are flying and Mr. Humphries palm-reading skills are put to the test. I'm warning you, though, once you've see this DVD, you are going to want MORE!

Every episode of the classic years of "Are You Being Served?" is a treasure. When you buy something on DVD, there is the possibility that one will tire of it after awhile and roll their eyes whenever they catch that program on TV.

Not so with this classic BBC comedy.

"The Clock" is the cast at their best, "Cold Comfort" will leave you in stitches at the way the staff tries to beat the cold weather, "Big Brother" will keep you laughing at how the staff gets back at good ol' Rumbold for using security cameras in the store to try to deter theft (there are two more episodes on the DVD).

I'm usually not one for DVD extras (they tend to take the magic away) but I was interested in the backgrounds of the actors and actresses. I was pleasantly surprised to see how well-accomplished they all were and continue to be as well as the episode trivia. And the fact that there are five episodes on each DVD gives you more value for your dollar.

More good episodes that I missed when the series originally aired, such as Mr. Grainger almost being given the retirement cuckoo clock after 37 years, Grace Brothers trying to save money by turning off the heat (lots of innovative ways to get around it), a 'Think Tank' episode when the group tries brainstorming to improve sales (and Mr. Rumbold steals their ideas), etc.

Are You Being Served? is the story of the staff of the Ladies' and Gentlemen's Wear departments in Grace Brothers department store. While customer's come and go, the staff fights each other and their incompetent superiors with laughs all around. The stories are hilarious and are generally clean, though a running gag involves one lady's constant frettings about her pussy (cat). So, this tape can be watched with younger ones, but some discretion should be exercised.

Nonetheless, this is a great Britcom, one of the classics. If you want to find out what all the excitement about Britcoms is, then buy this DVD!

This great DVD includes the following six(!) half-hour episodes:

The Clock - Series 2, episode 1, 3/14/1974 - In celebration of his 65th birthday, Grace Brothers is having a special dinner. But, will he be given the cuckoo clock, which means that he is to be retired?

Cold Comfort - Series 2, episode 2, 3/21/1974 - In answer to the fuel crisis, Grace Brothers has turned off the heat, leaving the staff to fend for themselves, and it's amazing what they will do to keep warm.

The Think Tank - Series 2, episode 3, 3/28/1974 - Sales are down, so Mr. Rumbold organizes the staff into a think tank - and what do they come up with? A fashion show!

Big Brother - Series 2, episode 4, 4/4/1974 - Shoplifting is up, and Mr. Rumbold takes action to increase security. But, the staff objects to the Big Brother atmosphere and takes action.

Hooray for the Holidays - Series 2, episode 5, 4/11/1974 - During redecoration, Grace Brothers offers the staff a special vacation...if there are any takers!

The Hand of Fate - Series 3, episode 1, 2/27/1975 - When Mr. Humphries reads Capt. Peacock's hand, he see something big in his future, but fate is a fickle lady!

i couldn't help myself but to buy this dvd. i watch british shows on mpt and i always wanted to buy it and i wasn't disappointed . i couldn't get in every show i missed so when i bought this dvd i got some shows i missed and i was thrilled . it a great british show and i will continue to buy the rest of the series . it's worth the doug so buy it you won't be disappointed in it ....it's down right funny ...john inman is the best he makes the show.....

It has everything a comedy should have. The charactors are funny yet rememberable. The situations and plots had me laughing the entire time.

I am finding the US version looking and stating run times different from the UK releases on Amazon. It states US actors playing the roles, which in fact is not true. So, here are the actual episode names for Volume 2:

1. The Clock
2. Cold Comfort
3. The Think Tank
4. Big Brother
5. Hoorah For The Holidays

All episodes are 5 star comedy.

Classic ensemble acting with witty writing--believable characters behaving believably, as real people do. In other words, from time to time making damn fools of themselves and each other. Who would imagine that a department store setting could, would offer such a rich array of comic and comedic possibilities. Pure genius. The only negative: inclusion of an idiotic, irritating "laugh track". Why do the people who market these products think we need the prompting of idiots cackling and hee-hee-ing (usually at the wrong or irrelevant times and places in the action)? They've spoiled another brilliant English comedy, too, "Keeping UP Appearances" with the same unnecessary and irritating insertions. But if this irritation can be overlooked, or somehow tuned out by the listening ear, then "Are You Being Served" will serve well anyone seeking intelligent comedy conveyed by wit, comedic verve, and superb ensemble stage interactions.

We have enjoyed many of these DVDs over the years. This is everybit as good.

Every episode in this "Classic" second year of "Are you being served?" is a gem. This comedy depends on the characters being sterotyped: from "battle ax" Mrs. Slocombe to "sexpot" Miss Brahms to Mr. Humphries (the hysterical "queen" of the bunch) to the "dullard" Mr. Rumbold (the perplexed head of the department) to the "pompous" "Captain" Peacock to the "cheeky" (as described by Mrs. Slocombe) Mr. Lucas to the "socialist worker" Mr. Mash to the "dotty" Mr. Granger, who is constantly falling asleep until Mr. Humphries uses his signature line, "Are you Free, Mr. Granger"? in his campy voice.

The fun is watching the characters interact. The plots are very funny. This is not "high" English comedy. They use prat falls, unsophisticated humour and you love every minute of it.

WLIW runs the series on cable, so you can check it out before you buy the second year DVD.

Put your brains on pause and just sit down and laugh out loud.