Customer Reviews

Bless Me Father, Vol. 1-3, Box Set [VHS]

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Set in a London suburb, an Irish Roman Catholic priest gains a thoroghly Engilsh, fresh faced curate he's not sure he wants. This series tells the tales of the life in the parish of St Jude's (the patron of hopless cases) of Fr Duddleswell, the pp, Fr Neil, the curate and Mrs Pring the housekeeper. A series of antics reveals a parish priest who is a cunning and wylie, but with a thourougly pastoral heart. Anyone accociated with the Catholic Church will love it.

Bless Me Father shows a lighter side to the religious situations two priests face in their small community. If you like British comedy, this one will keep you laughing.

When living in B.C., Canada, I discovered the joys of British TV comedy, and this was one of my favorites.

Fr. Duddleswell is such a perfect character, well playing up to his straight curate, Fr. Boyd. In between is the housemaid, Mrs. Pring and a cast of characters to boot.

Episodes to see from this set include a hilarious episode of Fr. D battling neighboring Billy Buzzle over noise. It's a stitch, including a cameo appearance by "Pontius" Billy's black lab who is seated with the Bishop. The Doomsday Chair as well as the Baptism with Fire episodes testify to the good natured fun which the British are now famous for. We in the states should take our cue for what is really good in humor from this sophisticated great laughter producing stuff which doesn't have to resort to the gutter nor violent to keep one's attention.

Such sophisticated, well-done tasteful comedy such as this delightful series is rare. I couldn't wait to add this collection.

Here in the 225 minutes on three videos are my three favorites: Burial at Sea, Beddings and Weddings and Fire and Brimstone.

Lowe as the irreplaceable Duddleswell and Abineri as curate Boyd and Daye as Mrs. Pring as such a treat. They are such well done characters that one wants to be around them.

I get equally into it with each re-viewing. Anyone who appreciates really good comedy will be treated to what is a special series, documenting good natured life at its best at St. Judes, 1951.

This is English-Irish Catholic humor at its best. Pre-Vatican 2 antics that we love laugh at!

This wonderful tape collection contains the first nine episodes of that wonderful show, Bless Me Father. The show was set in the 1950s, and stars veteran actor Arthur Lowe as Father Charles Clement Duddleswell, parish priest. Father Duddleswell is an irascible old fellow, and is used to getting his way. But, when he is given a newly minted curate (Daniel Abineri), he must take the young man by the hand and show him just how to be a parish priest.

This show is an excellent Britcom, one that is sure to please all lovers of good comedy. Yes, the show does feature a Catholic priest, and in this day and age you would expect the show to lampoon the Catholic Church. But, in fact the good fathers are presented as funny, but the show does not seem particularly disrespectful. Overall, I found this to be a very funny show, one that I highly recommend!

In case you are interested, here are the included episodes:
Baptism of Fire - Series 1, episode 1 - 24-Sep-78 - When Father Boyd shows up at St. Jude's, ready to take his place as curate, he quickly learns that this job will be anything but easy.

The Bells of St. Jude's - Series 1, episode 2 - 1-Oct-78 - When Father Duddleswell get a new bell for the church, he quickly uses it to wake up his sinful, late-sleeping neighbor. But, before you know it a holy war breaks out!

The Parish Bazaar - Series 1, episode 3 - 8-Oct-78 - When Father Duddleswell refuses to make plans for bad weather interfering with the church's bazaar, does he have too much faith?

The Doomsday Chair - Series 1, episode 4 - 15-Oct-78 - It's time to put an end to the community's superstitious belief that the local pub has a murderously magical chair, and Father Duddleswell is just the man to do it!

Father & Mother - Series 1, episode 5 - 22-Oct-78 - Father Duddleswell has been holding on to a painting, which was painted on the same canvas as a masterpiece. He wants to sell the painting, but doing so will bring him into conflict with a most formidable nun. Who will win?

The Tennis Match - Series 1, episode 6 - 29-Oct-78 - When the new Catholic mayor ropes Father Duddleswell into a tennis match against the Anglican clergy, he has to think of a way out!

The Seal of Confession - Series 1, episode 7 - 5-Nov-78 - When Father Neil proves to him that the church's sound system and confessionals are in need of replacement, Father Duddleswell seeks to correct the problem; sadly, the cure may be worse than the disease.

Blessings from Heaven - Series 2, episode 1 - 11-Nov-79 - When a woman of the Parish becomes pregnant, Father Duddleswell finds himself at war with Mother Superior over credit for the miracle.

Father Neil's First Miracle - Series 2, episode 2 - 18-Nov-79 - When Father Duddleswell makes Father Neil the official Catholic Chaplain of the local hospital, his duties go beyond anything he could possibly have imagine!

Whether one is Catholic, Protestant, or neither, this 1951 setting at St. Jude's Parish is home to some of the best religious humour tempered with reverence. It is smart, unoffensive, and down right funny stuff. It makes one laugh at one's own irony, as well as that of others. Somehow it unwittingly beckons those who would be on the fence about religion to seek it. There's something comforting about the St. Jude Parish and their little church community. Great wisdom is a midst here, as well as the timeless depth of reverence to God within the framework of the Catholic Church. It's all accomplished in a setting with hilarious fallibility demonstrated by the parish priests as they interact with each other, the community, and their Protestant neighbors. One will find themselves surprised and tickled into constant belly laughs throughout the entire series.
Highly unique and just plain funny!

I am a fan of Britcoms, but other than the usual "Are You Being Served?" and "Yes, Minister" on PBS Saturday nights, I hadn't seen much. I found these tapes in a used book shop, and my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed them! It helps to be a bit of an Anglophile, in understanding the Catholic vs Protestant saga, and to remember that in Britain in the 50s, rationing was still the norm. The show is still very funny, as the characters hold up well in modern day Britain. Fr Duddleswell is a bit of a crotchety old priest, not immune to cheating a bit to get something. Fr Neil is his handsome, young new curate. Together with their housekeeper, a drunken doctor, and local oddities like the "cursed chair," it makes for a town I'd want to visit!

These videos have been used many times and they always keep us laughing,we are so pleased we took a chance to give them a try and as more become available our order will be sent.

We used to watch this show on CBC Canada and have been looking for it for years. Anyone who loves British Comedy will love this show!