Customer Reviews

The Fall & Rise of Reginald Perrin (Collection Set 2) [VHS]

5 star:		(12)
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I didn't get where I am today without knowing that "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin" is, quite simply, the best Britcom -- no, the best television comedy -- ever made. Leonard Rossiter (Reggie Perrin) is brilliant, and the entire cast is superb. My wife and I have been watching these shows over and over for more than 20 years, and my teenage daughter is hooked as well. Our conversation is laced with Reggie-isms (sometimes to the bafflement of our friends and relatives). I recommend that you promptly go to what can only be called the bank, get some money, and buy both sets (don't fail to buy set 2; it's even funnier than set 1). After you've seen them, you'll agree: Good; splendid; tickety-boo. And then you can join me in urging Amazon to offer set 3 (the final one in the series), as well.

There WAS indeed a third series in the Reggie Perrin saga!! Series 3 featured one of my favorite sequences: C.J. as a street bum/minstrel singing "I Didn't Get Where I Am Today!" as Reggie walks by! It's been YEARS since I last saw Series 3, but I do remember that part well enough! Sadly, BFS Video has stated to me that they have no plans to release Series 3 to video(with NO caveats such as "in the immediate future"--sounds like a definite "no go").

The character of Reginald Iolanthe Perrin is one of the most finely-tuned creations from the golden era of UK television. Oddly, it remains as relevant today if not more so than when it was written. The abundance of strong characters delivering hilarious exchanges of essentially normal rubbish is a joy. All of what happens is capable of happenning (if it hasn't already) in real life. As far as situation comedy goes, there is no greater situation than life itself.

Whether watching Reginald Perrin Part 1 or Part 2, anyone in their forties of fifties who has ever been laid off from a white collar job and watches "Reggie," will find this a humorous but piercing satire about modern industrial life. Given the seemingly endless corporate downsizing of the 1990s, the series is more relevant today than it was in 1977. The Reginald Perrin character is the Everyman of corporate America: dreaming of perfect security and perfect happiness but never finding it. Also interesting is that the series (particularly Part 3 which is apparently not yet available) can be viewed as a comment on the vacuity of modern life in the absence of any spirituality, perhaps a result utterly unintended by the writer. One lasting benefit: view this a hundred times and it remains a gem of wonderful acting, intelligent humor, and characters one will never forget.

the rise and fall of reginald perrine is in my opinion the funnest of all of the british comedies I have seen. When I first saw this series it came on once a week on our local pbs station. The best way I know to describe this series is by saying that it is monty python and benny hill all in one.Leonard Rossiter is great as Reggie, but to me the man who steals the show is CJ, Reggie's boss. Fair warning: If you don't like to laugh, don't watch this show.

Received Set 1 & 2 on 10/30/02. Have sat through the (2)collection sets on 11/1/02, and immediately became an instant connoisseur of the The Fall & Rise of Reginald Perrin. I am the only one in my family, as well as circle of friends, who enjoys British humor. I continue to look for opportunities to purchase good British humor and mysteries. Have all of Sherlock Holmes-Jeremy Brett; Keeping Up Appearance; To The Manor Born; Rumpole of the Bailey; The Irish R.M.; several sets of Hercule Poirot hourly show as well as the complete set of Poirot movies; several sets of Miss Marple Mysteries; the Norman Conquest; (2) sets of Brother Cadfael; Fawlty Towers, and apart from The Norman Conquest, have never, never, never been disappointed. With every order, I can't hardly wait for the shipments to arrive. Each shipment brings me that marvelous British humor, which is subtle yet disarming. With every mystery, I am glued to the armchair.

The Fall & Rise of Reginald Perrin provoked feelings I had during my working years--times when I felt like running away from the dullness of the routine, and the weightiness of the stress! Though each episode is laced with subtle humor, each also will probably touch the heart strings of many who have been employed on a job for many years, and yet longing for something that renews the excitement that onced burned bright. Reggie's solution to this challenge is the grist for some dynamite episodes. I desperately want Series 3 to complete the entire program. Tried getting them from the UK, but can't locate, and furthermore the video system used in the UK is different than that used in the United State. Is there anyone out there who might be willing to part with Series 3??????

The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin has to recieve ten out of ten, basically because Lenard Rossiter (and cast) bring to life an exteaordinary text. I have now watched this comedy several times and on each occasion I have discovered a something new: it is indeed many - sided. Its dialogue reveals a real comic ability, delivered with true professionalism. But as with many sucessfull comedies there exists a continuing thread of seriousness which creates a juxtaposition with the comedy itself and encouraging the viewer to reflect upon the situation. Thus we are drawn into the world of Reggie Perrin, treating the characters as friends and associates and being able to identify with the various situations that arise. It is typically British and it is typically middle - class but this should not detract from its ability to make people laugh or even inspire future generations of writers and comics, on a global basis. As C.J put it "there's no smoke without the worm turning" (whatever that means).

As a longtime addict of this glorious satire on corporate de-humanization,I am delighted to posess these two collections. A previous reviewer mistakenly stated that there should be a third collection forthcoming... "I didn't get where I am today without realising that Reggie's entire saga is chronicled within these two sets" The humanist messages shrouded in this scathing satire are more relevant today than ever before

My only disappointment in these two sets of tapes is that they are not complete. I can only hope that the third series of Reggie tapes will be released.

A brilliant depiction of what the monotony of British life can do to you