Product Details

• Actors: Patricia Routledge, Clive Swift, Geoffrey Hughes, Judy Cornwell, Josephine Tewson
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Studio: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• VHS Release Date: July 2, 1996
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304087918
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #255,379 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Richard second-guesses his decision to stay at home when retirement simply means more obligation to his real boss, Hyacinth, in these three leisure-themed 28-minute episodes from the BBC. The lady of the house has her husband both up a tree and up a ladder in "How to Retire Early If You're Not Careful." Whether looking for Iron Age remains or a despairing teddy-clad Rose, Richard is up to the task. A weekend on a moored yacht strikes Hyacinth as the perfect opportunity to dazzle the neighbors in "What to Wear When Yachting." But a motorboat isn't very impressive and neither is a spill in the lake, as the waterlogged couple discovers. The final installment, "How to Go on Holiday Without Really Trying," finds Hyacinth making bogus plans to take an expensive cruise so she can outdo a neighbor who once snubbed her, but there's nothing grand about Richard in a bar with brother-in-law Onslow on a Sunday morning, nor about the married vicar with a suggestively clothed Rose in his arms, now, is there? --Kimberly Heinrichs

From the Back Cover

Episodes:
How To Retire Early If You're Not Careful - Now that Richard has officially started his early retirement, Hyacinth has great plans for their time together. First there is a trip to the countryside to search for the Iron Age remains but further cultural excursions are curtails when Hyacinth's sister, Daisy and her husband Onslow, inform her that their sister Rose is behaving in an outrageous manner. As the eldest sister, Hyacinth is called upon to sort things out--preferably before the vicar arrives!
How To Go On Holiday Without Really Trying - If Delia Wheelright can spend a month in the Caribbean, then Hyacinth is determined to go one better--even if it's only better quality holiday brochures, which mean a trip to the travel agents for Hyacinth and husband Richard.
What To Wear When Yachting - The opportunity of spending the weekend on a cruiser thrills Hyacinth. But there is so much to arrange in advance--a telephone call to obtain the shipping forecast, purchasing the correct yachting gear for herself and husband Richard, and preparing a "nautical light buffet" to share with family and friends on board.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hyacinth Bucket in Her Best Performance Yet!, February 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Keeping Up Appearances - How to Enhance Your Husband's Retirement [VHS] (VHS Tape)

How to Enhance Your Husband's Retirement, from Keeping Up Appearances is yet another hilarious adventure of Hyacinth and Richard Bucket! The two begin their retirement by "yachting", at the insistence of Hyacinth. Of course, little did they know, their "outing" turns into disaster as usual. Compared to the other episodes of Keeping Up Appearances, this one will guarantee to make you laugh and chuckle! A must see!

5.0 out of 5 stars A great Britcom!, May 27, 2004

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keeping Up Appearances - How to Enhance Your Husband's Retirement [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Poor Hyacinth Bucket (played by Patricia Routledge), pronounced "Bouquet," is on an eternal quest to keep up appearances. Forever scheming ways to be thought richer and more important than she is, she's a terror to her husband Richard (Clive Swift), her family, her neighbors, and just about everyone she comes into contact with! Sadly for her, but fortunately for us, her schemes and plans always end in uproarious disaster. These are the adventures of Hyacinth Bucket, forever keeping up appearances!

My family and I are great fans of British comedy, and there are few anywhere near as good as Keeping Up Appearances! Patricia Routledge is one of Britain's comedic geniuses, and she plays Hyacinth beautifully. My kids sometimes get indignant at Hyacinth's many attempts at one-upmanship, but you always know that at the end, her sins will find her out.

This is a great Britcom, one that I highly recommend to all fans of good comedy! This particular tape has three half-hour episodes on it:

How to Enhance Your Husband's Retirement - Season 3, episode 2 (September 6, 1992) - Now that Richard is retired, Hyacinth has plans, but looking for Iron Age remains leaves her talking to the trees. At the same time, her oversexed sister, Rose finds herself at a crossroads in life, and need Hyacinth's vicar. Can Hyacinth rescue the vicar in time?

What to Wear When Yachting - Season 3, episode 8 (October 18, 1992) - When Hyacinth gains access to a yacht, she begins planning all sorts of parties to impress people, but life on the high seas (well, river anyway) ends up not agreeing with Hyacinth.

How to Go on Holiday without Really Trying - Season 3, episode 5 (September 27, 1992) - When a neighbor goes on holiday to the Caribbean, Hyacinth needs to get one up, but how can it be done on the cheap? By getting holiday brochures, and pretending that that's where she going! However, when her brother-in-law Onslow steals away Richard, to teach him the joys of irresponsibility, Hyacinth has to fend for herself.

5.0 out of 5 stars Laughing Hysterically!, April 6, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Keeping Up Appearances - How to Enhance Your Husband's Retirement [VHS] (VHS Tape)

My dad and I watch this show every Saturday night on PBS. It is hilarious! He received this VHS for his birthday, and now we can't stop laughing! These three particular episodes are by far the best of Hyacinth's adventures. We enjoy watching them together.