Customer Reviews

Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 1977

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Once again we get another "series" of antics from our favorite boys from Yorkshire.

This time we get series 4 which appears to indicate Warner/BBC has gotten the message that we want all the series released in order. Series 4 has 8 episodes, 6 of which aired in 1977 and 2 in 1978.

Here is the episode list along with the original air date:

Episode 1: Ferret Come Home - 9 November 1977
Episode 2: Getting on Sydney's Wire - 16 November 1977
Episode 3: Jubilee - 23 November 1977
Episode 4: Flower Power Cut - 30 November 1977
Episode 5: Who Made a Bit of Splash in Wales, Then? - 7 December 1977
Episode 6: Greenfingers - 14 December 1977
Episode 7: A Merry Heatwave - 1 January 1978
Episode 8: The Bandit from Stoke-On-Trent - 4 January 1978

The sole reported "Special Feature" will be:
A rare 1977 interview with show Creator/Writer Roy Clarke.

Unfortunately, this series does *not* include the episode "Small Tune on a Penny Wassail" which aired on 26 December 1978. This is a "Christmas Special" which are not typically considered part of a series by the BBC. Hopefully we'll see this episode on a "Christmas Specials" release.

The picturesque Pennine village of Holmfirth in the Yorkshire Dales is the setting for the antics of our aging delinquents and their oddball friends and fellow townspeople. Miles and miles of unspoilt moorland, and a breath-taking backdrop to the adventures of Compo, Clegg, Foggy.

As I've mentioned before, if you've not seen any of the episodes before don't be suprised if you are lukewarm to the program upon first viewing. This is a show that grows on you with each episode.

Now that Warner/BBC has blessed us with the next series I have but one request. Let's get on with it! With 6 months between series it will take another 12 years to get it all released! I, for one, do not wish to wait that long!

OK... I have 2 requests. The 2nd is: Stop pricing these short 6-10 episode series the same as series containing 24-32 episodes. This gross overpricing is typical of almost *all* BBC releases.

I'm eager to see and purchase more of this delightful British comedy series. However, I'm really offended that in the latest Summer Wine (1977), BBC has inserted several minutes of advertising for other DVDs at the beginning, which the viewer is forced to endure without the option of fast forwarding.

The series Last of the Summer Wine is consistently warm, funny character-driven humor. At the center is a trio of retired men who get into one major scrape per episode (and you get eight or so episodes per DVD pack). They are supported by a group of neighbors whose hobbies, foibles, ambitions and aversions speed them on their way, then bring them up short with a crash and a bang. Because the story relies on recurring characters, the viewer may need a few episodes to prime the pump, so to speak. The time is well rewarded.

For those who find British humor to be like Guiness Stout, a taste not always easy to acquire, rest assured that this is a much milder brew.

The characters include a retired ex-soldier with mild delusions of competence, a scruffy idler with a never-ending crush on the battle-axe who lives upstairs, an everyman whose good sense stops just short of keeping him from getting between the first two, a shade-tree mad scientist whose machines even work once in a while and his fastidious housekeeping wife, a henpecked amateur philanderer complete with wife and outside interest (who never actually DO anything), and a storekeeper whose sales tactics put the trap-door spider to shame.

Roy Clarke, who writes the series, described the central trio as "the world's three oldest adolescents." Not a bad description.

Highly recommended. I'd love to see the entire series released as a single, complete set.

I just received my copy of the last of the summer wine vintage 1977. I was very upset that the episode 9. was not there. The one from 26 December 1978, Small tune on a Penny Wassail. I was so looking forward to seeing this episode. I feel very cheated.

I watched this show on local PBS until they took it off and I intend to get every DVD that is issued. The show has a 30 year history and anyone in the family can watch without being shocked by something. To bad that the US networks WON'T come up with something like this. Who would have thought, clean laughs and no violence. What a concept.

Last of the Summer Wine is funny, relaxing, great scenery,
I have been a fan since 1996, I watch them over and over.
Marvelous characters with funny sense of humors.

DVD makes you remember times that you had as a child and the things that happend. Really a nice program.

This is a wonderful series. It gives you hope that when you reach those golden years you still have time to have fun!!

nice british comedy sit-com with wonderful scenery of yorkshire pity there are very few dvds of the series.

I bought this series for my dear friend as a birthday gift.
She loved it.