Customer Reviews

The League of Gentlemen: The Complete Series 1

5 star:		(72)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is one of those DVDs I put in again and again. I knew absolutely nothing about it when I bought it except I was told that it was hilarious. The first time I viewed I didn't even realize that such a diverse group of characters was, for the most part, played by three very funny, very talented, very well made-up comics, and I still don't know how one transforms into the puffy nutty third-rate businessman. While not every characterization or group of characters are hilarious (I don't much care for the businessmen nor the Greek Pops and his newsvending sons -- boring, to me), the rest are incredible. I especially like Edward and Tubbs and Pauline and her "job seekers," and how can you go wrong with a butcher named H. Briss and a pair of prize frogs named Sonny and Cher? :) Then there's Dr. Chinnery the unlucky veterinarian and Barbara the pre-op transsexual cab driver and the ultra-anal retentive aunt and uncle and their two demonic twins in the mythical and askew town of Royston Vasey. So much more -- don't miss it! WHY OH WHY is there no release in the U.S. of Series 2, the 2000 special, and Series 3? Everyone who has seen this finds it hilarious.

If you're wondering if you should buy this, the answer is YES. If you are a TLoG fans, this DVD is a must have! A cross between sketch comedy & soap opera sitcom, the entire series 1 is presented here unedited, giving us an even closer look at the fictional northern english town of Royston Vasey. This community is inhabited by over 60 characters, portrayed by only 3, extremely talented, actors.

But wait! That's not all! In addition, the DVD includes a separate soundtrack of the Gents discussing each scene & character as they watch along, continually commenting on their creative process, character development, & early stage performances. Finally, we are treated to a healthy handful of outtake scenes that were never included in series 1 (although some jokes were reworked in series 2).

Thank the powers that be (including BBC, Time Warner, etc) for releasing such entertainment & please start the process of making available to us series 2 on DVD.

Unless you have been lucky enough to catch the League Of Gentlemen series on Comedy Central, or, indeed, are a Brit like me who caught it on BBC 2 last year and this, you probably won't be bothered risking your hard-earned on this vid. If you stopped reading my review here I wouldn't blame you either. But please read on.

Ok, it's comedy, but what *kind* of comedy is it?

It's a very, VERY black comedy, presented in mini serial format. Based around a somewhat inward-looking village in Northern England called Royston Vasey, the series follows Royston Vasey's rather odd inhabitants, very similar to that of a soap opera. Nothing groundbreaking so far, I know. But what makes this series stand out from the crowd of other BBC also-rans ("Keeping Up Appearances" and "One Foot In The Grave" spring instantly to mind) is the quality of the show. Each episode plays out with all the cinematographic flair of a classic movie. A major contributing factor in this would be the use of 35mm camerawork throughout. The original musical score runs almost the whole length of each 28 minute episode and changes to reflect the situation onscreen, often quite upbeat, but every so often rather sinister. The comedic acting is absoultely brilliant. The League's three actors (the 4th member is the producer) have obviously spent countless hours watching classic horror films, as each of them delivers line after line of hilarious dialogue, overshadowed by sinister expression, and over-play.

The three actors play all the characters - A voodoo-like circus ringmaster, a German homosexual tour guide with murderous tendancies; a bizarre, almost creature-like, shopkeeper and his even stranger wife; the butcher who's most popular product, his "Special Stuff", is an addictive and secret 'something' only shared amongst a few of the villagefolk; a Job Centre Restart Officer who wallows in her ability to downput her 'Jobseekers'; the Cab driver - a big hairy bear of a man who wears a hot pink mini-dress and stilettos... etc etc...

This Vid/DVD I would only recommend if you have in the past laughed at something you knew deep down you really shouldn't have. It's that way.

If you are the above kind of person, though, You won't find anything, comedy-wise at least, as cutting edge or refreshingly new and entertaining as this.

If you do buy this, you'll want to tell your friends to come over and see it for themselves before the end of the first episode. I guarantee it.

... the new miracle cure all from the BBC.

Okay .. onto the review:-

Once I got past my horror at discovering a laughter soundtrack (very annoying but faded away into the background of my perception with repeated listening) and no dvd option to play the thing without this track, I began simply to enjoy.

It's not pure comedy. It has pathos, drama and visceral horror. This is not comedy as U.S. network tv knows it. It's almost not comedy as British broadcast tv knows it. I rarely guffawed and slapped my thighs with the hilarity of it all. A little bit more than my comedic neurons were engaged. The acting ability of the players is at a Sopranos level or better, and it's "just" a comedy, and they each play, god, maybe five different fully developed characters each. I'm frankly a wee bit intimidated by the talent of these blokes.

Even if you hate it, you won't soon forget it. No matter how extensive your DVD collection you will have *nothing* like The League of Gentlemen in it.

Buy, beg, borrow or steal this disc. (Especially if you thought, like me, that you had comedic talent yourself. After watching this you'll probably go, "oh s**t", and go back to your day job.)

Footnote: The DVD extra's of deleted scenes was a nice compensation for the awful laughter track - some of these scenes are "unaccompanied". At least two of these scenes are as good as the best stuff from the series.

I have to begin with a warning... this is a series you really have to watch from start to finish. Not only because its addictive but because like "The Prisoner" everything all falls into place by the finale. With each episode, things get more gross and the relationships between the characters get more twisted, especially once you're into the final season (not out on video.) All in all, you'll meet about 60 of the residents of Royston Vassey mostly played by only three actors. (The show itself began on BBC radio... a lot of the characters carried over, though you won't find the Local Shop, and Royston is known as Spent, and there's a hillarious scene in which Mickey wets the carpet during a visualization exersize with Pauline... get the tapes over at Amazon.com's UK site.)

Overall, this show is unique. It has been described as Monty Python meets Twin Peaks... I would also have to throw in a bit of the Young Ones, Pedro Almodovar and John Waters. If you can dig that stuff, then you'll definitely enjoy this DVD along with a nice warm glass of aqua vita. You'll have the time of your life...just be sure not to touch the prescious things and refrain from passing solids into the WC ! ! !

Please welcome "The League of Gentlemen", the comedy troupe who have brought one of the only decent comedies TV, British and American, has seen for a long, long time. After turning from a stage sensation to an award-winning radio show in their native England, the League brought TV audiences to their own little Northern England village, Royston Vasey. And nothing would prepare the viewers for the weird and wonderful delights they would bring. And like the best comedy shows, it is unbelievably compulsive, like a really good soap opera.

The first series introduces us to some wonderful, original comic monstrosities: Tubbs and Edward Tattsyrup, owners of the isolated 'Local Shop' on the moors overlooking the town; Pauline the restart officer, who abuses and berates her 'jobseekers'; Dr. Chinnery, the town vet who subscribes all of his patients accidental death. The list is endless, and yet all of them are given their moments to shine, not only as caricatures tailored to make you laugh but also as genuine characters whom you feel sorry for. The last episode of the series eschews some of the laughs and injects some actual pathos into the show, and finishes on a high that is both funny and ultimately very touching ... there won't be a dry eye in the house.

The reason the show works though is because of the talented troupe behind it, the core reason why the show exists in the first place. With co-writer Jeremy Dyson watching over them, cast members Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith each earn kudos for bringing all of these characters so vividly to life, and for rendering them as whole characters rather than some cheap laughs. And they take full advantage of the visual medium, as well as the budget of the TV show, to bring us some wonderful costumes and makeup on the characters, as well some clever-clever referencing to some past works of horror ("The Wicker Man" and "The Shining" to name a couple).

As for the DVD, everything remains intact from the Region 2 version, which I bought last year, including a wonderful commentary from the League and series director Steve Bendelack and a few deleted sketches. Watch out for the second series double-disc edition (which I have, ha!) which has the 'local gossip' and the 'missing' scenes, as well as a behind-the-scenes documentary and music videos(!). And yes, the second season itself, as well as the Christmas 2000 special and the recent live show in England, continue the characters through to some weird and wonderful places! And, no, "you'll never leave" ...

This is excellent, top-notch, extremely funny, mind-bending. (See the other rave reviews if you want to know more.) What I have to ask is: Where is Series #2? There's far more to Royston Vesey than this disc! Further episodes have been finished for YEARS! But the BBC division that handles DVD manufacturing has so far failed to export a North American-formatted version. You can go to the UK Amazon store and see what all the fuss is about, read the tantalizing descriptions of the further adventures of these insane characters, but until it's available in NA format, you can't watch it over here! (I've e-mailed the Beeb offices; they've failed to reply. Repeatedly. I mean, I was more than polite, I was BEGGING!) The knowledge that there is a Series #2 DVD out there that we can't view is the worst torture imaginable. Can Amazon.com please help? At least start a wish list for it, and maybe the Beeb will notice. Hey! Some of us here thought the evidence was sexed up, too!

Hello Job Seekers:
Please resubmit your resume to BBC AMERICA attn.: DVD DEVELOPMENT. Many oversights have been discovered regarding dvds unavailable in the USA - particularly "THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN the complete series 2." Unfortunately, if you don't, I will take away your benefits...You heard me Mickey, love ... Try me.
Currently Unemployed With Nothing Better To Do, Pauline

Just when you thought British comedy couldn't get more bizarre along comes this trio of very talented comedic actors. The three take on the personas of a whole town (Royston vasey)of bizarre characters. The developing stories they create will have you alternatley cringing and laughing out loud. This is the type of thing that is disturbing to watch, yet you can't stop yourself - not ulike a car wreck.

This DVD holds the entire first series of six episodes. I personally can't wait for the second series, already released in the UK.

This is not for everyone - my wife couldn't get into it, but my friends all loved it.

I was first introduced to TLoG during its short stint on Comedy Central. Friends of mine knew there was something to this show when it kept me at home instead of at the bar watching Monday Night Football! The talented trio of actors portray over 60 of the weird and often disturbing denizens of the village of Royston-Vasey in Northern England. Mixing often-dark humor with drama and some downright disturbing visuals (especially from the proprietor of the Local Shop and his wife!), this show really grabbed hold of me. Although sometimes the scenes can drag and start to make the viewer uncomfortable for a small joke at the end, this really is one of the best sketch comedies to come across the pond. Even with the occasional long scene, the rest of the scenes more than make up for it. This DVD also has its share of extras with running commentary from the actors, deleted scenes and some good background info and interviews. I couldn't recommend it more. The only problem is, Amazon UK is already selling Season 2 (which is the episodes I first saw) but in their infinite, greedy wisdom the studio execs have made it a Region 2 DVD. So get with it! Release Season 2 in the US! I have hordes of TLoG converts waiting to see it through to completion!