Customer Reviews

One Foot in Grave: In Luton Airport No One Can Hear You Scream [VHS]

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4 star:		(1)
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There are several great reviews of this show on Amazon. However, the perception (at least in the US) that there are only a few episodes remains. It is time for a complete DVD set - at least all 42 major episodes should be available! Five series were filmed, and in between, several specials. Richard Wilson is great as the crabby Victor Meldrew, a man only the viewer can really like. The characters are almost all of middle age and older, and its tragi-comic touch makes it unappealing to most children and teenagers. At the same time, it has some of the funniest moments in Britcom history and discriminating comedy fans should not miss it.

In my opinion One Foot in the Grave is the best sit-com ever however if you are American you may not agree for it relies on the depths of despair for it`s genius to flow. In the Title episode our much milined hero Victor Meldrew returns home from holiday with his long suffering wife of 34 years return home to find that there house has burned to the ground by children doing a trick or treat but worse because after this strong gales mean that council have no choice but to pull it down. After this they move into a new home but manage to send all the guests to there house warming party to a house down the road. In one of the other episodes Dramatic feaver one of my all time faves Margret decides to get into amiture theatre. This episodes contains a scene in which Victor gose along to see Margret reherse not realizing that what he is seeing is real so he just sits there and laughs at the man who falls from the rigging and also at the set pulled to bits. If you have not seen him before see him now you will not belive how fuuny he is.

"One Foot in the grave" is a very funny British comedy series that had a far too short lifespan. Victor Meldrew is one of the most interesting characters in TV comedy history (right up there with Basil Fawlty, The Black Adder and Hyacinth Bouquet. The show had some great episodes, although this video doesn't have the best, it's well worth it for some very funny moments.

This is an episode of "One Foot in the Grave", one of the very best British situation comedies. It stars Richard Wilson as Victor Meldrew, the ultimate mean old man, and Annette Crosbie as his long-suffering wife Margaret. Bill Cosby's last TV show was based on this, but there's little resemblance beyond the situation of a frustrated, retired guy. Victor Meldrew can be hilariously nasty way beyond what would be allowed on an American sitcom. The brilliant writing by David Renwick and Wilson's angry but vulnerable performance make this a bracing look at the so-called "golden years." Renwick writes beautifully intricate, surprising plots: in the middle of uproarious farce you can get poignance or even tragedy. This is the pilot episode, and the Meldrew's flat burns down--and that's just the beginning. A great combination of side-busting humor and something more besides.

There were not many episodes in this series, and that is too bad, because it was hilarious.

British comedies, I think, far surpass American sitcoms for pure humor. Their character development is superior, and their scripts seem to reflect life more realistically while at the same time showing its hilarious incongruities.

This one is about an older retired man and his wife, and the trouble he gets into at every turn--and her patience in dealing with him.

If you have not watched this series, you are indeed fortunate to have it still to do.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

I bought this VHS tape as a birthday gift for my friend in the USA, but I have a copy of it also. I have been watching One Foot in the Grave since it began and no matter how many times I see the episodes I still love it just as much as ever. The three episodes on this tape show Victor and Margaret experiencing a full range of 'I don't believe it' situations, involving misunderstandings, random disasters and those moments when we see that the Meldrews are not just one dimensional characters to whom funny things happen, but have the same emotional depth as the rest of us. I think it is this depth that makes the humour timeless.
My American friend loves the series and was very happy with his gift. Comedy does not always cross the Atlantic successfully, but One Foot in the Grave appeals to us on both sides of the pond. Buy it, you will love it!

This is an exemplary example of how comady should be done. Victor is a cranky and bitter old man and nothing ever goes his way. I you like to laugh get this tape you will not be disapointed.