Customer Reviews

One Foot in the Grave - Who Will Buy [VHS]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Three episodes of the award-worthy series featuring the ultimate grumpy old man, these are a good example of what makes the series so unmissable. Victor Meldrew, at first glance, comes across as the kind of person you would go out of your way to avoid, but in fact he is quite a sympathetic character - plagued by bad luck, constantly harassed by difficult and often rather odd people, often feeling he is the only sane person in the world (something we all feel at some time or another). What makes the series stand out from the usual sit-com is their serious undertones. In fact I'd go so far as to suggest this is a drama series which just happens to contain comedy. There is plenty of humour and hilarity, but also moments of sensitivity (Victor's wife having to pretend to an elderly blind man that junk-mail is actually a letter from his family rather than risk him realizing they've forgotten all about him, Victor and his wife sadly wondering how their son might have turned out were he alive today). There are even moments of thought-provoking philosophical musing (nothing exists because the future hasn't happened yet, the past has already happened and as soon as the present happens it's over).

One of the very best creations of recent years, Victor Meldrew will surely join Basil Fawlty and Del Trotter as comedy's household names.

This video "Who Will Buy?" includes three episodes from series 2 of the series. The review above this says the series was short-lived, but that is untrue. A sixth series is planned for 2001 and in Britain, all 36 episodes can be bought on video. Try AMAZON.CO.UK if you want them!

One Foot in the Grave is a series to be viewed and enjoyed by its loyal followers, over and over again! Although the series was sadly short-lived, here on videocassette, one can always enjoy its magnificent humour, wit and British charm! Most certainly, I give this wonderful British series five very enthusiastic stars, not to mention two very eager thumbs up!

In the beginning, PBS' Saturday evening, English, comedy explosion was just another fun evening with sitcoms. Now, I can barely wait for "One Foot in the Grave." Until you see a show with Mr. Mildrew and his wife, there really is no explanation worthy of it. It took a while to realize how hooked I've become to the next episode and now I wait patiently for the entire series to come out on DVD. Mr. Mildrew's temperament bounces between a childish, naive, little boy to a playful, sometimes fiendish prankster. At all times, he manages to remain excited while his wife manages to remain extremely tolerant.

I'd give this 5 stars if it was in DVD. This is another of BBC's greater TV comedy series, right-up there with "Absolutely Fabulous" "Vicar of Dibley" & "Black Adder" There is a total of 43 episodes which aired from: Oct 1989 to: Nov 2000. This is a VERY funny series!!! They used to air them on local PBS/OPB tv stations. I've been waiting for years for the DVD's and Im hoping I wont have one (or both) feet in the grave myself before they ever get around to making the complete series onto DVD! HINT-HINT ALSO... while Im at it, EVEN BETTER is a UK Australian TV comedy sitcom called "Mother and Son" staring Ruth Cracknell an Garry McDonald that aired from 1983 thru 1993 with (42)VERY funny episodes. For some reason this Australian series was airing in the US on a Portland Oregon PBS/OPB station back in the 80's when I discovered it. This is one of Australia's classic hit sitcoms and I think its my favorite sitcom, even over my BBC favorites. Im also hoping they put it on DVD...still checking for it after all these years. Its worth researching!

One foot in the grave is a classic brit com. As an avid brit com watcher, I believe this is the best ever. Give it a chance and I'm sure you'll fall in love with it!

Few comedy series are able to combine the comic and the tragic as effectively as One Foot In The Grave. Victor Meldrew, the lead character in the series, displays a hard, often cynical view toward life and is not above exacting vengeance upon those who get under his very thin skin-- often with hilarious results. However, under the crusty exterior lies a fundamentally humane and compassionate man who loves his wife and is disarmed by simple acts of courtesy.

In short, an excellent show. Watch it!

This was one of my favorite Brit coms, and I'm only sorry that there were so few episodes. I was delighted to find this tape for my library,and I particularly love the theme song:

They say I might as well face the truth
That I am just too long in the tooth;
Though I'm an old 2way being relieved
But I have notyet quite gone to seed.

I may be over the hillnow that I have retired
Fading away but I'm not yet expired
Flapped out, run down, to old to save--
One foot in the grave.

They say I might as well face the truth
That I am just too long in the tooth,
I've started to deteriorate
I've passed my own "sell by"date;

Oh, I'm no spring chicken it's true,
I have to pop my teeth in to chew;
And my old knees have started to knock,
I just have too many miles on the clock.

Though I'm wrinkly, crinkly, set in my ways--
It's true that my body has seen better days,
But give me half a chanceandI can still misbehave:
One foot in the grave--One foot in the grave.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre,

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