Customer Reviews

Only Fools and Horses: The Complete Series 1-3

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

With seven series and numerous Christmas specials, this gem of a Britcom, which ran for over 20 years (1981-2003) is--at least in my opinion--one of of the best ever made, and it's release on DVD is long, long overdue.

The series revolves around two brothers who sell "hooky" goods down at the local market. Perhaps the taxes are owing or the goods have entered the country illegally--elder brother Del finds it best not to be too curious about their origin, his usual line being that they've "fallen off the back of a lorry"! Whatever there origin, they are invariably substandard (if not downright rejects!) and tacky to say the least. The closing theme song sums it up: "No income tax, no VAT, no money back, no guarantee."

Derek "Del Boy" Trotter (the signature role for veteran comedy actor David Jason (A Touch of Frost, The Darling Buds of May, Open All Hours, Micawber)) is the street-smart, smooth-talking, self-confident, self-important "brains" of the business (and I use the term loosely!). To his credit, he knows the ropes, is capable of looking after himself, and has enough savvy to actually sell some of his dodgy rubbish. Where Del hilariously falls short, however, is in thinking he has taste and culture, in thinking he's god's gift to women (he wears and abundance of gold jewellery and cheap scent and, in fairness, is attractive to, well, a certain kind of woman!), and in believing himself to be a knowledgeable and informed man-of-the-world--a real mover and a shaker. His pet expression is "Next time this year we'll be millionaires", yet somehow the Trotters always manage to be living pretty much hand-to-mouth, as they drive about in Del's run-down three-wheeled van.

Del lives in a council flat with his younger brother Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst (The Piglet Files, Butterflies)). Rodney hasn't half the street-smarts as Del; as a result, he makes some nearly fatal errors in judgement--like asking a police woman out on a date (he has a thing for women in uniforms!), or falling asleep while he's on duty as "lookout" while Del flogs the goods. Though he may be an idiot (a "plonker" as Del calls him), he is actually the more intelligent, knowledgeable and cultured of the two (though strictly by comparison!).

The brothers live with their frail old Grandad (Lennard Pearce, who sadly died, aged 69, of heart failure in 1984), whose missing a marble or two himself. Two other regulars are Del's half-witted friend Trigger (Roger Lloyd Pack--The Vicar of Dibley's farmer Owen), who insists on calling Rodney "Dave"; and Boycie, a pompous, shady businessman who enjoys thumbing his nose at Del.

The DVD boxed set contains the complete first three series (twenty 30-minute episodes) which date from 1981 to 1983. Special features include three half-hour Christmas specials (one to follow each of the series), an enjoyable 70-minute behind-the-scenes special entitled "The Story of Only Fools and Horses", a Photo Gallery, the Peckham Concise Trotter Dictionary, and Cast Bios (both text-based).

In conclusion, I highly and unconditionally recommend this outstanding series to anyone who enjoys the very best in British comedy. This is one series, however, that I strongly recommend taking the plunge and getting BOTH boxed sets, as many people (myself included) seem to think the second set is even funnier. At any rate, I know I'm not alone in hoping the BBC will soon release the rest of this classic series!

From reading the previous reviews, it is obvious that Only Fools is a hit among the British that grew up with Del Boy and Rodney's antics. My wife is one of those...in fact my wife, her mother, father, brother and the rest of their family...I however, shall speak for the Yanks. Being an American married to an expat, I can definetely say that the humor reaches its way across the Pond. Although the accents are strong and I sometimes miss the nuiances of the slang, the humor and the writing always hit home. I can thank Amazon for the sixty odd dollars that I spent on this collection that turned into $1500 in airline tickets for us to fly home so my wife can watch the Only Fools Christmas specials on her old Telly.

Seeing that the British manage their sitcoms correctly by writing six or so good shows a season instead of in the States where they pump out maybe 22 a season. The result is incredible. The stories are so strongly written that they draw you in and then have you on the floor laughing.

The point to all of this is that if you like Blackadder, Fawlty Towers and the rest, you will like Only Fools...even if you are an American...

Hey BBC...hurry up and get the rest of the Series put out in the States. I can guarantee that there is room for more on our shelf.

I first discovered "Only Fools and Horses" many years ago when my local public television affiliate ran this series at 11pm. David Jason as Del Boy is the consummate loveable rascal as he conjures up one hairbrained scheme after the next, always with the promise that "this time next year we'll be millionaires"!

Rodders (Rodney, or Dave, as Trigger [one of their pub pals] calls him; played by Nicholas Lyndhurst) is Del's younger brother and, usually, a reluctant sidekick to Del's nutty ideas. The first few years also featured Granddad, a dim, blandly benevolent figure who was removed with the death of Lennard Pearce, the actor who played him. Buster Merryfield joined the Trotters as their Uncle Albert, a retired seaman who never ceases to regale listeners with tales of his high seas adventures.

I cannot imagine anyone not finding these characters and their situations tremendously amusing. Oftentimes I truly hoped Del would, somehow, land a trick that worked -- but then, the series could never have lasted near as long if they'd really become millionaires! As an American I've only seen so much of this series and, like many other reviewers, am keen on having the entire set released on DVD. Anyone who fancies British comedy will enjoy them..."don't be a plonker all your life", make a visit to the boys down Peckham way and I assure you it'll be "lovely jubbly"!

This is an excellent comedy. I ordered it for my husband, an ex-pat, and found myself hooked.
The comedy is fluid, the characters well developed and even though it's a perfect example of british comedy, you don't have to be from England to enjoy it. It's funny, no matter where you're from.
So if you're an American, who enjoys british comedies,take my advice and pick this set up.

In many ways Only Fools & Horses is not just a British sitcom, it's THE British sitcom. It represents everything that's great about British comedy, from the wonderful John Sullivan scripts, to the fine acting from the whole cast, and in particular David Jason, and Nick Lyndhurst.
What we have here are all the episodes from 1981-1983, or as they're known among fans, the 'Grandad' years. Even at this early stage the show establishes itself as a great show, and with episodes like Friday The 14th, A Touch Of Glass, and Who's A Pretty Boy, produces episodes that can stand up against just about anything else.
If you need another excuse to buy it, just bear in mind that almost every expat Brit in North America with a DVD player will be rushing out to buy this, I know because I'm one of them!

Like a lot of people reviewing this DVD I am originaly from the UK and been in the states for the last five years.
Its only been in the last couple of years its been possible to gain access to classic British cmedy that was not made in the 70s and is not bladdy benny hill or keeping up apearances.
I was over the moon when series 1-3 of OFAH came available i couldnt of been more chuffed.
Also whats good about the region 1 DVDs of this series is that it does not have as many copywrite edits that the Region 2 UK DVDs of the series have.
So actualy we are better off buying this set than the poor chaps back home.
Anyway i have series 1-5 now and cos to tell you the truth i have no patients i ordered a lot of the christmas specials from Amazon UK and use them on my muti region DVD player.
You cant beat Delboy Rodders grandad and uncle Albert to cheer you up when your feeling a little home sick its the best cure for all thos repressed Brit Feelings.
Fantastic comedy please please release more.. and SOON.

If you are looking to laugh until your cheeks and sides ache, then buy this set and Bob's Y'r Uncle!! I love the Trotters, and became hopelessly addicted to them while living in London some time ago. I'm still waiting for later seasons to come out though - I remember seeing the undertaker's hat and having apaplexic (sp?) fits of hard laughter for a few days after, as well as with Delboy's bar lean. I'm glad both those scenes are in the "extra bits" included in this 4-DVD set. I love to sing along with the opening and closing songs, too... "No income tax to VAT...". Buy this and you won't have an arse any more - you'll have laughed it off!!

"He Might Be Mad, But He Would Have To Be Bloody Stupid To Be Out In This Weather!" - is the complete line. This quote is taken from the episode "Friday the 14th" in which Del Boy finds himself stranded in a cottage in the middle of no-where, in the middle of a storm with an axe-wielding murderer.

Like many people, I am a Brit living and working in the US. I was able to start receiveing this show last year when KLRA in Dallas started showing it, and I am glad it is finally on DVD.

The wonderful and talented Lennard Pierce who appears in this set sadly passed away during the filimg on the final episodes - he was later to be replaced by "Uncle Albert" yet another inept member of the Trotter family. Lennard's contribution to the show however, can never be challenged - It was during the first seasons featuring him that the word "Plonker" firmly established itself in the English Language.

There are many other famous British actors in this show, such as Roger LLoyd Pack who appears as Owen in the Vicar Of Dibley, and the LandLord "Mike" who was in "It Aint Half Hot Mum", not forgetting David Jason and Nicholas Lindhurst themselves.

Only Fools and Horses is as much a British tradition as afternoon tea, and "Walks By The River". It's humor, sublime and sometimes blunt lines are a pleasure to enjoy. Who will ever forget a 6"5' Nicholas Lindhurst dressed in full skateboarding gear after Dell sends in a picture Rodney drew as a 15 year old to a Kellogs competition only to win. Unfortunately, the 30 year old Rodney has to pretend he's 15 so they can get the free vacation!

Buy this DVD, you will not regret it. If you don't then "You Really Are A Plonker Rodney!"

Suffice it to say that this is the tip of the British comedy iceberg; definitely in the top 3 way up there even ahead of Fawlty Towers.

For those like myself who couldn't wait for this set to finally be released in North America on Region 1 dvds I have made annual trips to London (UK) to purchase the Region 2 (PAL) dvds of the same series.

This box set (Series 1-3) sets the characters and sets the non stop pace of Del Boy's never ending "dealings".

For those of you who only know David Jason as "Inspector Frost" (which by the way is another true British TV Masterpiece), you are in for a treat to see him "create and become" a comedic character that 2 out of every 3 Brits have watched regularly over the last 20+ years.

So sit back and enjoy Del Boy, Rodney, Grandad, Uncle Albert, Trigger and the rest. It's Luvly Jubbly, In'it!

PS; Once you've become truly addicted to this box set... email whoever you have to so that the balance of the series (they are up to Series 6 on dvd at present in the UK... not counting the specials: Dates, Jolly Boy's Outing, Frog's Legacy, Mimi Twice.. and more)also available on Region 1 dvds.

PPS: And when you've been hooked completely on David Jason's true comedic talents then you might want to explore his early work in "Open All Hours" with Ronnie Barker, or with Catherine Zeta Jones in "The Darling Buds of May", or a period gem like "Micawbre". Lets face it: Mr. David Jason is a genius and everything he touches turns to gold.

Enjoy ! you bunch of plonkers..........

I left British shores for America seven years ago and despite having BBC America, I couldn't believe that of all the comedies they show they skipped over this one. Finally, I have the DVD!! Well at least of the first three series anyway and watching it is just like being home! Even though these three series were filmed in the 80's, this kind of comedy never gets old. I still laughed my socks off, how can you not? If you like British Comedies, then do yourself a favor and get your hands on these DVD's, they're better than anything else out there. Now...where's the rest of them? I'm dying to get my hands on the Mafia and the Batman and Robin Christmas specials :)