Product Details

• Actors: Ronnie Barker, David Jason, Lynda Baron, Barbara Flynn, Stephanie Cole
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 1998
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301552024
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #272,234 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gem of a Comedy!, September 20, 2001

By 

Tiggah "the Anglophile" (Calgary, Alberta Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Open All Hours [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Open All Hours, written by comedy veteran Roy Clarke (Keeping Up Appearances, The Last of the Summer Wine, Hawks), is in my opinion one of the most enjoyable British comedies around. This is character comedy at its best, and Ronnie Barker (Porridge) delivers a stellar performance as the stuttering, penny-pinching Arkwright, owner of a corner grocery, who is forever lusting after his very generously endowed neighbour, nurse Gladys Emmanuel. As lusty as Arkwright may be, however, he's always quick to put a damper on any such thoughts on the part of his nephew Granville (David Jason).

This tape is 85 minutes in length and consists of one long untitled episode. For those who have enjoyed the three-video boxed set, this video is sure to please. It is really quite hilarious; further (and this is especially nice for newcomers to the series), we are introduced to the characters just as if this were the first episode in the series. We are even introduced to Arkwright's equally avaricious cash register with its lethal spring-loaded money-clip!

In this episode, Arkwright and nurse Gladys are not yet afianced and Arkwright, under Granville's prodding and for less-than-honourable reasons, decides to purchase a van. The last half-hour (which could easily stand alone as a separate episode) has Arkwright taking some very humourous steps to beef up security following a burglary, while Granville thinks he may have inadvertently and unknowingly discovered carnal knowledge "while his back was turned."

Those who enjoy character comedy (like Keeping Up Appearances and Summer Wine) are sure to enjoy this video (and the boxed set too!). Arkwright is a very distinct, unique character; certainly, he couldn't be more different from Hyacinth Bucket. He is, however, every bit as funny in his own right, and Open All Hours is every bit as hilarious as Keeping Up Appearances. Very highly recommended to fans of British comedy.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful show. Wish I could get more., April 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Open All Hours [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I have many of these shows on tape but I didn't have this one. It is such a cute show and the characters are all wonderful. Arkwright is a devil, Granville is such a darling that you want to fix him up yourself with a niece or cousin, Nurse Gladys Emmanuel is just what Arkwright needs to keep him straight. (If they had married that would have been a show in itself. The Black Widow is like a cloud coming into the store but you know there will be some laughs when she is there. What this tape didn't have was Mavis. I love Mavis. Oh heck, I love everything about this show. I wish my PBS station would carry it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Very Best of British Comedy, February 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Open All Hours [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is possibly the best British comedy created through the years. Ronnie Barker stars as "Arkwright"--a Scrooge-like Yorkshire shopkeeper along with his nephew/assistant "Grandville". Each episode introduces a variety of characters and hilarious events that are reminiscent of John Cleese's Fawlty Towers. I was fortunate enough to see this series when it was on a PBS station in my area many years ago. I purchased this video immediately when I saw it on sale--I wish there would be additional volumes as this edition is only a sample the series. If you are a fan of Fawlty Towers, Are You Being Served?, or other British Comedy series, this is a must buy!