Customer Reviews

Two's Company - The Complete Series

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

 

 

The late 1970s aka the Bicentennial era. What could be better Britcom for the era than a battle of wits between an American and Englishperson? That is exactly what happens in Two's Company. From the minute you see the opening credits roll with the stars singing the title song in the guise of the American Eagle and the British Lion, you know you are in for a romp. The premise comes about right away in the first episode on the first disc. Dorothy McNab (played to the hilt by veteran stage presence Elaine Stritch) is a "pre Jessica Fletcher" American mystery writer residing in a duplex England. When she is not typing away her latest murder, she is entertaining guests and naturally finds it hard to handle both at the same time, so she inquired an employment agency about supplying her with a butler and handyman. On a wet rainy day, while typing out her latest novel, coming to call is the well experienced and veddy British Robert Hiller (played equally to the hilt by Donald Sinden). From the second they make eye contact, sparks fly, she doesn't care that much for the British in general and he has his own views on Americans and women for that matter. Although it rarely comes up verbally, it is implied in his eyes we are still in the 1770s not the 1970s, so like I said a perfect series for the time it aired. Despite these clashes, he appears to be just what the doctor (I mean author) ordered. The truth eventually comes out, she gives him the job when he proves his cooking and coffee making skills are better than anyone she knows, and he takes the job because he was looking forward to a job where not only he has his own flat to live in, but he doesn't have to drive himself ragged taking care of a whole family as he did at his last job. The clashes still occur now and then, but despite everything, they eventually do develop a friendship in sorts for each other. I first backed into this series in the 80s on reruns on PBS after Mystery of all shows. It cracked me up then, and went out of my way to buy all 4 discs when they came out. Now go figure, 1 year and a half after releasing all 4 separately, my "friends" at Acorn go and offer a mega set which Amazon is selling for roughly the retail price of 2 of them. They are also doing it with House of Elliot which I also bought in separate installments. Nothing new added or anything, so I'm not complaining, except that my friends in Montgomery County (Acorn) has got to start taking lessons from A&E other manufacturers on when to release mega sets vs individuals. Those of you who have not started to buy this series yet, buy this set, if you have at least 2 of the them already, complete your collection the easy way as all 4 individuals are still available. Either way, this is a "BUY IT" in my book, your sides will split for another 30 years or more.

American thriller author, Dorothy McNab (ably played by Elaine Stritch) has come to England to enjoy a slower place of life. Overall, it doesn't live up to her expectations, but at least (unlike Europe) people speak "American." But, she does need a butler to run her house for her. Who should walk through her door, but Robert (Donald Sinden), an extremely capable butler with a profound sense of superiority towards upstart colonials? The fur flies, and hilarity ensues as this unlike pair set up house together.

This is a great British comedy - one of my favorites, and my wife's all-time favorite! As a matter of fact, not long after we were first married, PBS began airing this great show, and I used it to introduce my bride to the joys of British humor (that is to say, "humour"). Overall, we found this to be a lot of fun, and enjoy watching it over and over again. So, if you want to see a fun and entertaining Britcom, then I highly recommend that you get this DVD set. It's great!

If you have never seen this show on PBS I suggest you rent or buy it. This is such a funny show. Both actors are great and very funny. I'm 31 grew up watching BBC shows on PBS and all have been great and this has been added to the list of great BBC shows. And since there is nothing really on TV to watch anymore I would suggest getting "Two's Company", kick back and begin the laughter. Now there are a few episodes that are-ok but it is still worth the purchase.

This was a fun British comedy. The cast were easy to understand, unlike many British shows. I definitely recommend it.

"Two's Company" is a nice little Britcom. Elaine Stritch and Donald Sinden play well off each other. While not as funny as "As Time Goes By", it still is fun to watch. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

As far as I am aware this series was never broadcast on Australian Networks...more's the pity. A very witty British comedy which utilizes the comedic talents of the 2 main actors to perfection. I have been in stitches laughing, from the delivery of the lines and the brilliant writing. All the information given before purchase was absolutely "spot on" !!! The pairing of a "Yank" and a "Pom" is wonderful and I am very hard pressed to recall ANY other similar series that has succeeded as well as this. Some of the minor characters are a bit rough ..BUT...they are not the intended "stars" in any case and just bring to the fore the antics that occur.
Thank you Amazon ...for I would NEVER had known this series existed without your expansive selection of Film/Television DVD's...Well done.

Commissioned by London Weekend Television (LWT) in 1975, TWO'S COMPANY starred the divine Elaine Stritch as Dorothy McNab, an American mystery novelist living and working in London, who takes on the stuffy, oh-so-teddibly British Robert (Donald Sinden) as her butler. Sparks fly when Dorothy, who is under the false belief that everyone is meant to have equal footing in this life, is "instructed" by Robert in the correct way (ie: HIS way) of running a household. Madly bashing away at the typewriter, Dorothy needs an organised and relaxed home life...but she never counted on tightly-wound Robert. Just WHO is the help and who is the boss?!

Wickedly scripted by Bill MacIllwraith, TWO'S COMPANY offered viewers of British comedy something a little more sophisticated and biting than the usual fare, with the humour extending from the dry wordplay between Dorothy and Robert. The show came during one of Elaine Stritch's most prolific periods of her professional career. She had chiefly relocated to London for the successful West End transfer of "Company", but decided to stay in the country on a full-time basis when she married English actor John Bay. Setting up housekeeping at the Savoy Hotel no less, Stritch was the darling of the London talk show circuit, and also starred as Aunt Polly in a miniseries of "Pollyanna" for the BBC.

This box set includes all four series of TWO'S COMPANY (29 episodes in total).