Customer Reviews

Yes, Prime Minister: The Complete Collection

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

--Sir Humphrey. The Yes, Minister episodes continue with Jim Hacker moving to #10 Downing Street, bringing along private secretary Bernard and, of course, reuniting with the newly promoted Sir Humphrey (whose sentences seem to get longer with each episode). The audio level is better on this set than on the previous one. The cover artwork is not as clean (there are scan lines through the images), but the back cover is very nice with new photos of the three main characters (no photos on the inside as there were in the previous 4-CD set).

The 17 brilliant episodes begin with the 1984 1-hour Christmas special that illustrated the chain events elevating Hacker to #10. The special features include the Sir Humphrey's lengthy review of the Yes Minister Diaries, "Christmas at the Ministry" clip, a 1986 Paul Eddington interview, Jonathan Lynn interview, and profiles on the main actors as well as others. A touching biography of Paul Eddington (Nigel Hawthorne was featured in the first set) in also included. The bio includes scenes from 1950s Dixon of Dock Green, Adventures of Robin Hood, and many scenes from The Good Life and some insight on what Margaret Thatcher thought of Prime Minister Hacker. Eddington's wife, Felicity Kendal, Hawthorne, and Derek Fowlds are among those interviewed. It also includes very sad clips of one of Eddington's last interviews when he was suffering through the last stages of the skin cancer that took his life. He handled his illness with much courage and the interviews with his friends and family reveals how fondly he is remembered and how many lives he touched. This set is a must-have for Yes, Minister fans. I have yet to search for the "Easter Egg" the box promises, so happy hunting.

After watching all the Jeremy Brett "Sherlock Holmes" series, Ian Richardson in the "House of Cards," and now Nigel Hawthorne in "Yes, Prime Minister, I can truly say it will be difficult for an American not to become a (British) flag waving Anglophile.

The pure pleasure of this satirical comedy is not something that can be found on American TV. I enjoyed hearing the beauty of the English language the way it should be spoken.

This program will not be for all audiences, however, if one appreciates a sharp wit, clever irony, and a hilarious display of political chicanery, this DVD collection is a treasure.

The majority of people are falling over themselves to watch brainless, charmless and incredibly annoying AMERICAN comedy like Friends and Will and Grace. I've just watched the entire second series and half of the first of Yes, Prime Minister. This is a satirical, well-observed 80's comedy about the political machinations and workings of the British Parliment and the relationships between Minister's and civil servants. Nigel Hawthorne, Paul Eddington and Derek Fowlds are all superb in this. Great acting, script, and message that puts most comedy to shame and doesn't patronize the viewer or insult their intelligence.

Highly reccomended

Absolutely wonderful. I dont think a political satire of this quality and wit has ever or would ever be produced for American television. In response to an earlier review, the "Yes, Prime Minister" and "Yes, Minister" series are not for democrats or Washingtonians alone. Anyone interested in political satire will appreciate and cherish these dvd's. The central theme fueling this wonderfuly written and performed series is the never ending conflict between the permanent unelected Civil Service(big government if you will)who administer policy and the elected, yet oh so temporary politicians(self serving populists if you will) who make the policy. There are valid and hilarious skewerings of all sides, all beliefs and all conceits. This is equal opportunity satire and well worth the rather high cost. Rather educational as well. A great way to learn about the basic workings of British democratic government. Many of the bits of humour and wisdom are as relevant here in the good old USA as they are over there.

"Yes, Prime Minister" is a wonderfully witty & devastatingly funny show, but I won't waste your time with a synopsis of the series - it is a delight & many reviewers have skillfully done so already. However, since no one else seems to have found it & I can't find it at imdb or moviemistakes or any other half-way competent sites revealing how the easter egg is to be accessed & what it contains, I feel it incumbent on me to do so here.

Go to the "special features" menu on disc 3 & move your mouse (if you're watching this on a computer) over to the line dividing the article on the left & the features menu on the right. Just to the left of the last item, "Trailers", a crudely drawn blue present will appear. Click on that & you will be given a clip from the "Christmas Morning with Noel" broadcast from 1987. It is of P.M. Jim Hacker bungling a holiday message to the viewers. Quite classic!

At almost 20 years old now, this award winning series still represents the finer aspects of great British comedy. Set in the 80's in which it was made, it satirically mirrors the politics of the era with a wry and subtle genius that is a joy to behold. All that said, a little familiarity with British politics, or the British culture in general helps tremendously. I am not surprised at the success of this series here in the States, but the uninitiated viewer may be being sold a little short on the finer aspects of the characters, and the dry humor. Jim Hacker (Paul Eddington) is the central character (following on from the Yes Minister series) thrust almost unwittingly into the limelight of the Prime Ministerial race, and sets about running the country with the same graceful ineptitude he applied to his previous ministerial post in the deparment of administrative affairs. Nigel Hawthorne is masterful as "Sir Humphrey" his "advisor" and head of the civil service who has his own agenda throughout, and plays all sides against the middle with varying levels of success. The final main Character is Hackers private secretary Bernard (Derek Fowlds) who often naively walks a middle line between helping the PM, but always being aware of his own allegiances to Humphrey (being a civil servant himself). This set begins with Hackers rise to power, and then contains all the subsequent episodes where the three characters play out some hilarious, and often thought provokingly satirical situations in a balanced and polished collection. Being a topically based political comedy obviously has its pitfalls, and those too young to remember the "Thatcher" years of British government, soviet spies, and the peaks and troughs of the economy during the 80's may view this a somewhat bland. I'm not suggesting for one minute that ANY viewer would not find great comedy in watching this collection, but it has to be said that it will almost certainly appeal to a narrower audience ultimately. Lots of extra's on the DVD collection and BBC video are to be congratulated on the excellent picture and sound quality of the presentation. Maybe not a "timeless" comedy, but a brilliant one none the less. Enjoy!

For all political junkies, I recommend "Yes, Prime Minister" as a possible substitute to the cancelled West Wing

The sequel to "Yes, Minister" is also filled with razor-sharp political humor and superb acting. Paul Eddington - Jim Hacker, the PM - is very funny and is constantly at odds with his chief civil servant, Sir Humphrey Appleby played brilliantly by Nigel Hawthorne.

The show provides a cynical, realistic, and very entertaining look at politics and politicians in general and the British in particular. From "Yes, Minister", Hacker's role has changed. Instead of fighting the civil servants in his department, protecting his turf from his fellow cabinet colleagues, and appeasing the Prime Minister, Hacker as PM has only one objective: create his place in history. Of course, he needs also to get re-elected. The traditional conflict between the elected politicians, who think that they run the country, and the un-elected civil service, who more or less run the country, evolves further. The political humor gets deeper and the policy issues discussed in these series range from the health effects of tobacco to appeasing all the "Continent".

Paul Eddington's performance as an incompetent minister and later prime minister were so admired by Margaret Thatcher that she awarded him the honor of Commander of the order of the British Empire in 1987.

This BritCom is very highly recommended to anyone, even to those who may find this genre somewhat distant.

Very enjoyable Brit-com. No gags a la American sitcoms. With the choicest words from the English language. Shows you how the Queen's English ought to be spoken.
My favorite episode: "The Key", where Dorothy advises the PM to clip Humphrey's wings. The dialogue between Sir Humphrey and Sir Frank has to be one of the best examples of how to answer probing questions evasively. Another favorite part of the same episode - Hacker saying (a Shakespeare-inspired) "Thank Me No Thankings, Bernard. Hacker." And Sir Frank back-tracking from his "tremendously able" evaluation of Sir Humphrey's abilities when Hacker dangles the carrot of (part of) Sir Humphrey's job.
The "One of Us" episode with Benji the sheepdog and defense spending cuts; "The Bishop's Gambit" episode about Foreign Affairs, Oxford dons and the Church of England; and the "Tangled Web" episode also rank way up for the way everything is intermeshed and then unwoven for the inevitable culmination with a "Yes, Prime Minister" from Sir Humphrey Appleby.
Another favorite - the banker speaking in cliches to the PM ("How can you let sleeping dogs lie if you let the cat out of the bag?", the one in the title of this review and two choice others which I will let you savour when you actually watch Sir Desmond Glazebrook speaking to PM Jim Hacker) in the "A Conflict of Interests" episode about the scandals in the City. And "The Smoke Screen" episode with the cabinet reshuffling, especially the sight of the coughing, cigar-smoking Sports Minister who is later offered (seriously... I'm not kidding... this is *SATIRE*) the Health portfolio!
The civil servants' verbiage has the choicest words and is articulated to confuse, I am sure, even the sharpest minds. Arnold is superb when offering Humphrey insight into the working of the well-oiled (?) civil service.
Full of irony; outstanding satire.

I have watched every single episode of Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister. The humor is unmatched and the english delicious. If only all of us had the wit of Humphrey Applebee, a boss as dense as Hacker and a subordinate as devoted as Bernard....wouldn't our professional lives be perfect? Strongly encourage anyone who loves the Queen's english and British humor to buy this DVD.

If you read my review of Yes, Minister, there is little I can add to that review to describe this series. Yes Prime Minister picks up where Yes Minister left off. The premise is that the PM resigns mid-term, and a new PM is needed. A recently promoted Sir Humphrey Applebee determines there is only one person who can project the image needed yet he can control... Jim Hacker! You will see many wonderful and new looks into the political scene - yet never stating any party affiliation.

Included in this set is what I feel is the funniest episode of the series where Jim Hacker is about to hold his first press conference. You would never believe that simply the way you sit could totally change the impression of what is being said until you see this! BRILLIANT!

Also included is a great tribute to Paul Eddington, a life cut short way too soon.