Product Details

• Actors: Richard Briers, Felicity Kendal, Penelope Keith, Paul Eddington, Reginald Marsh
• Format: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Acorn Media
• DVD Release Date: May 7, 2002
• Run Time: 250 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000648WI
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #86,195 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Television > TV Series By Letter > G > Good Neighbors

• For more information about "Good Neighbors - The Complete Final Season / Royal Command Performance" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Here are the final seven episodes of the 1970s British comedy series, Good Neighbors (entitled The Good Life in England), a show that brilliantly captures the Zeitgeist of the '70s. The Goods, who quit the rat race for a life of subsistence farming, are next-door neighbors to the Ledbetters, some of the fastest rat-race runners around. At first, Margot and Jerry Ledbetter are horrified to see Tom and Barbara Good turn their tiny yard into a series of animal pens and vegetable gardens. But by the final episodes, the two couples have learned how to tolerate their differences and are the best of friends. There's an endless source of humor in this classic dichotomy of rich versus poor, snooty versus earthy. "Troglodytes!" the Ledbetters slam the Goods. "Gracious livers!" the Goods retaliate. There is also an abundant supply of silly scenes involving the Goods' suburban menagerie. The episode in which their chicken boards a passing bus goes delightfully over the edge. The British have always had a wonderful knack for poking fun at themselves, and this knack reaches a pinnacle in statuesque comedienne Penelope Keith's indelible creation of the character Margot Ledbetter. She's the quintessential status-obsessed snob, so preposterously genteel that she can wring three syllables out of the word "no." Keith's performance, especially, keeps Good Neighbors as fresh and funny as the day it was made. --Laura Mirsky

From the Back Cover
The complete final series and the grand finale special episode of this BBC comedy classic. Just how different can neighbors be and still be neighborly? While the Goods struggle to live off the land without leaving their suburban London home, the snooty Leadbetters struggle with living next door to the down-to-earth Goods. Here are the final seven episodes plus The Royal Command Performance, a special episode filmed before a live audience of special guests that included Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. The Queen is shown arriving in the studio and greeting cast and crew members after the taping. Episodes include: Away From It All, The Green Door, Our Speaker Today, The Weaver's Tale, Suit Yourself, Sweet and Sour Charity and Anniversary. DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE: exclusive video interview with series writer and co-creator Bob Larbey, cast and crew bios and episode selection.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss these!, October 8, 2002

By	Kurt A. Johnson (Marseilles, Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Good Neighbors, The Final Season [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Good Neighbors (or The Good Life as it was known in the UK) is the story of Tom and Barbara Good, a middle-aged couple in the 1970s who decide to escape the rat race by living a life of complete self-sufficiency. They exchange their car for a cultivator, and turn their garden into a full-fledged (if rather small) farm. Their good friends and neighbors, the social climbing Gerry and Margot Leadbetter (played by Paul Eddington and Penelope Keith!) sometimes provide support, and other times disapproval. Through it all, the antics of the two mismatched set of neighbors produces laughs and good times for all!

For some reason known only to the BBC, the first fives tapes put out had the episodes in some seemingly random order. Well, this two-tape series represents what they should have done to begin with. These tapes contain seven, half-hour episodes, covering the entire final season of the show.

Away From It All - Series 4, episode 22 (April 10, 1977) - The trials and tribulations of the self-sufficient life is getting the Goods down, and the Leadbetters want to help. What better way than by giving them a weekend off?

The Green Door - Series 4, episode 23 (April 17, 1977) - When the Goods discover that Margot is sneaking around behind Jerry's back, they want to know what she's up to.

Our Speaker Today - Series 4, episode 24 (April 24, 1977) - When Barbara is discovered to be a fascinating speaker, she is whisked off to extra speaking engagements, leaving Tom to deal with the chickens, just when their rooster (Lenin) decides to start a revolution.

The Weaver's Tale - Series 4, episode 25 (May 1, 1977) - When Margot sets her eye on a spinning wheel, Tom sets his eye on a loom. But, when Barbara convinces Jerry to clamp down on Margot's spending the whole situation goes up for grabs.

Suit Yourself - Series 4, episode 26 (May 8, 1977) - The balloon has gone up, Sir (Jerry's boss) has announced that he is retiring, and the Leadbetters become locked in a succession battle. The Goods are now weaving, and are determined to help.

Sweet and Sour Charity - Series 4, episode 27 (May 15, 1977) - When the Goods' neighbor moves, she leaves her heating oil tank full. Tom wants to take the oil, but Barbara is quite sure that that is stealing.

Anniversary - Series 4, episode 28 (May 22, 1977 & the last regular episode) - It's the Goods' two year anniversary of self-sufficiency, and they are ready to celebrate. Margot has installed a burglar alarm, but the people she keeps catching aren't the ones that should be caught...

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Here's to The Good Life!", May 29, 2002

By	Heather Thomas (Goldsboro, NC) - See all my reviews

What can I say about "Good Neighbors," or "The Good Life?" I own every episode that I can get on VHS. Now I own this DVD set with the added Royal Command Performance. I am waiting for the DVD release of the COMPLETE series. Come on BBC!

These episodes are wonderful. In "Away from it All" the Goods decide they've burned out of self-sufficiency and decide to take a break. I love the role reversal in this with the Ledbetter's. One word, "flollopy."
"The Green Door" also has some great twists. Margo is doing something secretly and the Good's curiosity runs rampant. The other episodes are great also. "Sweet and Sour Charity" has great Margo moments, and "Anniversary" sums it all up so nicely. "When I'm 65" the Royal Command Performance was great! After the lead in of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, there are some backstage shots and welcoming of the cast. You even get a glimpse of Felicity Kendal's son giving the queen a bouquet. Interesting narrative on facts surrounding the show. The episode itself involves Tom's worries about their retirement. The scene at the bank is pure "Good." Then Jerry challenges Tom to a race to see who is more physically fit. I already owned the final season on VHS, but I recommend the DVD for the extras.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Neighbors....good fun!, February 5, 2004

By	Kenneth M. Pizzi (San Mateo, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Highly enjoyable British comedy made in the late 70's. The humor is engaging, and if you are a fan of such shows as "Are You Being Served?" no doubt you will enjoy this set. My main gripe is that why in the world did the BBC start DVD distribution with the final installments of the series? Paul Eddington is superb as is the rest of the cast. Enjoy!