Morecambe & Wise: Complete BBC Collection [DVD] [1968]

Love it

Loved all of them. Brilliant, so funny and I can definitely recommend them.

Having purchased other sketch/variety type shows, I was expecting a slow build up to the comic genius I remembered from my childhood. The surviving material from the duos first BBc series reinforced that expectation. While it is undoubtedly funny, it's just not the M&W I remembered. But with the first colour episode, and the introduction of Eddie Braben as their writer, the series just sort of arrives fully formed. Braben did what no other writers for Eric and Ernie did, he based his whole approach around their own off-stage personalities and the three together raised the bar for TV comedy. All the things we remember so fondly are in place and the leads are firing on all cylinders from the opening credits to the first, dazzling curtain call of Janet Webb. This episode also features the great Peter Cushing's debut and the start of one of the longest running gags in comedy history, "I haven't been paid yet". The rest of season two is just as funny. Even the one or two contemporary references that I couldn't follow still made me laugh with the delivery.The third series builds on this solid foundation and soars into new realms of comedy inspiration. M&W were always a comedy duo, never a double act, as neither ever acted as the "straight man". Each had their own idiocies and balanced the other perfectly. Ernie, pompous, self congratulatory, but with a childlike glee at times, and Eric, irrepressible, down to earth and taking the mickey out of everyone and everything, but never, ever cruel; often acting as a one man comic greek chorus commenting on the action around him. There is no "fourth wall", they involve the viewer completely and as other reviewers have said, even during their bickering, the affection they had for each other is infectious.At the risk of sounding an old fogey, the guest stars were proper stars, with a prescence about them that we rarely see today. International stars of stage and screen, serious musicians, you name it, they wanted to be part of the fun. The ultimate must surely be Andre Previn, whose performance is absolutely perfect, it's a real shame that, apart from a couple of cameo appearances later, it was a one off. Among the female guests, my favourite has to be Penelope Keith. Her politely superior manner, dignity, sheer class and insistence on walking down a staircase in a posh dress lead to one of the most hilarious scenes ever filmed.The other guests, appearing as "turns" by themselves and in relation to M&W mean that sheer nostalgia value would earn this collection 5 stars. A particularly surprising moment away from the comedy is when regular guests, folk group "The Pattersons" burst into a song that was incidental music in the ITC serial "Strange Report".Very highly recommended.

As a child of the 70s, the Morcambe & Wise show was the highlight of the week, and Christmas days were planned around the Christmas specials. Eric and Ern's style of entertaining was driven by their deep friendship, which gives their performances an infectious warmth. Their bickering and their insults are all the funnier because it's obviously all they can do to keep a straight face. There's a real joy in watching Morcambe's ad-libs, impossibly quick and off-the-wall, but it's an equal treat to see little Ern's singing and dancing skills which were considerable in themselves. There are the plays what Ern wrote, with some of the biggest stars of the day loving every moment of their 'humiliation', for example Penelope Keith having to tuck her skirt into her knickers and climb down scaffolding when the Hollywood staircase turns out to be only half-built. Some of the musical acts may be dated now, but many have a timeless appeal such as Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen (they were brilliant) and Irish folk-trio The Pattersons (I wish they'd released an album that lived on in cd format). The sheer variety of song, dance, slapstick, satire, and honest, silly fun made them first rate entertainers, and the deadpan delivery of innuendo (such as Ernie in the garden deciding to show his plums this year) is hilarious without being smutty. But what lies at the heart of why I love Eric & Ernie so much is the palpable niceness of the two, the affection that underscored their partnership and their genuine desire to make people happy and forget their troubles. I do wish the box-set had included a glossy booklet about the duo, but the lack of one doesn't merit deducting a star from this wonderful collection. Not even half a star.

Purchased this for my mother for over the Christmas period. Both Mum and I loved Morecambe & Wise when I was growing up when it was on the telly. It's classic M&W, as you'd expect. Maybe not quite as funny as I remember when I was a child, but none the less, if you're a fan, it makes for entertaining viewing. What I wasn't so keen on was some of the singing acts that perform on the shows - some of them quite cringe-worthy and cheesy, but I suppose it's just a 'taste in music' thing. They just are, of course, very 'dated', but then what can I expect really! I love the interaction between M&W and the guest stars, often makes me laugh and you can visibly see some of the guests trying their best not to crack up when acting out the scenes which only adds to the entertainment value.

Classic

Thoroughly enjoyable show.Definitely recommend.Very pleased with making my purchase through Rarewaves and confident in future purchases.

To show my English parents who are visiting for Christmas they love morcombe and wisenever

Loved watching the M&W show as a kid with my family. It is still very watchable and amusing.M & W are a joy, as are the many stars who join them in Ernie's little plays. Many of the musical interludes have certainly dated but it still is the M & W show. Gems.There are twenty discs, holding series two to nine, and one episode from series one (the rest "lost"). Also included are the Christmas Shows. There are about 64 episodes usually running about 45 minutes. The period covered was 1968-77. According to the box running time is 2865 minutesThe Packaging is a pretty sturdy outer sleeve/box, with two cardboard sleeves holding 10 discs each in their own individual plastic trays. Easy to use, and relatively sturdy.Purchased from Rarewaves UK via Amazon.com.au, I felt the package was good value. Rarewaves communicated with me on the order and likely delivery date. I had no problems with them. Item turned up on time and in good condition.Recommended for those who remember M&W fondly.

For those who used to watch these guys on TV this is a must buy. Brings back lots of memories and still funny.

So good I bought it twice!