Ripping Yarns - Complete Series - 2-DVD Set ( The Complete Ripping Yarns )

Ripping Yarns - Complete Series - 2-DVD Set (DVD) (*)

Out of Stock

Original Title: The Complete Ripping Yarns
Screened, competed or awarded at:
BAFTA Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
English ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
270 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
2-DVD Set
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Interactive Menu
Photo Gallery
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1976 and produced in:
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )

Directed By:
Jim Franklin
Terry Hughes

Written By:
Terry Jones
Michael Palin

Actors:
Michael Palin ..... Bank Manager / ... (9 episodes, 1976-1979)
Charles McKeown ..... 2nd native / ... (4 episodes, 1977-1979)
David Griffin ..... Attenborough / ... (2 episodes, 1977-1979)
Michael Stainton ..... Ship's stoker / ... (2 episodes, 1977-1979)
Peter Graham ..... Boy / ... (2 episodes, 1977-1979)

Synopsis:

Following the phenomenal success of Monty Python s Flying Circus, Michael Palin and Terry Jones created this unforgettable, BAFTA-winning series of comic plays for the BBC. Gleefully parodying the conventions of Boy s Own-style adventure, Ripping Yarns sees Palin taking the protagonist s role in nine rip-roaring stories from stirring tales of sporting endeavour, intrepid exploration and wartime heroism to skulduggery, supernatural mystery and murder... and, of course, the notorious exploits of Eric Olthwaite - Yorkshire s most interesting outlaw. An illustrious supporting cast includes John Le Mesurier, Iain Cuthbertson, Denholm Elliott, Joan Sanderson and Don Henderson, with Terry Jones starring in one episode and fellow former Python John Cleese also making a cameo appearance; the series was produced and directed by the multi award-winning team of Terry Hughes (The Two Ronnies), Jim Franklin (The Goodies) and Alan J.W. Bell (The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy). Both series, originally aired between 1976 and 1979, are released in this special-edition set, with special features including deleted scenes, a 1983 documentary, Comic Roots, in which Palin revisits his native Sheffield, and Secrets, the only surviving recording of Palin and Jones 1973 screenplay for the BBC s darkly comic (now sadly wiped) Black and Blue anthology series.

After Monty Python ended in 1974 the BBC was eager to find new projects for the now ex-Pythons. Among the first was Tomkinson's Schooldays, a spoof of Tom Brown's Schooldays, written by and starring Michael Palin and Terry Jones, featuring young Tomkinson's attempts to escape a school where pupils are shot for disobedience and regularly nailed to the walls for fun. Tomkinson was a great success. Within a week of it being aired Palin and Jones were at the BBC being quizzed about prospects for more shows along the same lines. Inspired by the comic potential of a "Ripping Tales" annual, Ripping Yarns was born. Over two series, Jones and Palin delivered up a series of parodies of the pre-war stories of derring-do and moral tales of quiet heroism "oop north" on which they had been reared. Ripping Yarns epitomises the style Palin and Jones developed in their many years of writing together: there is real affection and respect for the "golden age of empire" material the pair play around with in the series, mixed with satire and much outright silliness. Shot on film (apart from the pilot) the programme still looks good today. There are faults, however. Episodes like Escape from Stalag Luft 112B and Whinfrey's Last Case have considerable longuers and the series sometimes lacks the anger and attack that Cleese and Chapman provided during the Python years. Nonetheless the nine episodes of Ripping Yarns contain much comic fabulousness, whether it be "Golden" Gordon Ottershaw's devastated reaction to his beloved Barnstoneworth United being thrashed 8-1, Walter Snetterton's plucky resolution as he tries to do the impossible and cross the Andes by frog or rain-and-shovel-obsessed Eric Olthwaite's sister telling him to "shut up you boring little tit".

This product was added to our catalog on Monday 16 July, 2012.

Customers who bought this product also purchased

Soldier of Orange (DVD)