Benny Hill – Set Two: The Naughty Years
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Episodes: B
Continuing their definitive series of DVD releases of the
British comedy classic, Benny Hill - Set Two: The Naughty Years contains
seasons four through six. Many
companies have issued the show, but no one is dong the fine job A&E has
been doing. Like many other popular
shows, compilations of highlights were issued, but not whole seasons before the
home video industry caught on that entire seasons would sell. On three DVDs, you get the entire seasons as
only roughly four episodes a season were produced.
Though not quite as funny as the first set, the ten
hour-long slotted shows here have Hill’s usual mix of foreigner satires, Hill’s
hilarious disguises as various women, some of his regular buffoons, amusing
cover versions of hit record by singers one step away from The Lawrence Welk
Show, Hill’s own funny songs that are up there with the best of Ray Stevens
and “Weird Al” Yankovic, film and TV send-ups and other surprises. Because some people considered our listing
of some highlights the equivalent of spoilers in the last review, we are
foregoing them this time. I will say
that you can still tell the immense kind of work that went into producing only
a few shows a year, which is why they are such classics. This set has also aged very well, save those
guest song moments, though you got to love the Ladybirds.
Again, all skits are chapterized for outstanding access to
all the funny moments. I always liked
Benny Hill and even had one of those previous compilation DVDs, but the quality
here is better for picture and sound, especially Warner Bros. with their Dolby
1.0 Mono. The sound here is a boosted
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, which is a great improvement. That also helps make the music handled by
music supervisor Ronnie Aldrich that much clearer, including Hill’s legendary
signature theme song, Yakkety Sak.
The full frame 1.33 X 1 image is a bit sharper and cleaner, with a bit
more detail from the PAL materials. You
are better off with this first of many planned set releases. Extras include another funny quiz set up
with funny clips and the terrific A&E Biography installment Benny Hill:
Laughter & Controversy, hosted by Peter Graves. Benny Hill - Set Two is a must for
any serious British TV Comedy collection.
- Nicholas Sheffo
