Benny Hill – Set Four: The Hill’s
Angels Years
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C Episodes: B
Benny Hill - Set Four is the concluding set
from A&E Home Video of his final hit shows for Thames Television, which ran
from 1978 – 1981. This set is dubbed The
Hill’s Angels Years after the segments where the famous comedian’s show
pushed the sex factor in semi-nude female bodies like never before. Sadly, political correctness and a new era
of Neo-Conservatism in Britain conspired to get the show cancelled despite huge
ratings and the series was over.
Before that could happen, he goes after Kojak again
and all the shows are send-ups of the disco era, complete with music featuring
backing vocals by The Ladybirds, now unseen for the most part. Other targets include London Weekend
Television (with its logo misconstrued as a feminist TV network), Charlie’s
Angels in several ways, Wonder Woman, more TV commercials, bad
prints on late night TV of classic films, Michael Caine, Butch Cassidy &
The Sundance Kid, game shows and news broadcasts. Hill had proved once again he could translate and adjust into
another era of media without compromise.
Too bad he was idiotically driven off the air. That no other networks there or in another country (Canada, The
U.S., Australia) did not offer him another show is a disaster. Hill threw in the towel with TV and we lost
priceless comedy for decades after until his early passing.
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 remains a bit sharper and cleaner, with a
bit more detail from the PAL materials.
Extras include another funny quiz set up with funny clips and featurette
I Was A Hill’s Angel that showcases some of the women who took part in
that weekly escapade of beautiful bodies.
This one runs about 16 minutes.
There is also a text foldout with some pictures inside the case, once
again made of those great slender cases.
Benny Hill - Set Four rounds out finally, a comprehensive series
of sets that finally makes his entire Thames period available in solid quality
releases once and for all. Thanks
A&E!
- Nicholas Sheffo
