Rising Damp – Series Two
Picture: C
Sound: C+ Extras: C Episodes: B-
Rising Damp was made in the mid-1970s, but
holds up better than just about any BritCom then or now. The set up of the characters and situations
had more of an edge to them, something we have seen in a few sitcoms, then
those characters become watered down and the show declines. Sometimes this happens over enough seasons
that you get some great years out of a show, but it is better than starting
with nothing like most sitcoms. With Series
Two here, the show actually became a bit funnier and characters more
developed.
To recap, here was another British situation comedy that
dealt with racism directly, and though it has not aged perfectly, it is still a
well-written and acted show. The bigot
in question here is a landlord named Rigsby and played by the great British
actor Leonard Rossiter (Barry Lyndon, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Billy
Liar, Britannia Hospital, The Pink Panther Strikes Again). Joining him as the tenants: Frances de la
Tour (Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire) as Ruth, Don Warrington (Manchild)
as Philip and the late Richard Beckinsale (the respected actor who happens to
be Kate Beckinsale’s father) as Alan.
Rigsby is interested in Ruth, thinks Alan is a radical and has issues
with the fact that Philip is black.
Episodes include:
1) The
Permissive Society
2) Food
Glorious Food
3) A Body
Like Mine
4) Moonlight
& Roses
5) A
Perfect Gentleman
6) The Last
Of The Big Spenders
7) Things
That Go Bump In The Night
8) For The
Man Who Has Everything
Technical playback is similar to the first DVD. The 1.33 X 1 image originated on analog PAL
videotape and has not aged as well as expected, likely more a source issue than
transfer issue. The Dolby Digital 2.0
is a little bit better, with good monophonic sound for its age. The only extras again are text production
notes and cast filmographies, but nothing from any archive has been unearthed
yet. Fortunately, the show has and
everyone who likes TV situation comedies that are actually funny will want to
catch both volumes and the next editions.
- Nicholas Sheffo
