Rising Damp – Series Four

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Episodes: C+

 

 

We have now looked at three seasons of Rising Damp and the questions, is it still funny going into Series Four?  Somewhat, but the show started to become formulaic at this point and the characters all too familiar.  Leonard Rossiter has not lost his edge as the bigoted Rigsby, but it seems the lack of a relationship with Miss Jones (Frances de la Tour) and continued battles with Philip (Don Warrington) in what turned out to be the last season of the show.

 

Richard Beckinsale had left and shockingly, would soon pass away from a reported heart attack.  The show picked the right time to wrap things up.  We recommend you start form the first DVD and work your way through.

 

Technical playback is similar to the earlier DVDs.  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