Lines and Lines and Lines and Lines (League of Gentlemen Season 1 Boxset (DVD))

Member Name: M.Frieel

Product:	League of Gentlemen Season 1 Boxset (DVD)
Date:	22/10/01 (145 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great features, one of the best comedies ever written

Disadvantages: none

I have in the past been guilty of watching this DVD way too often but once you have witnessed this disc you will surely know why, I love anything dark and surreal when it comes to comedy and this show hits that mark time after time. Below is my opinion but I have tried not to give too much of the plot away as the shock value is what really makes the show work.

The League Of Gentlemen

The League Of Gentlemen consist of 4 members they are Jeremy Dyson, Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, although you will only see Mark, Steve and Reece in the show, as Jeremy is a tad camera shy he is basically a writer for the show
Please not to all the fan boys out there yes I am aware Jeremy has played Babs on occasion but you never see his full face so that doesn’t really count.


The Show

Right here you will find one of the most if not the most important comedy DVDs you could ever buy! (With the exception of Series Two). The League Of Gentlemen is dark surreal comedy, which is set in the small town of Royston Vasey.

Within the town you will meet the Local residents and witness their shall we say quirky little ways, the list of locals is vast but some of my favourites consist of Pauline the resident restart officer with a heart of stone and the dress sense of Pat Butcher who along with her devoted lap-thing Mickey (let's just say I have shoes smarter than him and a lot prettier) are one of the funniest comedy duos I have ever seen.

Next are the Denton’s a small family with high morals and loving ways but who never condone people leaving solids in the downstairs toilet and have a unhealthy fascination with Toads.

Then there’s Babs the owner and sole driver of the towns taxi service, Babs is on her way to becoming a full fledged women that is as soon as the finish the Op. With a lovely gold chain dangling down to her hairy chest Babs brings a whole new meaning to the term ladybo
y.

And my favourite of the bunch in series one have to be Tubbs and Edward the owners of the Local shop, an inbreed couple who hate change and hate there customers even more, I love Tubbs the most as she has an animalistic yet simplistic way about her, one minute she will be scared silly that a stranger has come into the shop next she will be poking you with a large stick and doing a war dance, crazy but funny stuff.


The Disc

The disc is the region 2 version and lasts 192 minutes, it is in the wide screen format and is also rated a 15.


The Features (Precious Things)


Character Biographies.

Here you will find the biographies of the local people, there are 18 biographies to choose from ranging from Tubbs & Edward to Mick Mcnamara, this is a lovely little extra that really draws you into this odd little world.

Photo Gallery

There are postcard type pictures here taken not only from the television shows but also from the Leagues earlier radio and live performances, this is a treat to see someone showing there old as well as present work.

Cast and Director Commentary

This is my favourite part of the features, play this and you will be treated to commentary by all members of The League Of Gentlemen which is superb.

The real beauty of this is they tell you loads of background gags you may have missed while watching the show, they also give great insight into where they drew a lot of the inspiration for certain characters from.


Over 20 minutes Of Unseen Footage

There are 11 scenes here that were cut from the show to view, an interesting note is that at the beginning of each clip they give you a lot of information on what the scene is about and how they shot parts of it.

The cut scenes are as follows.

Painting In The Shop

Shop & Policeman

Babs At The Booth

Pop – The Directors Cut

Tor
toise Climax

Judee’s Return

Judee On The Sunbed

Calliper Box

Charlie, Stella & Tony

The Denton’s Wake

Pauline’s End


Final Note

This is one of the most important comedies to hit the television in a long long time, its mix of dark humour and visual jokes are blinding, if you like your comedy a little on the dark side then this is certainly the show for you, if however you think keeping a man as a human scarecrow or a middle aged women breast-feeding a pig is a bit odd then stay way clear of this.

As for the DVD disc itself it is a blinder with a lot of great little features and with the Cast Commentary the disc has a whole new lease of life, so in my humble opinion this is one of the greatest comedies you will ever be able to buy so go on treat yourself to a Precious Thing.

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