julian_craster

Mancunian comedies newly released on R2 DVD.
It is wonderful that such rarities are now available on DVD...




Mancunian Comedies DVD box set
'Best Of British Northern Comedy'
DVD ~ Frank Randle; Jimmy Jewel
http://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Northern-Comedy-Frank-Randle/dp/B000MGBPE2/ref=pd_sbs_d_h__1/203-5877953-9559162?ie=UTF8&qid=1175500252&sr=1-1
Number of discs: 3
DVD Region 2
Studio: Odeon Entertainment
DVD Release Date: 23 Mar 2007





The DVDs are available seperately, as below :


Holidays With Pay [1948]
DVD ~ Frank Randle; Tessie O'Shea
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Loves-Luxury-Carry-Wakefield-Derek/dp/B000NJWAI8/ref=sr_1_1/203-5877953-9559162?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1175500252&sr=1-1
Actors: Frank Randle; Tessie O'Shea
Directors: John E. Blakley
Format: Dolby, PAL
Language English
Region: Region 2
Studio: Odeon Entertainment
DVD Release Date: 26 Mar 2007
Run Time: 95 minutes

Frank Randle's family visit Blackpool on their annual holidays but become embroiled in a murder plot and a haunted house. Randle s comic talents are in their prime and he is supported by the comic talents of Dan Young, Tessie O Shea and Randle s real-life drinking partner Josef Locke.







Love's A Luxury / What A Carry On
DVD ~ Hugh Wakefield; Derek Bond
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Holidays-Frank-Randle-Tessie-OShea/dp/B000NJWAHY/ref=pd_bxgy_d_h__text_b/203-5877953-9559162?ie=UTF8&qid=1175500252&sr=1-1
Actors: Hugh Wakefield; Derek Bond
Directors: Francis Searle; John E. Blakeley
Region: Region 2

Studio: Odeon Entertainment
DVD Release Date: 26 Mar 2007
Run Time: 145 minutes

Love s A Luxury (1952) stars Hugh Wakefield, Derek Bond and Helen Shingler in a light comedy originally written as a stage farce. A theatre producer and actor try in vain to have a quiet week in a country cottage. But their efforts turn into comic disaster as a variety of wives, girlfriends and scoutmasters arrive uninvited.

Also featured is What A Carry On! (1949) in which northern comedy greats, Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warriss decide to enlist in the army. Their singing sergeant-major, the Irish tenor Josef Locke, misappropriates the mess funds. When he picks on Jewel and Warriss, the duos comic routines come thick and fast.This film was another blockbuster for Mancunian Studios but was considered lost until a poor quality print was uncovered. This shortened version is the only record of the Jewel and Warriss partnership. Despite its variable quality, it has been added as a bonus feature for their many fans.






Over The Garden Wall [1950]
DVD ~ Jimmy James; Norman Evans
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garden-Jimmy-James-Norman-Evans/dp/B000NJWAII/ref=pd_sbs_d_h__2/203-5877953-9559162?ie=UTF8&qid=1175500252&sr=1-1
Actors: Jimmy James; Norman Evans
Directors: John E. Blakeley
Format: Dolby, PAL
Language English
Region: Region 2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Odeon Entertainment
DVD Release Date: 26 Mar 2007
Run Time: 94 minutes

In Over the Garden Wall a working class couple (Jimmy James and Norman Evans) are planning to give their only daughter and their new GI son-in-law a right Northern welcome. As always though riotous trouble starts to flare up when a young man starts to flirt with James and Evans daughter!

Hugo

Potential buyers please note the the price quoted for this item on Amazon does not include VAT, which is slapped on after ordering.

JamesM

Potential buyers please note that Hugo is mistaken.

MrT

Have to agree with Hugo on this one, have just bought the set from Amazon and VAT was added at the end of the bill, but still an excellent bargain.

re. Quality - the transfers are clear but the source prints are only moderate quality as would be expected, however soundtracks have been improved with much of the crackle removed. If this is the only quality available, still better than nothing, and obviously in view of cost a full digital restoration is not going to happen for titles like these. They are though still very watchable, and much better than the ebay bootlegs floating around (one seller sends out Holdiays with pay in 16:9 squashed format - no amount of mucking around on playback would get it out of this picture ratio!). Also, despite the source prints, far, far better than the issue of The Runaway Bus that attracted so much discussion a few months back.

Let's hope Odeon entertainment continue to unearth more rairities.

Mike (MrT)

Wee Sonny MacGregor

I intend to get this. Sendit have it listed for £13.89 with free delivery. I take there's no VAT to be added. Oddly, they say it's for release on 25 June.

Steve Crook

Just one comment.
Mancunian? COMEDY?

Someone had to point out the contradiction

Steve

Wee Sonny MacGregor

Steve has just explained why Frank Randle didn't play the variety circuits in the south and why Max Miller never played the Glasgow Empire!

Steve Crook

And why although I like Peter Kay I just don't get his Phoenix Nights show because I have no experience of the Northern Working Man's Club. There's nothing I can relate to there.

Steve

Brett Sinclair

I have obviously given you a few laughs Steve...Born in the Manchester Royal Infirmary

There's no need to kneel, I'm a very democratic sort of lord.

Torquemada

Just what I was thinking - surely another great British oxymoron.

Joenoir

You have to have a sense of humour to come from Manchester.

penfold

Not necessarily...but you need one to stay there....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Joenoir

True!