Keeping Up Appearances - Hyacinth in Full Bloom Set (Vol. 1-4) [DVD]

I love this show so much that I purchased the entire series on DVD. You can now purchase KEEPING UP APPEARANCES: THE FULL BOUQUET, a set of 8 DVDs which feature most of the 44 episodes, all produced between 1990-1995, and including 2 hour-long specials.This is a CLASSIC in the style of "I Love Lucy," except that it happens to be set somewhere is suburban England. There's precious little here of what one might call "British humor." Rather, the series revolves around the central character's ambition and desire to rise above her "station" in life...or to appear to do that. Universally, we can all relate to that. Just like Lucy always tried to get in Ricky's show, here Hyacinth tries to get close to---and especially to be SEEN near or next to---"important" business people or members of the aristocracy, to make herself appear important and special.Most of the time things don't work out as she plans, and Hyacinth is frequently embarassed by her working class relatives [brilliantly played by Geoffrey Hughes, Judy Cornwell and Mary Millar], who regularly, usually accidentally, show up where she doesn't want them. [I say "working class," though none seems to actually work for a living.] Hyacinth's father, who is senile, horny, but harmless, also lives with the relatives, and his misadventures often figure into the storyline, and are further cause for embarrassment for Hyacinth. Clive Swift effectively plays Hyacinth's long-suffering husband [up for sainthood?], and Josephine Tewson is wonderful as the patient, kindly, and sometimes unsteady-with-fine-china next-door neighbor.To the people who know her, even casually, Hyacinth is a terror or extreme bore/boor, and someone to be avoided, at all costs. There are many scenes throughout the various episodes where you see people scrambling as Hyacinth is heard approaching. Hyacinth's speech is somewhat of a trademark; it often approaches operatic proportions, and is sometimes quite purposefully affected and always unmistakeable.The series is very well written and performed. Great ensemble cast led by the inimitable Patricia Routledge.Ms. Routledge is an excellent physical comedian, also, which adds to the hilarity. In one episode, for example, as Hyacinth's patient and dutiful next-door neighbor, Elizabeth, is driving her to see her aging and senile father, who lives with her lower-class sister and brother-in-law in a ghetto-ized neighborhood [full of "council" houses"], Hyacinth goes to extreme lengths to prevent Elizabeth from seeing where her relatives live. She has Elizabeth stop in front of a beautiful home in an unpscale area, then, pretending that it is her relatives' house, proceeds to climb over the back garden wall, after which she walks a few more blocks to her sister's house. This whole scenario, back and forth to Elizabeth's car is side-splittingly funny.There is even a KEEPING UP APPEARANCES episode where Hyacinth has her own VITAMEATAVEGAMIN moment: try saying "the dowager Lady Ursula's homemade gooseberry wine" after you have over-indulged in same, while being quite inexperienced at drinking alcohol. Laugh-out-loud hilarious!MS. ROUTLEDGE HERE HAS CREATED ONE OF THE GREATEST CHARACTERS IN ALL OF TELEVISION COMEDY!Truly, if you've never witnessed Hyacinth Bucket and company, you are missing out on some great comedy! Treat yourself, and catch it on your PBS station. Afterwards, you just may want to own some of these episodes, or even the whole series.Now, a note on to the technical merits of the DVDs:good job on the audio and video transfers, and the extras are a treat. I especially enjoy the bloopers.MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Keeping up appearances is one of my favorite British comedies or probably my favorite British comedy it's hilarious I urge you all to rent it and watch it

Patricia Routledge is a comic genius. Her portrayal of Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced 'Bouquet', of course) makes for the single best characterization to come out of a British comedy in the last decade. The series is impeccably written and acted with Hyacinth stealing the scene whenever she is in frame. The other characters are similarly well developed, from longsuffering husband Richard (Clive Swift), to her sisters Daisy (and her husband Onslow, portrayed to perfection by Geoffrey Hughes as an unemployed, lazy slacker who reads things like 'Principles of Particle Physics' in bed), and the always randy Rose (as well as the rarely seen third sister, Violet, the one with a Mercedes, a sauna, and room for a pony), to the neighbors Elizabeth and Emmet ("She'll sing at me!") and even the recurring bit players such as the postman the vicar and his wife. Altogether the ensemble cast supports Hyacinth so perfectly that the show has unrivalled chemistry and timing.The four disk set contains the famous and hilarious "QE2" episodes, and the "Three Piece Suite" episode, which for absolute hilarity is impossible to top (watching Hyacinth with the traffic cones and the 'Imminent Delivery' sign is sublime.) Also on the disks are several extras, of which my favorites are the outtakes: seeing Hyacinth break character and actually laugh at the funny situations is a delight indeed.For anyone who likes British comedies, or likes subtle, yet highbrow, humor in equal measure, this set is an absolute treasure trove and is not to be missed. Highly recommended.

This series doesn't disappoint!

Hyacinth is the ultimate wanna be social climber (Last name Bucket is pronounced Bouquet) who is oblivious to the fact that she is the thorn is the paw of all she meets. Then we have her husband who goes along but is still likable. The best ongoing delight is her sister, sister's husband, and other husband-grabbing sister, all who live in what we would call, government housing. Hyacinth's house is uncomfortably clean, whereas the sisters' flat is a happily digusting sty. All in all, a real hoot!

Our family has fallen in love with Hiacinth. We schedule our Saturday nights around the program on PBS. Now, thanks to this fine box set, we can watch Poor Richard and his crazy in-laws anytime we want!The series is brilliantly written and acted. One cannot think of other players in these roles. Oddly enough, both actresses who play the tart Rose are so good that one almost doesn't notice the change!The DVDs are very well mastered. My only complaint about the set would be the lack of any brochure or written material.One is struck by how mature the series debuts: the first season lacks any of the "baby steps" so typical of a series start: every character of complete fresh out of the gate (although Emmet, Elizabeth's brother doesn't make an appearance until season two). The writing and directing are very snappy.Disc four has "The Kitty Monologues", some work Routlidge did before Hiacinth - one gets the impression that The Bucket Woman is loosely based on these.After years of watching this masterful series (one of the best British Comedies ever produced), I come away thinking that Onslo is the only one playing with a full deck.What do you think?

Absolutely priceless. I must have watched each of these (and plenty more) episodes many times over. If you watch one episode only, you have to watch the one on the cruise ship. Never fails to make me laugh.

Excellent

my wifes favorite english program

Lots of laughs. Love the package it came in, with all the different seasons.