Butterflies - Series 1
by Gareth Gwenlan
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Andrew Hall, Bruce Montague, Geoffrey Palmer, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Wendy CraigDirector: Gareth Gwenlan
Brand: Acorn
Producer: Gareth Gwenlan
Editor: Ian McKendrick
Writer: Carla Lane
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 181 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-07-12
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Acorn Media
Movie Reviews of Butterflies - Series 1
Movie Review: The Best Britcom of All Time
Summary: 5 Stars
Butterflies is the first British situation comedy to be a hit in the US. Most Britcoms were broad sketch comedies and not situation comedies. This show worked because the base story was something that the average American could relate to.
Twenty five years later, it still works. Actually, things have gone full circle and it is current again because of the revival of the stay at home moms.
Ria Parkinson was happily married but not ecstatically married woman in her late 30's. Her husband, Ben, is a dentist who just turned 48 and is trying to figure out his life. She has two grown sons that are still at home adding additional stress to her life.
While trying to work out her current problems, she meets Leonard. Leonard is a suave businessman who is divorced, his wife ran off with his best friend. He is 44 and is also going through his own life crisis. He is tired of his shallow existence of one young girl after another and would like a woman of substance, like Ria.
This is the basis of all 28 episodes. Series One is the first 6 episodes. The following is a summary of the episodes:
Episode 1 - We meet Ria and her family. Ria and Ben have been married for 19 years and he still cannot fathom her cooking. The current meal is potatoes, a chop, some green things and gravy. Ben and oldest son have not been speaking for a year. Ria meets Leonard in a restaurant. Ria realizes that she is still desirable and wants Ben to realize it. Again she runs into Leonard, or he almost runs over her with his car and he asks her out to lunch.
Episode 2 - After a number of nasty comments about her cooking, Ria previews tonight's apple sponge (which looks like a beige bowling ball) and gives the men an ultimatum "if any one of you dares to utter one word, I will splatter the walls with it and leave this house forever". Ria then runs into Leonard who pursues her but she learns even Leonard has his rejection limit. At dinner, the men unite.
Episode 3 - Leonard loses his license. Ria decides that now that the boys are grown, she wants more from life - a job. This is the first episode that shows the neighbors. Also, there is a great flub. Adam and Russell are busking. When the get into the car a woman walks up to give them coin. Based on Andrew Hall's reaction, this was probably a passerby who did not notice the filming going on.
Episode 4 - We are introduced to Leonard's driver. It is Leonard's birthday. He wants to have lunch with Ria but has a hard time inviting her.
Episode 5 - A statue is being sent to America and Russell tries to stop it by chaining himself to it.
Episode 6 - Ria is getting more confused by life and talks to God at the local church. Ria decides that she will get rid of everything that is not right in her life, including Leonard.
Wendy Craig is perfect as the harried Ria. She has a natural comic sense of timing. She knows when to just say the lines and when to put that little extra onto the line or action. Her Ria is the mother most people wanted. And the wife everyone wants. I know I fell in love with her when I first saw the show.
This was America's first real glimpse Geoffrey Palmer (Ben) who is most famous for As Time Goes By. Palmer is the perfect straight man. He is the perfect sounding board for Craig. He knows just when to react or to deadpan.
Bruce Montague plays Leonard as the exact opposite of Ben and Rhea. He is having problems but while Ben and Rhea repress their problems, Leonard is in your face with his.
Andrew Hall has captured the essence of Russell, a young man wanting to experience life before he is tied down.
This is the first major role for Nicholas Lyndhurst who has become a major UK star floating between TV and theatre.
DVD EXTRAS:
Interview with creator Clara Lane - This was the first time that I ever saw her and this interview was quite interesting. She talks about how she came up with the show, casting of the show and dealing with the celebrity that the show brought her.
Cast Filmographies - Bio's on Wendy Craig (Ria); Geoffrey Palmer (Ben); Bruce Montague (Leonard); Andrew Hall (Russell) and Nicholas Lyndhurst (Adam)
Production Notes - Brief history of the show and Clara Lane.
This is the definitive Britcom and you must see it from the beginning. Once you watch this disk, you will be looking for season two, three,....
Summary of Butterflies - Series 1
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