The Complete Ripping Yarns
by Terry Hughes
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: David Griffin, Michael Palin, Michael Stainton, Peter Graham, Terry JonesDirector: Terry Hughes
Brand: Acorn
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 274 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-08-30
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Acorn Media
Movie Reviews of The Complete Ripping Yarns
Movie Review: Not Everyone's Cup Of Tea (but definitely mine by gosh)
Summary: 5 Stars
Ripping Yarns was originally a project by Michael Palin and Terry Jones, undertaken quite soon after the demise of Python as I recall it. I've had the VHS versions for years.
The first series of six episodes presented parodies of the sorts of stories found in books of "boys adventure yarns" of the 1930s, in which Michael Palin played every male person not in a major role. Think Alec Guinness in "Kind Hearts and Coronets". Terry Jones appears in Tomkinson's Schooldays, but after that sticks to working behind the scenes.
The stories are an uneven lot, and sometimes the humor runs thin or bunches up in an episode. Also, the basis of the comedy is more whimsical than the slapstick surrealism of the Python crew, with absurdity salted liberally but sometimes subtly. The style of humor and the content strikes me as less accessible to anyone not brought up in England, but it's possible I'm being hopelessly jingoistic.
Tomkinson's Schooldays is a gem, opening with a parody of Orson Welles that is cruel but funny as hell and continuing to tell a tale of one boy's maltreatment in the British public (US:private) school system of bullying from all sides. Four stars.
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite has been reported to me by US viewers as being "boring", which is something of a triumph since that is the theme of that episode. If you don't find the premise funny, you'll hate this one. Three stars.
Escape from Stalagluft 112b is set in WWI, and is perhaps the most straightforward story, that of a POW determined to escape captivity with hysterically funny repercussions. Four stars.
Murder at Moorstones Manor is a parody of the Agatha Christie-style upper-class murder mystery turned upon its head. Ian Cuthbertson is superb in it, but again, the humor is "clumpy". Three Stars.
Across the Andes by Frog is a reworked idea from Bert Fegg;s Nasty Book for Boys and Girls. The idea is stronger than the story, and I would recommend the Fegg version over this one despite a great turn by actor Don Henderson, a personal favorite. Three Stars.
Curse of the Claw is the gem in the collection, and my favorite episode from the first season. A tale of destiny, crumbling architecture and a disease-riddled relative. Not to be missed. Five Stars with Oak Leaves and a nice stripey ribbon.
The second Season was only three episodes long, but each was more lavishly put together than those of the first season, the cast had more known names (at that time) and Palin only played one character at a time.
Winfrey's Last Case - a story of the quintessential hero, introduced once again by "Orson Welles" in a segment even funnier than the previous one. The episode is brilliantly funny throughout and earns Five Stars.
Golden Gordon is the story of a soccer fan whose enthusiasm for his local team has long outlasted their ability to live up to his expectations. Not for everyone, I think. Four Stars.
Roger of the Raj is the story of an upper class young man of wealthy parents who becomes enmeshed in revolution. Good cast, interesting idea, uneven script. Watch for the "Port and Cigars" scene, which is Palin and Jones at their best. Three Stars.
The documentary, obviously made years ago, is also worth watching.
An interesting option is that you can turn off the laugh track on all but two episodes, though they were originally screened with it on.
The color has bee restored on this version and the quality is generally very high, though one scene of a skyline (I can't remember the episode) showed a rolling color artifact in my copy that was briefly distracting.
The set comes with a special booklet insert with much background information.
All in all, well worth the money.
Summary of The Complete Ripping Yarns
Monty Python fans rejoice! This renowned BBC series, created and written by Python stalwarts Michael Palin and Terry Jones, provides more of the same surreal, bawdy, tasteless?and absolutely gut-splitting hilarity you know and love. The nine lavishly produced half-hour comedies?each starring Michael Palin?spoof the stirring adventure stories that were a staple of Edwardian schoolboy life. Plucky heroes triumph over adversity (or not) in such varied settings as Victorian London, Depression-era Yorkshire, WWII Germany, Peru, and India during the Raj.The Episodes:
Tomkinson?s Schooldays
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite
Escape From Stalag Luft 112B
Murder at Moorstones Manor
Across the Andes by Frog
The Curse of the Claw
Whinfrey?s Last Case
Golden Gordon
Roger of the Raj
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