HOME   News   Reviews   Adv Search   Features   My DVD   About   Apps   Stats     Search:
  Directed by
    None Listed
  Starring
  Specs
  • Full Frame
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
  Subtitles
  • None
  Extras
  • Interviews - David Frost

How to Irritate People

Warner Vision/Warner Vision . R4 . COLOR . 68 mins . G . PAL

  Feature
Contract

Monty Python devotees will recognise the slight change to a very familiar phrase that is oft-quoted, just like many of their sketches, unforgettable movie scenes, and albums. How to Irritate People was filmed in 1968, just a year before the birth of Monty Python, and was co-written with fellow Python, Graham Chapman, featured another, Michael Palin, included Connie Booth (Polly from Fawlty Towers) and also a Goodie in Tim Brooke-Taylor.

Most comedy lovers know what was to follow over the next decade from Cleese and the Python gang, and some of the sketches here contain many moments of signature comedy, especially from Cleese who has always used sarcasm, wit and yes, irritation, as his chief tools of comedy.

Not all of these loosely connected sketches are funny, and some have well and truly dated. There are a few genuine belly laughs to be had, but you’ll need to be patient. The sketches are ‘introduced’ by Cleese, who gives us a short monologue before each one, extolling the relative merits and virtues of irritating people to get your way.

There is not really a lot more that can be said for this 68-minute feature. It is not part of a series, it is just a collection of loosely connected sketches starring a handful of the comics that went on to create some of the most enduring and humorous moments in British comedy in the ‘70s. This feature is not as funny as any of the work that each would go on to be a part of, with hardy laughs few and far between. This is, however, probably of great interest to Cleese devotees and any amateur historians with an interest in the history of comedy.

  Video
Contract

No doubt destined for a television screen sometime after taping, this is a full frame presentation that shows every one of its 34 years. The two most noticeable giveaways are the overall lack of sharpness to the image and the fading colours. The lack of definition is most evident when Cleese addresses the camera in close up, but is on show pretty much most of the time. Colours are not only faded, they also show evidence of colour bleeding at times, and black levels are not exactly strong and bold.

Shadow detail is quite poor, which is a little surprising given that all of this was filmed in a studio. There is a noticeable glitch at the 26:08 minute mark where the image seems to ‘slip’, but the audio is fine.

Although this is not a great looking picture, it is pretty much free from most other tape glitches and dirt. There are some occasional horizontal lines that run through the image at times, but they are not too bad and offer little distraction.

While there are no subtitles on offer, there is a subtitle track encoded on the disc, but just what it was meant to contain, if anything, is anyone’s guess. There is no layer change to irritate...

  Audio
Contract

The audio quality is adequate at best, but we could expect little more than a Dolby Digital 2.0 mono track really. The audio does what it has to do and little else and at least there are no problems with clarity or synchronisation. There is little demand made of the left and front right speakers, with no great sound effects or rumbling noises. Naturally there is no signal for the surround speakers or subwoofer.

There is some background hiss through much of the feature, but is not overly intrusive. There is also a whine that can be heard occasionally when there is a gap in dialogue. You really need to keep in mind that this is an old audio source and was never originally destined for home theatre systems as we know them.

  Extras
Contract

The Main Menu, while not actually a feature as such, does contain an irritating and deliberate glitch to kick things off on the wrong foot. How to Irritate People indeed!

The other extra is a short four-minute Interview with Sir David Frost, who worked with Cleese in the ‘60s as part of the Footlights College, Oxbridge brigade. The cover, however, could give the impression that the interview is actually with Cleese and conducted by Frost, but this is not the case.

  Overall  
Contract

While there is a laugh or two to be had, and this is of historical value as well as of interest to fans, How to Irritate People is generally not the quality comedy we have come to expect from the likes of these guys. In all fairness though, they were only starting out in 1968, and it is obvious that they had potential - and as we all know they did go on to great things. It’s just that after Python, Fawlty Towers, The Goodies, The Life of Brian, The Holy Grail et al, we have seen these guys at their peak. Anything less, no matter the reason, is a bit of a let down.


  • LINK: http://www.dvd.net.au/review.cgi?review_id=2379
  • Send to a friend.

    Cast your vote here: You must enable cookies to vote.
  •   
      And I quote...
    "And now for something completely… ordinary!"
    - Terry Kemp
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Akai
    • TV:
          TEAC CT-F803 80cm Super Flat Screen
    • Receiver:
          Pioneer VSX-D409
    • Speakers:
          Wellings
    • Centre Speaker:
          Wellings
    • Surrounds:
          Wellings
    • Subwoofer:
          Sherwood SP 210W
    • Audio Cables:
          Standard RCA
    • Video Cables:
          standard s-video
      Recent Reviews:
    by Terry Kemp

    The Boondock Saints
    "This ‘Tarentino-coulda-been’ film is pretty damned enjoyable..."

    Take the Money and Run
    "... will appeal to die-hard Woody Allen fans but be lucky to earn passing interest from most."

    Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em - The Christmas Specials
    "By this stage, you either love or hate Frank Spencer and nothing in this review is going to change that…"

    Beyond Imagination - Pyramid. Colosseum. Pompeii
    "This triumvirate of features is a great addition to any collection and sure to offer something to adults, children and armchair historians everywhere…"

    Empires - Islam: Empire of Faith
    "…forget the “Be Alert – Be Alarmed” campaign (or whatever the fridge magnet assault suggested) and try – “Be Informed”."

      Related Links
      None listed

     

    Search for Title/Actor/Director:
    Google Web dvd.net.au
       Copyright DVDnet. All rights reserved. Site Design by RED 5   
    rss