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  Specs
  • Full Frame
  • Dual Layer ( )
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital Mono
  Subtitles
  • None
  Extras
  • 5 Teaser trailer
  • 3 Cast/crew biographies
  • Photo gallery

Benny Hill - Double Helpings

Umbrella Entertainment/AV Channel . R4 . COLOR . 145 mins . PG . PAL

  Feature
Contract

One of the more successful British comedians from the ‘70s and ‘80s is the loved or loathed Benny Hill. Born in 1924, the short, dumpy comedian was synonymous with camp and bawdy humour. The Benny Hill Show ran for many years and was a mix of short and lengthy sketches, send ups, slapstick and many sight gags played at double speed. He even had a number one hit in the UK with Ernie, an amusing and memorable comedy ditty about a man who ‘drove the fastest milk-cart in the west”. He developed several characters such as Fred Scuttle, who became long-term favourites. Hill was still planning television specials right up to his death in 1992, but his final days were lived mostly out of the public eye. Here then is a chance to relive some amusing moments on this lengthy 145-minute DVD, Benny Hill – Double Helpings.

Those easily offended by political incorrectness should not bother giving this a spin. Women are universally portrayed as either scantily clad sex symbols for pervy old men, or haggard and weather-beaten fishwives. Hill would have you believe that all policewomen and nurses wear fishnets and garters under their uniforms, and that every housewife in the world wears rollers and a scarf as standard get-up. There is just about every type of slur imaginable in varying degrees, and I can imagine virtually every minority group going ballistic had Hill been trying to make it with this brand of comedy today.

However, Hill was quite clever at times and was never taking himself too seriously. He had a certain recognisable style, with some basic and often predictable slapstick followed by the raised eyebrow and look of complete disbelief. He was fond of a ditty or two, and while as a singer he makes a great comedian, there is no doubting that some of the songs he performed were quite funny and well constructed.

Yes, Hill’s Angels are also here in their skimpy glory, and there are enough pouting breasts and exposed thighs for even the dirtiest old man. The humour quickly starts to get quite repetitive, so watching in small doses will be more rewarding than trying to hit all two and a half hours in one sitting. As said, there are laughs to be had, but I could not say this was Benny Hill at his funniest. Many of his more hilarious sketches still loom large in my memory, and this collection, focusing mainly on his later years, does not include any of them.

This release is just two previously released VHS releases Benny Hill’s Greatest Hits and The Crazy World of Benny Hill. A couple of very basic extras are included, but there is essentially no need to upgrade to DVD if you have the vids already.

On a final note, it was Hill’s death that re-sparked interest in the man when it came time to divide his supposed ten million pound estate. The beneficiaries named in the will were his parents, both of whom had died. A handwritten, but unsigned, note was found leaving the funds to his on-screen pals, but almost everything went to his nearest living relatives, his nieces and nephews.

  Video
Contract

As with most DVDs of this vintage, and a collection from several sources, there is varying quality on display, with the one constant being the full frame presentation. Most, if not all, of the sketches are from the 1980s and are generally quite good. There is good clarity and definition in the taped studio sketches, which is most of it, and only some of the slightly older and filmed segments are a little grainy and exhibit some mild dirt. There is also less definition in the filmed sketches.

Colours are generally very accurate and bright with no evidence of noise, which came as a pleasant surprise. Black levels are also good, and there are no issues with shadow detail. There is some very minor shimmer and aliasing, but no edge enhancement or significant film or video artefacts bar a few analogue tape glitches in Chapter 19.

The layer change was not detected and probably sits between the two ‘helpings’.

  Audio
Contract

The only audio option is a Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo track that scrubs up surprisingly well. There is a good dynamic range with solid low-level sounds and neat and clean treble sounds. Dialogue is clear and audible, with only a few of the rapid-fire song lyrics presenting a problem, but this is not a fault of the transfer. Unfortunately there are no subtitles.

There are no problems with audio-synch, although there's little evidence of separation or panning, but this is not really important. The music sounds best, with some separation and a clean signal. There is no hiss to speak of, and a neat and impressive audio is the result.

  Extras
Contract

The few extras included are of limited value, but are certainly better than nothing.

Photo Gallery: There are eleven shots in the gallery taken from the Thames library.

Sketch Selection: This could be quite handy in any repeat viewing.

Biographies: Three are included - one for Benny Hill, and his two long-term straight men, Henry McGee and Bob Todd. They are easy to read text screens and are quite informative considering their brevity.

PropagandaThere are five trailers for George and Mildred , Bless This House, Man About The House, Love Thy Neighbour, and Kenny Everett – The Complete Naughty Bits.

Production Notes: You will find these notes written on the inside of the slick (that's tech-speak for 'cover'), and are easy to read and informative.

  Overall  
Contract

Is there anyone left who doesn’t know Benny Hill? As unlikely as this is, there may still be a few and this is probably as good an introduction as any. I am not convinced that this is the best of Hill’s work, but it's certainly representative as far as his style goes. It’s all here, from the slapstick to the bawdy site gags, the scantily clad girls to the familiar faces such as Henry McGee and Bob Todd that Hill used in many of his sketches. This will certainly provide a few laughs even if much of it is predictable and dated. Perhaps the only sad thing about Benny Hill was his death, alone, in his rented flat. He never owned a house or a car, but could afford plenty of both, and had his two marriage proposals turned down. A rather sad end for a man who lived to make others laugh.


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      And I quote...
    "The British comedy invasion continues… "
    - Terry Kemp
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