Benny Hill: Golden Classics (1979)

Comic Genius

Benny Hill is a comic genius.

This collection so far out of all of the DVD's I own, has the BEST skit/episode compliation yet. I can't tell you how hard I laughed during the first viewing. It brought back memories of my teen years. However this time, I understood a lot more of the humorous things he said.

If you like Benny Hill, then this is THE collection you MUST have.

I have not seen some of these episodes in over 20 years, and I'll tell you, they are even MORE funny now! The comic Genius of Benny Hill has staying power, and will continue to be funny decades from now.

If you don't have this particular compilation - GET IT! February 27, 2005

I used to smack my grampas baldhead-like he was the old guy.

Benny Hill holds a special place in my heart. I used to watch it on channel 9-WOR TV here in NYC (about 20 years prior to the UPN age)..boy oh boy! that channel and tv in general has really changed But then at time I could always look forward to watching Benny Hill at about 730...I used to get all happy when the Big Ben-Thames logo would pop up and then the do-doo-do-doo theme would play. Then it was on...I'd look at Grampa and then Benny would hit that baldguy on his head and then i'd pat my grampas head...that chase was always the best i used to drive my grandmother nuts running all around the house like a little lunatic...jumping on the bed and all that good stuff...yep i used to make believe I was getting chased around by Benny and crew too.Benny Hill was a happy childhood memory.May you Rest in Peace Mr. Hill, thankyou for keeping me laughing all these years. August 18, 2004

A LASTING TESTAMENT--BUT P L E A S E , MAY WE HAVE MORE??

It's been said that "a clown makes you laugh at him; a genius makes you laugh at yourself." I've always found this a rather narrow-minded view; it's quite possible to be both. Red Skelton & Benny Hill were two such examples. Indeed, one could call Benny Hill "The British Red Skelton." We of the English-speaking world spit on our clowns & mimes too much; we'd do well to take an example from the French & Italians (check out Fellini's awesome '71 documentary, "The Clowns").

TV comedy had two great auteurs: Ernie Kovacs & Benny Hill. By "auteur," I mean both had complete ability to time, pace & frame a good pantomime sight-gag. But at the risk of being a Benedict Arnold to my fellow Americans, I have to say Benny Hill's achievements outstrip Kovacs'--if mainly for the reason Kovacs died too young. Both men literally drank themselves to death: Kovacs, while driving home drunk from a party; Hill, from ITV's cancellation of his 21-year-old show, represented in the present volume.....his enforced early retirement had him smoking, eating, and drinking himself to death.

Forget Rowan Atkinson; he's a rank amateur compared with Hill's acumen for laugh-till-you-cry, uproarious slapstick entertainment. Here are the classic sketches that solidified his reputation....."Charlene's Angels"; "Super-Teech"; "Horny Boy-Scout Picnic"; "Hill's Angels: New York, New York"; "Hill's Angels: Enough Is Enough"; "The Stripper Clown"; "Clown & Ballerina"; "Wonder Granny Vs. Dr.Jekyll & Mr.Hyde"; "Mr. Chow Mein: Chinese Opera Company"; "Hill's Angels: Pleasure Cruise"; "The Gay Caballero"; "Benny's Place"; "Hill's Angel's: Workout!"; "The Brat With His Slingshot"; "The Scarlet Pimple"; and many more.

But, by way of an open letter to Thames TV/HBO Video: PLEASE, people, may we have a DVD release of the great Hill sketches that NEVER made it onto home video?......Gems like "Foreign TV Commercial Goof-Ups"; "Wonder Granny Vs. Count Dracula"; "Mr. Chow Mein: Kung Fu Movie Director"; "Leprechaun Television (The Irish Independent TV Station)"; "Eurovision Song Contest"; "Lovely Lulubelle (The W.C.Fields Song)"; "Charlie's 92nd Birthday Celebration"; "The Woodstick Music Fair"; "Tex Cymbal, Rock Star"; and lots more?? May 27, 2004

Classics or Greats

Having read so many reports of Golden Greats and Golden Classics I was in 2 minds which to buy first. I found Greats for under $20US,so bought it first. It is quality Benny but as stated on several reviews it contains material from the 1980-1989 period. This is later Benny with strong Hills Angels and young kids participation . This week I got Classics from a vendor in Canada. Now this is really good! Some excellent sketches from the late 70's- much better fayre in my view.
And Jane Leeves is in more than just the Gay Caballero as some reviews would have you think. E.g. The Oven Glove and a doctor's sketch.
I'd buy this first everytime. May 26, 2004

Replaces some VHS tapes you might already have

At first, I thought this was a lot of repetition from the Golden Greats DVD since many of the skits seemed familiar. However, four VHS tapes of a different collection I have are in this DVD, so I will free up shelf space with this collection. There are a lot of skits on this DVD, many of them very short. This is classic Benny Hill, and a good addition to the collection for Benny Hill fans. If you are a Benny Hill fan, you will want this DVD; if not then it won't matter. This DVD may not contain the best of Benny Hill, but it does contain a lot of Benny Hill. October 13, 2003

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