Keeping Up Appearances (Complete Collection - Series 1-5) - 8-DVD Set ( Keeping Up Appearances - Series One - Five (40 Episodes) ) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - United Kingdom ]

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES, THE FULL BOUQUET, is a total delight! Funny and full of human foiables, it shows to what lengths a lower-middleclass Englishwoman will go to, to "keep up apperances". The advertisement on American P.B.S. stations included the memorable scene of our heroine(?) Hyacinth Bucket, saying: "I use First-Class stamps!" Hyacinth pronounces her last name, (Bucket), as "Bouquet" -- and, despite her many, (many!) other pretentions on the show, one really can't blame her for this. (But maybe she could have prevailed upon her husband for both of them to legally change their last name?) Yet why "Hyacinth" did not add an extra "e" to the end of her name, making it into the more distinctive, "Hyachinthe", I'll never know.......Hyacinth's hijinks often reminded me of 1950s TV -- the plots started simply, then got more and more complicated, (and sometimes, downright bizarre) -- but always completely logically so. Like a morning rush-hour bus that starts out empty, then winds up with people sitting in all seats, standing in all aisles, and having scarcely an ounce of air left for anyone to breathe, the plots of "Keeping Up Appearances", zig, zag, go upwards, downwards, sideways, backwards, forwards, then backward again, then go to the right, left, down the mountain, up the mountain -- and threaten to sometimes be launced into the tele-literary equivalent of outer space! But they are all followable -- for people on both sides of the Atlantic. This is one series that Americans, Canadians, and other people in North, South, and Central America, can follow as well as Europeans. Every society has it's snobs, after all. And with Hyacinth Bucket, the hilarioous side of snobbery is out in the open, for all to see.Hyacenth has a husband, Richard. The poor guy is put opon so often! Whilst, ("Whilst?" yep, there's a bit of a snob in me too, I fear!), watching this show, I often thought that perhaps he should have divorced Hyacinth, and married, instead, the put-upon "Alice Kramden", from the 'Honeymooners'. (Wonder what a couple Hyacinth and Ralph would have made? : )Hyacinth's pretentions, (and probably, I must herein admit, my own, even though at presently these pretentions show up only verbally, in my writings -- and embarrasing no-one -- or so I do very fervently hope!), stem from the fact that WE think we are as good, (or maybe even a wee bit better?) than most people....and haven't had any REAL opportunities to prove this. Many, (or dare I say, most?), people harbour a "secret snob" within them, and I wonder if I am being less -- or more? -- of a snob as I admit this failing in myself. Seriously, I do believe that, had Hyacinth, (or I), access to a driver's licence and a completed college educaion, things may have been different. The difference betixt the fictional Hyacinth and I, I believe, is that I REALIZE when I am being even the slightest bit snobbish, and try to tone it down, or at least find a better venue for it, (I am trying to find a way to join MENSA at the moment....hoping I will not find TOO many snobs there, should I succeed.) I also look for REASONS for any snobbery I may have -- which Hyacinth, of course, does not. Blissfully unaware of how her pretentions are EFFECTING others, she AFFECTS a pseudo-gentility that has nothing whatsoever in common with real gentility. Hilarity results from what happens, (or rolls out!), following Hyacinth's actions --- and her being totally and completely unknowing of the strangeness her actions, or their strained and straightened consequences, makes us laugh all the more.Queen Elizabeth II, who has the opportunity to be one of the world's greatest snobs -- but instead, is one of the world's most level-headed people, (if you don't believe me, read up on her....and watch the revealing documentary, ELIZABETH R.) -- once said, of a new member of the Royal Family, "Oh, she's much more royal than the rest of us!" No -- this was NOT Kate Middleton, for it was said years and years ago -- and it would not be politic to reveal who this Royal Family member is. Probably, by this time, I suspect even THIS royal family member has come more down to Earth. Not so the endearing, but also frustrating, and delightfully comedic, fictional Hyacinth Bouquet -- er, Bucket. Hyachinth is, in many ways, the exact opposite of the delightfully normal, real-life Duchess of Cambridge, (Kate Middleton.) In real life, snobbery is never a way to get ahead. In fact, the very WORD 'snob' comes from 'sine nobility' -- or, (ta-da!) translation from the Latin: -- NO nobility!So, laugh along with Hyacinth and her husband, (well, maybe he's not laughing too much-- but you will), her neighbours, friends and family. And if you happen to know any real-life snobs, give them a gift of this complete set....at the right moment, of course. Complete snobs may have no manners whatsoever -- but you do, of course, don't you?

Everybody loved Lucy in the 1950s. There can be no denying that Lucille Ball was a master at her craft and the preeminent physical comedienne of her day. I was quite certain that we would never see the likes of her again. That was until I was introduced to the work of Patricia Routledge in the hilarious 1990's British sitcom "Keeping Up Appearances" which debuted on many PBS stations around America in the latter part of that decade. I quickly concluded that Lucy Ricardo had met her match. What I found to be even more remarkable was that Patricia Routledge was in her early 60's when she portrayed the insufferably snobbish Hyacinth Bucket (she insists it is pronounced "Bouquet") on this show. And being that she was a rather large woman to boot made the incredible physical prowess she displayed on this series all the more remarkable. Given the grueling demands of her role it is no wonder that only about 8 episodes per season were shot during its five year run and that Patricia Routledge decided to call it quits after the 1995 season. Only 40 regular episodes and 4 additional specials were made. "Keeping Up Appearances: The Full Bouquet/Special Edition" offers up every single one of these memorable episodes along with a boatload of extra features. Longtime fans of the show are certainly going to want to get their hands on this incredible collection while it is still available. To me it was worth every penny!While Patricia Routledge as Hyacinth was without a doubt the star of the show "Keeping Up Appearances" also featured an incredibly talented supporting ensemble. Clive Swift was just perfect as Hyacinth's henpecked husband Richard. Richard was a rather unassuming guy who just happened to to married to a woman positively obsessed with social status. Just about everything Richard does is wrong in Hyacinth's eyes. Your heart would go out to him in each and every episode. Ditto for the Bucket's next door neighbors Elizabeth (Josephine Tewson) and her recently divorced brother Emmet (David Griffin). Hyacinth had an uncanny ability to make these two otherwise normal human beings quake in their boots at the mere sight of her. Although the scene was repeated with a number of slight variations time and again during the course of the series Hyacinth's seemingly innocous invitation to Elizabeth to join her for a cup of coffee and biscuits would invariably end in disaster for her well meaning neighbor. Each encounter would prove to be nerve-wracking for Elizabeth and always ended with some kind of calamity. And it was always funny....very funny! And then there is Hyacinth's family, You would be hard pressed to find a more disheveled group of individuals anywhere. Most prominent among this group is her sister Daisy (Judy Cornwell) and her chronically unemployed husband Onslow (Geoffrey Hughes) who is if nothing else the consummate slob. Seems like every time Hyacinth is trying to impress someone these two show up unexpectedly to throw a monkey wrench into her plans. Poor Hyacinth! She tries so hard!As I indicated earlier "Keeping Up Appearances: The Full Bouquet/Special Edition" is a 9 DVD set that features all 40 regular season episodes along with three Christmas specials. As an added treat there is a newly produced feature entitled "Life's Lessons From Onslow". You will also find some very funny outtakes and interviews with cast members Patricia Routledge, Clive Swift and Judy Cornwell. At the end of the day I would have to rank "Keeping Up Appearances" at or near the top of my list of all-time favorite sitcoms. I simply never get tired of watching these shows. This is a collection that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Very highly recommended!

Mrs. Bucket or should I say Bouquet is so pretentious with her candle light suppers. Everything usually goes wrong and is so funny. If you like British comedy, I recommend this very highly.

At last I can watch all episodes of on of my favourite programmes.

I used to watch this series with my nan back in the 90s , so I have fond memories of it. It always cheers me up and makes me laugh. Great comedy. Highly recommended

Miglior acquisto di sempre! Un sacco di risate assicurate con la Signora Bucket (va pronunciato "Bouquet"! 😂😂😂) Adoro questa serie!!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Best buy ever! Lots of laughs with Mrs Bucket (read Bouquet! 😂😂😂) I absolutely love it!!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

イギリスでもかなり人気のシットコム。非常に面白いです。Youtubeで検索すると少しBBCの公式から映像があります。気にった人や笑いたい人にぜひ見て欲しいです。字幕あり、パソコンで再生できました。