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The Good Life - Backs To The Wall [1975]

The Good Life - Backs To The Wall [1975]

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Actors: Richard Briers, Penelope Keith, Paul Eddington, Felicity Kendal
Studio: Acorn Media
Category: Video

List Price: £12.99
Buy New: £9.99
You Save: £3.00 (23%)

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 9 reviews

Format: Hifi Sound, Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Universal, suitable for all
Media: VHS Tape
Discs: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 80 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1

EAN: 5014503535629
ASIN: B00004CPDG

Theatrical Release Date: April 4, 1975
Release Date: October 7, 2002
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: NEW & SEALED!! THE GOOD LIFE- Backs To The Wall[1975] [VHS] (RARE & Deleted ORIGINAL 1994 BBC Video Release Featuring 3 Classic Episodes INCLUDING the 1977 Christmas Special: 'Silly But It's Fun' and 'The wind-break war',Running time 83 mins approx, NOTE:original picture sleeve is ALTERNATIVE than shown with a BLUE ground, BRAND NEW & FACTORY SEALED VHS in BBC box, NOTE: 5cm crack visible along inside spine of box when opened but box is NOT damaged in any other way!,in EXCELLENT condition throughout, BBCV 5356) Ready to dispatch within 24 hours 1st class!

Similar Items:

  • The Good Life - Collection (BBC)
  • The Good Life - Series 3 [1975]
  • The Good Life - Series 2 [1975]
  • The Good Life :Complete BBC Series 1 [1975]
  • The Good Life - The Complete Series 4 [1975]

Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Good Life has proved an enduring jewel in the BBC's mainstream comedy archive. More than 25 years after it first appeared in our living rooms, nostalgia must be a major reason for its appeal. A whole generation of young men--and their fathers--found the weekly sight of Felicity Kendal as Barbara Good, pert in denim dungarees, irresistible. But it's the quality of the playing that has really stood the test of time and triumphs over a premise--self-sufficiency in Surbiton--that now seems naive. Even in 1975, a Tom Good (a masterpiece of comic eccentricity from Richard Briers) quitting the rat race would probably have sold up his semi and chanced his luck as a small holder somewhere more remote than suburban Surrey.

Comic tensions arise not just from the Goods' daily struggle to beat the system on their own terms, but also from the relationship with their incredulous, often horrified, but usually supportive neighbours. Penelope Keith's Margo Leadbetter remains one of the great comic creations in British sitcom history--a simmering volcano of conservatism waging her own battle against creeping mediocrity in all aspects of life, whose human frailty somehow keeps her loveable. Paul Eddington as Jerry, her long-suffering husband, spars splendidly. --Piers Ford


Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Guaranteed to make you laugh out loud!   February 16, 2003
33 out of 33 found this review helpful

This DVD is actually titled "The Classic Episodes" and contains exactly what it says on the box!
It has 3 episodes (Backs To The Wall & The Wind-Break War & Silly, But It's Fun), scene selection, an interview with the writer Bob Larbey, production notes and filmographies. The latter items are the same as the ones on the Series 4 DVD.

Backs To The Wall
It's time for Tom and Barbara's harvest and Margo and Jerry are off to 'Keenya' on safari. But Tom hurts his back and Barbara is left to do all the work, but then help appears - although limping!
* Some lovely poingant moments in this episode amid the usual chaos that is the life of the Good's. Classic moments include Margo helping with the harvest and Barbara tempting Tom when he's in too much pain to do anything about it!

The Wind-Break War
Margo has planned an arbour in the back garden which requires a wind-break to be erected. This means that the Good's fruit will get no sun and an argument and mix-ups ensue not helped by the gardener! They eventually make-up and a very enjoyable (for the audience!) evening follows fuelled by the famous pea-pod burgandy!
*This has to be my all time favourite episode and some of the lines have me in stitches. This is always remembered as the episode when they all get drunk and Jerry admits his feelings for Barbara.."It brings out the beast in me!" and Tom comforts Margo when she admits she has no sense of humour..."Don't worry Margo - I'll go and find you one!" Paul Eddington has a wonderful time and some of the best lines as stressed out Jerry and defends Margo very gallantly! Brilliant, Brilliant episode evidently enjoyed by the cast as much as anyone!

Silly, But It's Fun
Margo's christmas is due to arrive in a van, but the 9ft tree isn't, and so the whole lot gets sent back -along with a very perceptive delivery driver- and the new lot never arrives. So naturally Jerry gets political chicken-pox and Margo feels christmas "hasn't come to this house...". Jerry is looking forward to a nice quiet christmas with just the two of them until he realises there's not enough alcohol or food! Tom and Barbara have planned a simple self-sufficient christmas and so invite Jerry and Margo over to join in and, after Tom 'persuading' Margo to join in with the games and sprirt of the thing, they all agree it has been the best christmas ever.
* Another wonderful episode, with Margo's social standing and idea's taking another battering thanks to the 'working class'and the Good's idea of a good time! Some great moments include the delivery man's observation's (especially the one about Barbara's eyes!)the home-made crackers (and paper-hats!), anytime a piece of mistletoe appears!, Barbara's bird model, and present giving time.

All in all this is an essential piece of kit for a DVD owning fan of 'The Good Life' or for someone who is new to the show. Also good for anyone who needs cheering up or a satisfying laugh out loud - Enjoy!:)


5 out of 5 stars MORE CLASSIC COMEDY   August 14, 2004
D. MCCAFFREY (Springfield, IL United States)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This DVD is a must have for any serious fan of this popular and enduring Britcom! In fact, you will need to buy this DVD in order to complete your collection, even if you have Series 1-4. But it is definitely worth it! The audio and the video are excellent! This classic never gets old!


5 out of 5 stars Classic Comedy!!!   January 30, 2002
markwiles@kitv.co.uk (Hull)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

The Good Life is a series that will never age.The humour is continuous.The Good Life was probably a stepping stone for alot of what we do today. Felicity Kendal and Richard Briers shine as alwaysas Tom and Barbara Good, who manage to spend 15p each at christmas, and Paul Eddington and Penelope Keith as Jerry and Margot Leadbetter whose expensive lavish christmas does not turn out exactly how they planned!!!This video features 3 of the series classic episodes and can be watched again and again without the humour becoming less funny, unlike many so called comedys of todays era.


5 out of 5 stars The Good Life, brilliant!   August 1, 2003
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Classic! What more can one say apart from saying that Margo is not only one of the funniest british sitcom characters, but she is my favourite. Penelope Keith OBE is one of Britains greatest assets as she is absolutely hilarious as Margo with the situations she gets herself in, and to hear her read her chistmas cracker joke (hand made by Tom of course)completely oblivious to the humour in the joke her face is a picture and i believe she has one of the prettiest faces on the television. No forget Felicity its ravashing Penelope Keith i want this video for!


5 out of 5 stars One of the greatest.   June 5, 2000
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

The Good Life will never age - it's just so well written and performed. Where many shows of the era now clang, The Good Life brightly jingles on, smart and funny at every step.

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THE GOOD LIFE VIDEO - BACKS TO THE WALL 1975 3 EPISODES
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