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Reviews
Are You Being Served? (1977)
Only worth watching if you're free
The film has a couple of genuinely funny moments - the sheikh being measured up for a pair of trousers, and the missing false teeth which startle Mr Humphries. A special mention for Mr Grainger who portrayed a stereotypical brexiteer 40 years before the time. Other than that there isn't much that wasn't already in the series. Or in the earlier and better parody of Brits on the Costas, Carry on Abroad.
The Wackers (1975)
More 'orrible than 'Orrible Ives
I recently watched a couple of episodes of this forgotten production. Only managed to sit through two episodes neither of which are particularly memorable. As the risk of this series acquiring a cult following is infinitesimal I am not afraid to say it is definitely only for 70's sitcom completists.
Chiefs (1983)
An excellent miniseries from when US TV knew how to make 'em.
I watched this series as a teenager when it was broadcasted on UK TV in the 80s and enjoyed it immensely. About 15 years ago I bought the Region 2 DVD. This was heavily edited but I recently watched a Brazilian VHS edit (English soundtrack with Portugese subtitles) which was over just over 4 hours long. It is clear a lot was edited out of the Euro DVD edit - mainly dialogue, but also TV "interviews" with Foxy and Billly, and also some of the earlier investigations by Will Henry into the Oto's Bluff murder victim where he encountered a woman whose conduct could be described as cougar-like Rather forward-looking for his time, Will Henry assured the woman that he is only concerned with activities that break the law. Also I learned that Tyler presented his mother as an aunt, which might have exposed his true identity.
Also the shorter DVD omits the fact Tyler and "Tubbs" - the officer who attempted to frame him for speeding - ultimately became good colleagues,. Demonstrating that not all of Tyler's (exclusively white) patrolmen shared Bobby Patrick's dislike of being led by a black Police Chief.
It would be great if the full unredacted version could be released.