Product description

Auf Wiedersehen Pet - The Complete Series 1 [DVD] [1983]

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Binding : DVD
EAN : 5037115008237
Label : ITV DVD
Manufacturer : ITV DVD
Publisher : ITV DVD
Release date : 2002-05-27
Title : Auf Wiedersehen Pet - The Complete Series 1 [DVD] [1983]
Actor : Array
Audience rating : Suitable for 15 years and over
Format : Array
Languages : Array
Number of items : 4
Original release date : 1983-11-11
Region code : 2
Running time : 650
Studio : ITV DVD
Theatrical releaseDate : 1983-11-11
Number of discs : 4

Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
pFirst broadcast in 1983, IAuf Wiedersehen Pet/I was an unlikely comedy hit about a group of British labourers forced to work in Germany during the recession. Scripted by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, (previously responsible for IPorridge/I and IThe Likely Lads/I) its main players are likeable stereotypes from all over England: there’s Wayne (the late Gary Holton), a cockney charmer and womaniser; Barry (Timothy Spall), the bumbling, haplessly pretentious Brummie; gentle West Country giant Bomber (Pat Roach); amiable Scouse Moxey (Christopher Fairbank); and the three Geordies; nervous Neville (Kevin Whately), loudmouth xenophobic lummox Oz (Jimmy Nail) and put-upon Dennis (Tim Healy), the reluctant gaffer of the mob. The show spawned a second series in 1986 then a belated follow-up in 2002.p The plotlines were entertaining--capers usually involving misunderstandings or hangovers or both: Oz eating rat poison, Oz attempting to smuggle porn, Neville waking up after a large night out with a German girl’s name mysteriously tattooed on his arm; Dennis’s tentative relationship with a German woman named Dagmar while on the rebound from his recent divorce.p However, the real meat of IAuf Wiedersehen Pet/I was in the interplay of the characters--who were confined in prison camp-style conditions--and Clement and Le Frenais’ rueful sense of the comedy of men in crisis. Tim Healy’s Dennis in particular was a classic example of the indignity of the traditional grafter who suddenly finds himself struggling in mid-life, a condition exacerbated at having to "wet nurse" a bunch of wayward geezers, as he frequently complains. --IDavid Stubbs/I/p

Customer reviews

review by: I.J. Parnham date: 2009-04-01 rating:

The perfect comedy drama
The 13-part series centres around seven builders working on a building site in Germany. Oz, the headcase; Barry, the radish; Neville, the whinger; Dennis, the leader; Wayne, the ladies man; Moxie, the criminal, and Bomber, the big one. Armed with such a diverse group of people, the series then does the sensible thing by confining them in a small space, their on-site hut, and then sits back and lets them annoy each other. br / br /In truth, the stories revolving around their drinking and womanising exploits are fairly obvious and not too interesting, but that's not the point. It's the characters that are the main interest, and this bunch is one of the best sets of characters ever assembled for a tv series. The fact that most of the actors would go on to become better known only adds to the feeling that this is something special. br / br /The comedy is perfectly written with great timing and always springs from natural events and the characters, and so everyone always keeps their dignity and you can believe in everyone as being real. So if you haven't seen this timeless classic yet, check it out.

review by: date: 2009-02-18 rating:

"That's Living Alright"
Auf Wiedersehen Pet is a reflection on what was going on during the 80s: the big recession meant that a lot of workers were left stranded in England with little work to do. So they had to a) retrain as something else or b) go to other countries and work there. This is the tale of 7 British lads having to face the fact that England has no work for them, and Germany has. br / br /You have gaffer Dennis (Tim Healy) - he's a Newcastle lad and finds life rather hard to manage when his wife wants a divorce. He's got to be strong - and lead the boys in Germany so they will do the job successfully, but he's got demons to fight. There's also Neville (Kevin Whately - also well known for his role as Lewis in Morse) - he's rather shy and doesn't really like being away from his beautiful wife; Oz (Jimmy Nail - Crocodile Shoes) is a yob and rather xenophobic too, he's just rough and ready. There's also Barry (Timothy Spall) who's a bumbling Midlander, who tries to act all intellectual, but in fact he's rather silly; Wayne (the late Gary Holton) is a typical London geezer who loves the women and is just cheeky, though he does have a heart of gold. There's also Scouser Moxey (Christopher Fairbank) - he likes to keep a low profile as he's been in trouble with the law in England. We can't forget the gentile Bomber (Pat Roach), a West Country man who's got a big heart, and is often the voice of reason on the site. br / br /This series tells the story of their work in Germany, the boredom of living on the work site, and their escapades - from Oz trying to smuggle porn, misunderstandings when Neville is accused of smacking a woman and Dennis' escapades with Dagmar (Brigitte Kahn - The New Statesman) oh and Wayne trying to get women left right and centre. Some of the funniest episodes included Neville working at an Indian restaurant to make a few Marks, Wayne and Barry trying to get together with some Swedish hostesses and the episode where Neville wakes up with a tattoo on his arm, how is he going to explain that one? br / br /This is a great show, that shows us just how difficult times could be, I like the way the boredom was portrayed, and the lack of fun at times just shows us that it wasn't all beer and women. Tim Healy has to be the best actor in this, his own personal struggles with not being with his wife and the divorce, yet having to get them to work hard and play hard is just brilliant. I also liked Christopher Fairbank, his lovable rogue act as Moxey is worth every minute he's on screen. I also enjoyed the way it parallels with today's life: they worked hard to make money, which they had to send back a sizeable chunk to their families, and this is what a lot of young people are doing when they come to England to work, whether it's Polish people, or others from other European countries; they have to spend as little as possible, and send as much back to the family, or save to make sure their futures are secure. br / br /I can't wait for the 25th anniversary DVD boxset - it will have all 5 series of Auf Wiedersehen Pet - although the last 2 were not as good, it's still a very good programme, and reminds us of the better times comedy wise. br / br /Get this, worth every minute of your time.

review by: date: 2009-01-28 rating:

Like Yesterday
As I re-watched the entire series it felt like yesterday when I AWP watched as teenager. The stars do now seem so young but the raw humour and excellent scripts shine through once more. One of the best series of all time.

review by: Terry Kav date: 2007-12-05 rating:

class doesn't age
I remember watching this every week as a 16 yr old (I'm 40 now!!). It's sheer class and stands the test of time due to its mixture of character and real humour. Strangely, it reminds me of certain dramas like the Sopranos or Band of Brothers in that you can watch it again and again and again. Quality. br / br /Terry Kavanagh

review by: phil date: 2007-09-05 rating:

Can't recommend this highly enough
I bought this box set a while ago now and have just got through watching all 13 episodes for the fourth time. It just gets better every time you watch it. br / br /I loved this series when it was first broadcast back when I was only 16 years old and it contributed significantly to my decision in later life to see some of the world and work in various foreign countries. Now I've lived it for real I can say that the expat working life is very accurately portrayed here. br / br /I would like to see the British pride and confidence shown in this series return to a country where it seems the idea of having a "we're the best in the world!" attitude has become unfashionable and I certainly see the irony now that the current generation of British workers to try life in other countries don't come back. br / br /Still, a perfect moment in British TV history that should be a compulsory purchase as far as I'm concerned.

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