Posts: 94
From: Southampton UK
Registered: Dec 2011
posted June 09, 2017 01:48 AM
But the films themselves are not from TV companies. The property is licensed to a third party for a film to be made. Are you Being Served was an Anglo -EMI production. Rising Damp was a Black Lion/ ITC production.
Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007
posted June 10, 2017 02:33 AM
The 1977 cinema version of "Are You Being Served" was on British television in April this year, and, frankly, it was terrible. Just proving that a normal half-hour TV show should not be elongated to 95 minutes.
The staff of Grace Bros take a trip to the Costa Plonka whilst the store is being remodelled.
The beginning set in the store was acceptable normal store fun, but when they arrived at their hotel it all escalated into rubbish.
Are you being Served the film is a real guilty pleasure of mine - I love it - I went to see it when it was on general release over here in the late 70's - although politically incorrect - who cares - its a great slice of British Comedy with the original cast. I have it on DVD - but I'd love a copy on super 8 - optical or 16mm.
Posts: 1423
From: Weymouth,Dorset,England
Registered: Oct 2012
posted June 10, 2017 03:06 AM
Just goes to show - one mans meat.................etc. But I tend to agree that the film was not of the standard of the TV episodes.
posted June 10, 2017 03:06 AM
I know the story has been used both as a film and a stage play. I've seen both and find them much inferior to the TV show.
posted June 10, 2017 12:45 PM
I agree that the first 30 minutes are literally like a episode of the TV show, but I thought it was a nice change of pace (the feature) and it's a fun slice of British Comedy, the likes that would never be made these days (well, by what I see coming out now on the BBC, although "Still Open" is a decent reboot of the classic).
-------------------- "All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
posted June 10, 2017 01:54 PM
Are you being served did get issued to the libraries on 16mm. I have a copy which has survived with good colour
They are variable for sure but I have a liking for the 1970's adaptations from sitcoms.
So far I have tracked down:-
Rising Damp - 16mm Are you Being Served - 16mm Man About the House - 35mm Steptoe & Son Ride again - 16mm Father Dear Father - 16mm Please Sir! - Walton 4x400 Super 8 Bless This House - both 16mm & Powell 4x400 Super 8 Porridge - 16mm Up Pompeii - 35mm
posted June 11, 2017 05:43 AM
As people have already said - "horses for courses" - I love the feature length spin offs of British Comedy Shows - I have Porridge full length optical print and Rising Damp full length optical print as well as the walton 4x400ft of Please Sir and the PM or Powell release of Up Pompeii - these features, although couldn't and wouldn't be made or remade today in this era of Political Correctness - still have a place in British Film History and especially in the world of collecting prints as these very well known comedic stars need to be remembered - for the humour they brought into our homes and at the cinema for many more years to come.