majenta's Full Review: Keeping Up Appearances - Born to Rule
...would do well to check out this trio of early misadventures featuring Shirley Stelfox in the role of Rose (Mary Millar would take over later--although I think she looks younger than Stelfox. Actually, Millar takes over just as Emmett [David Griffin] arrives on the scene).
We begin with "A Fate Worse than Senility," which first aired on 19 November 1990. Sisters Hyacinth (Patricia Routledge), Daisy (Judy Cornwell), Violet (Anna Dawson), and Rose (Shirley Stelfox) have a widowed father who lives with Rose, Daisy, and Daisy's husband Onslow (Geoffrey Hughes) in a far less-desirable area (in Hyacinth's eyes) than the ones into which Hyacinth and Violet moved when they married--Hyacinth to Richard Bucket (Clive Swift) and Violet to "Bruce" (John Evitts). Of course, Hyacinth insists that her surname is pronounced "Boo-kay," and gets in a huff when it's pronounced the way it's spelled. Hyacinth HATES having to keep coming back to this area, but it's where Daddy lives, and there's always a reason Hyacinth can't bring him to her lovely home, to stay. Daisy and Onslow, and even Rose, probably look after him better than Hyacinth would, anyway. So how could they have let a woman take up residence in his room and refuse to leave? (Note: I think this episode is actually called "The Charity Shop"; whoever was in charge of this compilation took the above title from what Hyacinth frantically tells Richard. There's another episode in which Daddy disappears and his family traces him to the local registry office. That one's from Season/Series 2, is generically called "Problems with Relatives," and features Violet and Bruce.)
"Our Daisy and Her Toyboy" (first aired 26 November 1990): Daisy thinks Onslow is taking her for granted. He doesn't notice when she gets all dolled up for him--all he cares about is that he has a nonstop supply of beer and crisps to scoff (scarf down, demolish) in front of the "telly" (which, of course, he operates like The Fonz operated that jukebox on HAPPY DAYS). When this neglect really starts getting to Daisy, who better could she consult than her gentleman-friend-hungry baby sister Rose? During a day of beauty at the local boutique, Rose recommends that Daisy get herself a "toyboy"--a hot younger dude who will surely make Onslow jealous...well, make him wonder what's different, anyway. Rose introduces her to a tasty 17-year-old morsel played by Jonny Lee Miller--hmm, where have we heard that name before?...Yum yum! It's just got to work! Meanwhile, we get to hear Onslow and Richard singing "He Who Would True Valor See." This was written by John Bunyan in 1684, as you can tell from the line "to be a pilgrim." But if you've seen this episode already, was it before or after you saw the 1966 movie THE FAMILY WAY (Hayley Mills, John Mills, Hywel Bennett, Murray Head--yes, he of "One Night in Bangkok" fame)? The opening theme music sounds rather familiar.... (I can no longer remember which one I saw/heard first.)
And finally, "The Christening" (3 December 1990): Daisy and Onslow's hitherto-unseen daughter Stephanie has just had her own daughter and Great-Aunt Hyacinth and Great-Uncle Richard are getting ready for her christening. ("What sort of a name is 'Kylie' for a Christian person? It sounds like a foreign ve-ge-ta-ble," Hyacinth frets.) As much as Hyacinth loves social occasions, she isn't looking forward to this one: her family lacks so many organizational skills that Stephanie isn't even married yet. Maybe Onslow won't even wear a tie--he didn't at Stephanie's christening. And are they bringing Daddy along? By that I meant Stephanie's grandfather, Kylie's great-grandfather, but Daisy and Hyacinth really hope that Stephanie will bring Kylie's father. Not only wasn't there a wedding first, nobody has ever even met Stephanie's babydaddy. Will the christening live down to Hyacinth's cellar-dwelling expectations?
I hope this wonderful 3-pack lives up to your highest Hyacinth expectations; it lives up to mine every time. Now, what'll it be--a cup of tea or a pint of lager?
Recommended:
Yes
Viewing Format: VHS Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.