Allo Allo! Comp Series 9

Here it is... the final series of one of my favorite imports and a surprisingly funny sitcom about the German occupation of France during WW2.

While I feel the series suffered a bit following series 6 after Gorden Kaye suffered serious head injuries in a car crash and one half of the original writing team, David Croft, handed off his portion of the writing duties it still managed to bring hilarity to the war effort.

Before the meat, a bit of commentary:

With the total disrespect shown to fans by studios these days with many stalled, incomplete, or abandoned TV series in the marketplace it is refreshing to see a classic completed, especially a BBC series which tend to be higher priced than standard domestic fare.

As anyone who is looking at this item is surely a true fan I'll not bore you with how good the series is. You already know. So here is what I know about this release.

First, the Special Features:
The Best of `Allo `Allo! - René and Edith reminisce over old times.
Cast Biographies

WARNING:

** Spoilers ahead! **

If you do not want to know what happens in series 9 stop reading now!

From the package description:
"René has great expectations! The end of the war is in sight and he is eagerly anticipating a quick return to normalcy. Unfortunately, this is Nouvion, and normalcy will have to wait while René is blown to smithereens, shot in the rear end while disguised as an elk, and kidnapped by Louise to serve as love slave to the Communist Resistance. Meanwhile, Herr Flick undergoes plastic surgery to avoid capture by the Allies, General von Klinkerhoffen hatches another fool-proof plan to assassinate Hitler, and no one can remember where they have hidden the painting of the Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies. As normalcy recedes further and further into the distance, Michelle plots an escape via the annual fishmonger's parade, and Lieutenant Gruber desperately tries to fix his little tank. Can the end of the war come soon enough to save these desperate fools?"

Episode summaries:

Gone with the Windmill - As the war draws to an end, Gruber and von Strohm return from Spain, their escape attempt having failed. René agrees to hide the painting, still missing a boobie, and suggests the Germans fake their own kidnapping by hiding in the windmill, which von Klinkerhoffen has earmarked for target practice. Meanwhile, a heavily bandaged Flick tells Helga he has had plastic surgery to avoid capture by the Allies.

A Tour de France - Captured by the Communists, René is looking for a way to escape. Meanwhile, everyone else assumes he has been killed in the windmill explosion. Flick and von Smallhausen are attempting to trick Edith by pretending to be British.

Dead Man Marching - Renés backside is full of buckshot after being mistaken for an elk while escaping from the Communists. He now must lay low or face being re-captured, but in the end decides the safest plan is to turn himself in to the Germans, faking amnesia from the explosion.

Tarts and Flickers - Michelle tries to send important microfilm to England via homing pigeon. When that fails, she decides on using a motorised float in the annual Nouvion Fishmongers Parade. Flick and Von Smallhousen pose as waitresses to search for the painting.

A Fishy Sendoff - It is the day of the annual Nouvion Fishmongers Parade, but von Klinkerhoffen, Gruber and the Colonel are heading to Berlin on a most special mission: to assassinate Hitler with an exploding picture frame.

A Winkle in Time - The Allies have landed, and the Germans are in trouble. While a disguised Gruber and von Strohm attempt to mingle with the villagers, Flick and von Smallhausen try to reach the ocean in a mini-submarine via a secret tunnel under the town... Nouvion, present day. A Mercedes pulls into the square where there is a statue of René, the war hero. Old chauffeur von Strohm opens the door for the rich owners Helga and Gruber (now an international art dealer). Inside the cafe is René's young adopted son. René is being assisted to the toilet by Yvette. Upstairs, an older Mimi attends to the bedridden Edith. René is explaining that he never found the painting, when an accident suddenly reveals its hiding place. The painting is now worth millions, but will everyone get their share?

Very highly recommended!

There are few consistently truly funny TV series, despite repetitive punch lines, that brings the kind of humor that can literally have one fall off the couch as this series. Brilliantly conceived, especially the Englishman who THINKS he can speak French, but using English words (or misspellings and pronunciations) this hilarious and heartwarming scenario in alleged WWII German occupied France is perpetually hilarious. The portrayal of German officers, even the Gestapo, as well as the female controlled underground, hit a tone of commonality that even our visiting German relatives cannot get enough of. Series 1-6 was a thoughtful then 70th birthday present, but we just had to order more recently released 7-9 to its completion. How this was missed in its heyday is beyond me, but is once again an excellent benefit of DVD possibilities. No one should miss out on this fabulous fun filled series, but they must be prepared to spend hours upon hours improving their health by laughing over and over. Considering that the entire cast is practically all British it is amazing how they have captured our perception the French character and accent. A very worth while investment, indeed, and one to be shared with others. There are unexpected surprises throughout, and even the replacement of characters due to untimely deaths does little to take away of the ongoing pattern. Do yourself a great favor--invest in this series. You will not regret it.

very good movie a great tv show watched it for years but missed so bought the series....

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 16 reviews  4.8 out of 5 stars