David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd's sitcom 'Allo 'Allo started life in 1982 as a modest one-off spoof of the classic 1970s drama series Secret Army. A throwback to an earlier era during the 1980s heyday of alternative comedy, the show's decidedly un-PC mix of bedroom farce and crudely drawn national stereotypes was subsequently stretched over nine series in all (1984-1992), making it TV's successor to the long-running Carry On series. 'Allo 'Allo was not only similarly preoccupied with seaside postcard humour, it was also blessed with a cracking ensemble cast (including Carry On veteran Kenneth Connor) whose sheer energy eked out comic gold from even the laziest jokes about humourless Germans, cowardly Italians, "Tally ho!" Brits and onion-selling Frenchmen. Like Croft & Lloyd's Are You Being Served, it was the cast interaction more than the material itself that produced the laughs.

Gordon Kaye deserves much of the credit for keeping the show fresh. Whether he's plotting with the sexy Resistance leader, in cahoots with the Nazi commandant about a priceless painting of "The Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies", or fending off the attentions of sex-starved waitresses under the withering gaze of his wife Edith, bumbling Rene is the lynchpin around which the endless farce revolves. Despite its determination never to vary the formula from week to week, the show had at least one virtue--it wasn't afraid to offend anyone. --Mark Walker

Hey, how can anyone NOT find this funny? I grew up with this on my television, it made up part of my weekend. I loved the antics, and it may have given me my obsession now. Of course that is light hearted but we must remember that this was a real event in history and Nazi's weren't comical like this programme makes them out to be ... which makes it a remarkably brave premise... David Croft and the other guy took a risk by making fun of a time that then MANY people still had clear memories of!

Bravo!

Pity that they can't make any more!

BTW, does anyone know what happened to the actress that played Maria... Francesca Gonshaw?

utter utter nonsense. Laughter free. What's funny about some old munter saying 'ohh rene' ?

If you `ave noticed, every reviewer `as given 5 stars, and there is a good reason for this, it is impossible to give less. A sitcom without rival, nothing can be faulted not even the age old innuendos that are hammered out like machine gun fire. If by chance and I shall say this only once, you were living on another planet and have never seen an episode just watch one and you will be hooked.

I bought this DVD set having fond memories of watching some of the series when it was first broadcast. I worried that it might not have stood the test of time, might seem dated, or just not be as good as I remembered.
In fact I think I enjoyed it more. Being able to watch every episode in sequence may have helped. I think though it is just down to the quality of the writing and cast.
At the current price ??10.99 for series 1 and 2 this is unmissable.

This wonderful series ran for a few years on BBC Television during the 1980s and is now considered a television classic. The first two series set the characters and the tone of the series which lasted about 8 years all told which is strange since the occupation of France by the German Army only lasted 4 years. This is a fine comedy with so many wonderful characters, the cafe owner Rene Artois played by Gorden Kaye who stumbles from one crisis to the next. He just wants to live a simple life, but cannot, due to being harrassed by his wife Edith (played by the brilliant Carmen Silvera) the French Resistance leader Michelle (Kirsten Cooke) who will say it only once, the two barmaids Yvette and Maria(Vickie Michelle and Francesca Gonshaw)and the Gay German Officer (Guy Siner). Not forgetting of course, the legendary Jack Haig ("it is I, Leclerc!") Of course, it wouldnt be quite the same without mentioning the Fallen Madonna with the big, well I wont say it. This farce is still quite enjoyable today and hasnt dated at all. Great fun!