As an American who just recently binged watched the series and film, I just loved the show, all the actors and the writing of Eric Chappel. I wish there were more and of greater importance, that Richard Beckingsale and Leonard Rossiter hadn't died so young.
I loved working with Len in "Make and Break" at the Haymarket in 1980 and knew Richard as a friend. RIP these geniuses. Later really enjoyed working with Don who once made me laugh uncontrollably in a Shakespeare play we were doing in Liverpool.God bless them all.
Many thanks for this great tribute to a fabulous comedy, the acting and the situations will probably never be surpassed, the characters cannot be replaced and was an absolute joy to millions of people who really appreciated every move. Phenomenal show. Leonard and Richard, thanks for the parts you so wonderfully played. RIP guys.
I was born in England and I remember so well as a child watching this series and I have very fond memories of all the characters and I regard Leonard Rossiter as a most talented actor indeed. Greetings from Italy.
@@dnstone1127 How do you know, know him personally ? Most of us are affected or influenced by the company we keep, or the day to day influx of simple conversation. If you moved to Australia to live, for 5 years. you would be taken for an Australian, if you moved back to England, and so on.
@Jambo M Rowan Atkinson from NE also but Don Warrington what a great actor and took to comedy among that lot alongside another working class lad who'd have thunk it
I remember Richard beckinsale with much love he was a brilliant actor he passed away the same day as my grandmother like her will never be forgotten by me 💖😥
He should have been Doctor Who, in the days when real gravitas was required for the part. Come to think of it, Frances De La Tour should have been the first female Doctor Who!
@@annaforehan7784 Yes, and isn't it the mark of a good actor that when you watch Death in Paradise, you never think of him in Rising Damp for a moment, and vice versa. One of my favourite actors.
@@sarac.3259 Absolutely. Have you seen Babyfather? I thought his role in it should have been bigger. He's one of my favourites too. I've always thought he'd make a great Othello. He has a wonderful resonant voice and great dignity.
Rising damp would not get past the P.C. brigade nowadays and that is crazy. I grew up with Rising Damp and back then there were few roles for black actors. Philip was an intelligent, amusing man giving a positive view of black people!
I disagree, I suppose I belong to the PC brigade, being an anti-racist and all that but Rising Damp had nothing in common with other sitcoms of the time that had racism as one of its themes. The joke was always on Rigsby, hence why it works as well today as it did then. It's really timeless.
@@TesterAnimal1 At least he's being honest with his outrage. Those people who will be nice to your face, but then behind your back slate you, are still present.
Comedy is always of its time, which is why you wouldn't make it now. There is no "PC brigade" censoring comedy, just comedy that wouldn't have any point in 2021.
@@MrDorbel:... No PC brigade?!? You're talking out of your arse lad!!! It's the PC brigade whose existence you deny, that are going around, sticking their unwanted, know-nothing beaks in and getting comedians and actors "cancelled" and its making the right-thinking element very annoyed! No PC brigade my pasty white ARSE!!! Read the news once in a while will you!!!!!!!!!
This is brilliant. What a magnificent tribute to a great show. The talent level of the cast was off the charts. Oddly enough I saw The Rise and Fall of Reggie Perrin and Porridge first in the 1980s and only saw Rising Damp reruns in the 1990s. Just superb comic timing - all of them could steal the show.
One of the truly great sitcoms. Rossiter the master of comic timing. Chappell's brilliant scripts. Together with the wonderful talents of Richard, Don and Frances. So sad that we lost Richard so, so soon, I'm sure he would have gone on to do so many other great things in the acting world. He was well loved by the British public for sure, his two daughters must be so proud of their dad.
I was 17 when "Rising Damp" first appeared as a Sit-com. Timeless and still hilarious today. four great actors ,and Eric Chappel's dry and hugely funny scripts, made "Rising Damp;" alongside "Fawlty Towers", in my opinion, the two greatest British sitcoms that were ever made !!
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. You can see why it's been named one of the greatest TV comedies ever. Great cast. *RIP* Leonard Rossiter, Richard Beckinsale. Samamtha Beckinsale is the absolute split image of her late father.
Messrs Beckinsale & Rossiter, immortal, in those scenes, making us laugh, in a genius comedy. All involved, Framces de la Tour, Don Warrington just brilliant. The writing, directing. Thanks forever.
every now ad then they do it right. this show was the pinnacle of great sitcom comedy, superb acting , script and humor. .. .. alas such great shows have been designated to the past. and today we have????
I loved Richard Beckinsale. Rising Damp and Porridge were my favourite comedy shows as a kid so it always brings a lump to my throat when I see his daughter, Samantha, she is the spitting image of her Dad. I still miss him after 40 plus years.
For me one of the most brilliantly written acted and produced comedys..Yes brilliantly funny..But the natural warmth the actors brought to their relationships was a foundation And yes Leonard Rossieter an absolutely brilliant performance..Nuanced comedic genius of an actor Love it❤
An outstanding documentary that was made with heart. They did an excellent job given that Rising Damp was made 40 years before and there was a limited number of people to draw from - that difficulty shows in just a few places e.g. visiting the house where the film was made seems flimsy, some of the included interviews were tangential at best - but overall really well done. It's too bad that Francis De La Tour didn't participate but other interviews with her make clear she's moved on and achieved much before and since then (In her Independent interview she suggests "I just know that, when I die, the papers will say, 'Rising Damp Woman Kicks the Bucket'"). A wonderfully thoughtful, well made tribute - probably one of the better tributes to Beckinsale - great to see the excellent Don Warrington, Eric Chappell and Stephen Frears - Rossitter was just brilliant.
If you remember the professional’s,there was a time when Martin shaw,didn’t like to acknowledge his role in that series,but ultimately as an actor these roles are part of your acting dna,you cannot escape them,so embrace them.
What a trip down memory lane. I grew up watching sitcoms like this in the seventies. It is still excellent even now. Sadly sitcoms were replaced by cheaper reality shows full of talentless wannabes. The age of the sitcom has been and gone.
Richard & Leonard greatly missed. Such a wonderful team and a brilliant comedy. I never stop thinking about Richard wondering what he would have gone onto if he had stayed with us. Thank you for the laugher - no comedy has every matched up to Rising Damp!
I met Don Warrington outside the NT's Lyttleton Theatre. As I walked passed I tapped him on the shoulder and said "Hello Mr Warrington, nice to see you out and about." He was nice enough to laugh at my bit of whimsy and I recognised that delicious deep voice. A lovely man, a fine stage actor and the show has lasted combining as it does brilliant writing and a worthy cast.
I loved this show and could not wait for each episode. Loved Don's posh accent. Richard Beckinsale was something else. Loved his antics. I was shocked to learn of his death at such a young age. Frances De La Tour was fantastic. Could not stand her politics but she was a brilliant actress. Len Rossiter was the gem of this show. So sad that he passed away at the "tender" age of 57 years. They don't make shows like this anymore. RIP Len and Richard.
I believe Frances De La Tour and Leonard Rossiter did not get on behind the scenes. If Frances was very left wing I could imagine Rossiter maybe being a Conservative sympathiser.
@@LALakersNornIron many thanks indeed for this information Robert. It is such a pity really as the Three principal actors made this show thoroughly enjoyable. Nothing like a Brit comedy. Cheers!
Glad to see don warrington has become a british icon of television, i grew up in the era where british black actors were few during the 70s. As a british/ jamaican myself. I am proud of him.
Rigsby was one of the greatest sitcom characters ever. Obnoxious, bigoted, racist, leering but sexually frustrated, interfering wretch of a man. But Leonard Rossiter made him somehow loveable.
very good summary - on paper a pretty objectionable character but somehow came across as a person of pathos due to the acting skills of probably one of Britains greatest comic talents
I think the appeal was that his innate bitterness, ineptitude and ignorance was so obviously due to bad experiences in his life it resulted in viewers feeling sorry for him, instead of disliking him.
@@kendee4421 Yeah I agree Sir but, lets not forget he was the butt of every single joke. Miss Jones had her moments, indeed but all the other characters were relatable and likeable,. Rigsby was a joke, as a persona he 'Was' the Joke! Phillip was Royalty, He was Noble and a humble Gentleman who refused to throw his heritage in Rigsby's face, He was always the better man who refused to bite, this just made Rigsby come off even more the fool.
@@echo1174 the whole thing was based on the class system. Miss Jones was obviously from an upper class background, Philip appeared to be from a privileged background and Rigsby felt inferior, but Alan was someone Rigsby could look down on, but as he was a student Rigsby knew he was likely to do well. The biggest joke was that they were all having to live in his house! It is likely Rigsby inherited the house and chose to rent rooms rather than work, so he was technically better off than any of them.
As a "colonial" (South Africa), we missed this stuff. In European exile in mid 80's, I don't remember seeing re-runs on BBC (cable) ?. Lately discovering historical gems like this from ITV which are priceless. ITV deserves to be recognised and promoted for superlative productions which are otherwise "lost". Endless thanks for sharing with "The Group".
Rising damp means so much to me. Childhood laughter with my dad. I still love this show and binge watch every so often. Never can there ever be a better cast. When you feel like you know the characters personally how can it get better than that?
I,m 61 years old and loved this program as a young man. I doubt weather this would be allowed today. Such a shame we can’t laugh at ourselves any more.
Sadly so true. So may people these days fail to understand the fact that we were laughing at ourselves in so many of the sitcoms from that era. Take the old major from Fawlty Towers, some today try to say it was wrong to have such a character in the show, not understanding that the character of the major was put into the show to highlight just how ridiculous some of the old British attitudes were. Another good example is 'Love thy Neighbour', I recently discovered some old episodes on RUclips and showed one of them to my 30 year old daughter, who is very sensitive about anything that concerns racism of any kind. At first she could not believe what she was watching, but she very soon realised that the show was really about us Brits ridiculing ourselves about some of our racist attitudes at that time. Laughing at ourselves for being so bad, and highlighting that fact.
This show had every dynamic of comedic conflict you could ever imagine. Forbidden love, racism, generation gap, politics, poverty, snobbery. You name it it's there.
These are the greatest sitcoms Britain has ever made - Rising damp, Steptoe and Son, Hello Hello, Blackadder, ONLY WHEN I LAUGH (H.A.P.P.Y), One foot in the Grave, Only fools and Horses, Butterflies, My Hero (ThermoamaN - Mrs. RAVEN WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD!), The Good Life., Mind your Language, Some Mothers do have them.. All of these were truly special sitcoms
Truly wonderful. This was a magical moment. I fear never to be matched. Chemistry, quality scripting and just the right place at the right time. The acting and humor of time that will ever be a classic. So very thankful to have watched the first time around. Cheers
My fav Rigsby line, he was dressed in an ill fitted evening suit, was when he took Miss Jones to a posh old fashioned restaurant he didn't like the dull chamber music and yelled out "What about a Walz" me and my dad roared with laughter, funny man.
It's so sad to see the passing of so many familiar people, not faces, they were all people who entertained and brought joy to us. Passing is just moving to the next room and we can all still feel our loved ones until we join them in spirit
It was nice, and sad to learn about what happened to the cast members. This was my favorite British show ever, for a long time. Until "Wire in the Blood". And Peaky Blinders most recently. There was something awesome about the comedic chemistry, the nervous tics of Rugby and the underlying sexiness if Miss Jones. I was sad they never did get married.... Laugh I am glad I rediscovered this again, I will watch it again and again. Thanks for posting this, and the show on youtube.....
I love how Don is so eloquent, and I a time growing up in Britain where he would have been the minority and coming up against actual racism he didn't make himself a victim. True conviction if character. Always admired him and Leonard in Rising Damp
oh god shutup. he's not going to agree with what you've written. the buck stops at the racist. the onus is on the racist not the person who ahs been victimised.
I remember watching Rising Damp in my teenage years. A wonderful show that never got old. Leonard Rossiter was superb as was Richard Beckinsale and Don Warrington. Francis De La Tour was incredible as Miss Jones, a wonderfully sexy actress, desiable in the extreme. She made my and I suspect many others fantasies that bit better. What a lady!
Leonard was an acting legend he could make you laugh just pulling a face genius and underrated I thought, I watch rising damp at least once a month, if ever I feel low rising damp, the whole cast was great but Leonard was awesome, did they get the right person to play Rigsby,
Fabulous trip down happy memory lanes. Seems a little sad that Frankie de la Tour took no part in the documentary. It would have been interesting to hear her side of the relationship between her and Rossiter. How and why they could have such chemistry on set, but dislike each other so intensely in real life. A fascinating dynamic.
Loved this show when I was a child living in the UK, and my father loved both Leonard Rossiter and Frances De La Tour. I think I had heard it was based on a play but didn't know the full story till now. I remember the movie as well, which we saw by default because my siblings and I were too young to get in to see the American comedy "Meatballs" - to me the movie wasn't quite as good because Richard Beckinsale had died by then.
God I luv this show, why is it never shown anymore in the states? I discovered it in '83-'85 living in Queens, I think it was on a&e... Definitely a treat for the ages, right up there with fawlty towers!
ITV did make many sitcom gems, it is simply they are forgotten more than BBC sitcoms, as the BBC uses their commercial arm GOLD, Drama and Yesterday to keep repeating them, whereas ITV barely use ITV 3, and instead sell them to niche channels Forces TV and Talking Pictures TV.
A beautifully presented documentary by Don on what must be one of the most underrated British comedy series. My favourite, by a country mile. Thanks for all the laugh's! 👏👏👏
It was never “underrated”,it has always been regarded as a classic up there with “fawlty towers” in the upper echelons of British sitcoms,and has consistently been called the best ITV sitcom ever!
Loooved ",Rising Damp,". An hilarious show All the actors were wonderful Oh but Leonard Rossiter. We all know a landlord like Rigsby. Oh my word. We all laughed till we cried. 😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤
Don Warrington talking about left-handed writing reminds me of my own difficulties, as with all left-handers i imagine. I used to write 'upside down' too as my hand would smear the undried ink; it was all fountain pens, the Bic had yet to be invented. I would write with my hand above the script so as to avoid the ink and it works surprisingly well. I too was reprimanded by teachers who would tell me in no uncertain terms to write 'properly'-although being caucasian British there was no racial calumny. I had much the same prejudice later when i apprenticed as a panelbeater.The first job i was given 'solo' was to repair a R/F(offside) wing/guard/fender in front of the wheel which involved me holding the hammer in my left and the dolly in my right so, if you can imagine, i had to stand over the front facing rear with my R 'dolly' hand up inside the panel and my L working the hammer which must have looked totally Gumpish. The boss shouted at me "what are you doing lad, hold the hammer properly, like this" hence i had to learn how to work metal with my wrong hands. After about a year or two i got quite good at sraightening metal to the point where the older guys would call me over to fix any damage to the left hand side on their jobs. I became quite an accomplished car repair man and ran my own business for many years....the best thing that happened was learning to be ambidextrous---so never give up
Had no idea that len and Francis did not get along. But was nice to hear that Richard and Len hit it off so well. So tragic that they both died of heart issues too🥲
Приколы
I'm American, but I dearly loved this series. This documentary has touched my heart. Well done.
really moving seeing Don Warrignton return to the original recording studios after 40 years
The cast were as good as it gets, RIP to Richard and Leonard. I grew up with both and both never failed to impress.
As an American who just recently binged watched the series and film, I just loved the show, all the actors and the writing of Eric Chappel. I wish there were more and of greater importance, that Richard Beckingsale and Leonard Rossiter hadn't died so young.
I loved working with Len in "Make and Break" at the Haymarket in 1980 and knew Richard as a friend. RIP these geniuses. Later really enjoyed working with Don who once made me laugh uncontrollably in a Shakespeare play we were doing in Liverpool.God bless them all.
One outstanding sitcom .
The writing and acting are absolutely brilliant.
RIP Richard Beckingsale & Leonard Rossiter, both geniuses and sadly missed
I concur
Whoever designed the sets deserves a big thumbs up - just looked SO right. Amazing cast, brilliant writing and superb acting.
Totally agree can't believe when they made the movie the place was so different never looked good
I cried when it got to the bit about Richard beckinsale passing away
OMG!! I call my cat Vienna ❤🤣 yes because of rising damp 😊😊
Many thanks for this great tribute to a fabulous comedy, the acting and the situations will probably never be surpassed, the characters cannot be replaced and was an absolute joy to millions of people who really appreciated every move.
Phenomenal show. Leonard and Richard, thanks for the parts you so wonderfully played. RIP guys.
I was born in England and I remember so well as a child watching this series and I have very fond memories of all the characters and I regard Leonard Rossiter as a most talented actor indeed.
Greetings from Italy.
Don Warrington really does have the most amazing speaking voice. The embodiment of Englishness.
It's an affected accent, not really English at all, anyone can learn it, at RADA, Public school or elocution lessons.
@@dnstone1127 How do you know, know him personally ? Most of us are affected or influenced by the company we keep, or the day to day influx of simple conversation. If you moved to Australia to live, for 5 years. you would be taken for an Australian, if you moved back to England, and so on.
@Jambo M Rowan Atkinson from NE also but Don Warrington what a great actor and took to comedy among that lot alongside another working class lad who'd have thunk it
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Ll77oo
I remember Richard beckinsale with much love he was a brilliant actor he passed away the same day as my grandmother like her will never be forgotten by me 💖😥
One of those rare occasions where something worthwhile comes up in my watch feed. Thanks for uploading, enjoyed it!
One of a kind show the cast was amazing won't ever see tv like that ever again.
What a dignified man is Don Warrington! Loved this show and I have all the series on DVD, and rewatch them regularly.
He should have been Doctor Who, in the days when real gravitas was required for the part. Come to think of it, Frances De La Tour should have been the first female Doctor Who!
He's adorable. And perfect for his role in Death in Paradise too.
@@annaforehan7784 Yes, and isn't it the mark of a good actor that when you watch Death in Paradise, you never think of him in Rising Damp for a moment, and vice versa. One of my favourite actors.
@@sarac.3259 Absolutely. Have you seen Babyfather? I thought his role in it should have been bigger. He's one of my favourites too. I've always thought he'd make a great Othello. He has a wonderful resonant voice and great dignity.
Just before the pandemic, I went to see him play the leading role in “Death of a Salesman” at the Royal Exchange Theatre he was fantastic.
Rising damp would not get past the P.C. brigade nowadays and that is crazy. I grew up with Rising Damp and back then there were few roles for black actors. Philip was an intelligent, amusing man giving a positive view of black people!
@Jambo M you’re just investing your own outrage because you get off on it.
I disagree, I suppose I belong to the PC brigade, being an anti-racist and all that but Rising Damp had nothing in common with other sitcoms of the time that had racism as one of its themes. The joke was always on Rigsby, hence why it works as well today as it did then. It's really timeless.
@@TesterAnimal1 At least he's being honest with his outrage. Those people who will be nice to your face, but then behind your back slate you, are still present.
Comedy is always of its time, which is why you wouldn't make it now. There is no "PC brigade" censoring comedy, just comedy that wouldn't have any point in 2021.
@@MrDorbel:... No PC brigade?!? You're talking out of your arse lad!!! It's the PC brigade whose existence you deny, that are going around, sticking their unwanted, know-nothing beaks in and getting comedians and actors "cancelled" and its making the right-thinking element very annoyed! No PC brigade my pasty white ARSE!!! Read the news once in a while will you!!!!!!!!!
This is brilliant. What a magnificent tribute to a great show. The talent level of the cast was off the charts. Oddly enough I saw The Rise and Fall of Reggie Perrin and Porridge first in the 1980s and only saw Rising Damp reruns in the 1990s. Just superb comic timing - all of them could steal the show.
Saner programs
One of the truly great sitcoms. Rossiter the master of comic timing. Chappell's brilliant scripts. Together with the wonderful talents of Richard, Don and Frances. So sad that we lost Richard so, so soon, I'm sure he would have gone on to do so many other great things in the acting world. He was well loved by the British public for sure, his two daughters must be so proud of their dad.
The series boasted four acting geniuses (Rossiter, De La Tour, Beckinsale and Warrington) as its main cast.
I was 17 when "Rising Damp" first appeared as a Sit-com. Timeless and still hilarious today. four great actors ,and Eric Chappel's dry and hugely funny scripts, made "Rising Damp;" alongside "Fawlty Towers", in my opinion, the two greatest British sitcoms that were ever made !!
I would have never put those two together but now you mention it. Two great sitcoms, great actors and writers with chaos in every episode.
Rising damp is absolutely one of the best comedies ever made
Awesome, four actors at the very top of their game and hilarious writing- absolute genius.
Best sitcom of the 70s without a doubt.
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. You can see why it's been named one of the greatest TV comedies ever. Great cast. *RIP* Leonard Rossiter, Richard Beckinsale. Samamtha Beckinsale is the absolute split image of her late father.
Spitting image.
Messrs Beckinsale & Rossiter, immortal, in those scenes, making us laugh, in a genius comedy. All involved, Framces de la Tour, Don Warrington just brilliant. The writing, directing. Thanks forever.
every now ad then they do it right. this show was the pinnacle of great sitcom comedy, superb acting , script and humor. .. .. alas such great shows have been designated to the past. and today we have????
I was 16 when it first started..... still funny today ! 😄😄
I loved Richard Beckinsale. Rising Damp and Porridge were my favourite comedy shows as a kid so it always brings a lump to my throat when I see his daughter, Samantha, she is the spitting image of her Dad. I still miss him after 40 plus years.
The best sitcom ever
For me one of the most brilliantly written acted and produced comedys..Yes brilliantly funny..But the natural warmth the actors brought to their relationships was a foundation
And yes Leonard Rossieter an absolutely brilliant performance..Nuanced comedic genius of an actor
Love it❤
Rip Eric chappell. The series was brilliant even today I'm still watching it .
Love Don in Rising Damp - brilliant!
Very moving to see don talking about this show. And the people he worked with.
Beautifully written and performed by some very talented people.
An outstanding documentary that was made with heart. They did an excellent job given that Rising Damp was made 40 years before and there was a limited number of people to draw from - that difficulty shows in just a few places e.g. visiting the house where the film was made seems flimsy, some of the included interviews were tangential at best - but overall really well done. It's too bad that Francis De La Tour didn't participate but other interviews with her make clear she's moved on and achieved much before and since then (In her Independent interview she suggests "I just know that, when I die, the papers will say, 'Rising Damp Woman Kicks the Bucket'"). A wonderfully thoughtful, well made tribute - probably one of the better tributes to Beckinsale - great to see the excellent Don Warrington, Eric Chappell and Stephen Frears - Rossitter was just brilliant.
I don't think it would've killed her to have taken part in the documentary.
If you remember the professional’s,there was a time when Martin shaw,didn’t like to acknowledge his role in that series,but ultimately as an actor these roles are part of your acting dna,you cannot escape them,so embrace them.
What a trip down memory lane. I grew up watching sitcoms like this in the seventies. It is still excellent even now. Sadly sitcoms were replaced by cheaper reality shows full of talentless wannabes. The age of the sitcom has been and gone.
Leave coronation Street alone - 😄
Richard & Leonard greatly missed. Such a wonderful team and a brilliant comedy. I never stop thinking about Richard wondering what he would have gone onto if he had stayed with us. Thank you for the laugher - no comedy has every matched up to Rising Damp!
I met Don Warrington outside the NT's Lyttleton Theatre. As I walked passed I tapped him on the shoulder and said "Hello Mr Warrington, nice to see you out and about." He was nice enough to laugh at my bit of whimsy and I recognised that delicious deep voice.
A lovely man, a fine stage actor and the show has lasted combining as it does brilliant writing and a worthy cast.
He may have thought you were about to bring out a knife....
P.S. Any relation to Imre Moholy-Nagy or Naum Gabo? That's a Hungarian name I recognise and the latter settled here.
@@garymorgan3314 none whatsoever old chap
I loved this show and could not wait for each episode. Loved Don's posh accent. Richard Beckinsale was something else. Loved his antics. I was shocked to learn of his death at such a young age. Frances De La Tour was fantastic. Could not stand her politics but she was a brilliant actress. Len Rossiter was the gem of this show. So sad that he passed away at the "tender" age of 57 years. They don't make shows like this anymore. RIP Len and Richard.
I believe Frances De La Tour and Leonard Rossiter did not get on behind the scenes. If Frances was very left wing I could imagine Rossiter maybe being a Conservative sympathiser.
@@LALakersNornIron many thanks indeed for this information Robert. It is such a pity really as the Three principal actors made this show thoroughly enjoyable. Nothing like a Brit comedy. Cheers!
Glad to see don warrington has become a british icon of television, i grew up in the era where british black actors were few during the 70s. As a british/ jamaican myself. I am proud of him.
'Where were you?'
'I went to see Dr Zhivago'
'Oh yes? What did he say?'
😅😆😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
Rigsby was one of the greatest sitcom characters ever. Obnoxious, bigoted, racist, leering but sexually frustrated, interfering wretch of a man. But Leonard Rossiter made him somehow loveable.
very good summary - on paper a pretty objectionable character but somehow came across as a person of pathos due to the acting skills of probably one of Britains greatest comic talents
He was an all round ignoramous! I lovee Him! "Oil in the Pennine's" LOL
I think the appeal was that his innate bitterness, ineptitude and ignorance was so obviously due to bad experiences in his life it resulted in viewers feeling sorry for him, instead of disliking him.
@@kendee4421 Yeah I agree Sir but, lets not forget he was the butt of every single joke. Miss Jones had her moments, indeed but all the other characters were relatable and likeable,. Rigsby was a joke, as a persona he 'Was' the Joke! Phillip was Royalty, He was Noble and a humble Gentleman who refused to throw his heritage in Rigsby's face, He was always the better man who refused to bite, this just made Rigsby come off even more the fool.
@@echo1174 the whole thing was based on the class system. Miss Jones was obviously from an upper class background, Philip appeared to be from a privileged background and Rigsby felt inferior, but Alan was someone Rigsby could look down on, but as he was a student Rigsby knew he was likely to do well.
The biggest joke was that they were all having to live in his house!
It is likely Rigsby inherited the house and chose to rent rooms rather than work, so he was technically better off than any of them.
Love it! My cat is also called Vienna. Only difference is Rigsby’s cat is a boy and mine is a girl.
As a "colonial" (South Africa), we missed this stuff. In European exile in mid 80's, I don't remember seeing re-runs on BBC (cable) ?. Lately discovering historical gems like this from ITV which are priceless. ITV deserves to be recognised and promoted for superlative productions which are otherwise "lost". Endless thanks for sharing with "The Group".
All great comedy actors are secretly bitter
What a fabulous trip back down memory lane ,Thank you so much ✔✔🎵🎵💐💐✔✔
Timeless comedy ! This show was up there with the best, ever !
Rising damp means so much to me. Childhood laughter with my dad. I still love this show and binge watch every so often. Never can there ever be a better cast. When you feel like you know the characters personally how can it get better than that?
I,m 61 years old and loved this program as a young man. I doubt weather this would be allowed today. Such a shame we can’t laugh at ourselves any more.
Sadly so true. So may people these days fail to understand the fact that we were laughing at ourselves in so many of the sitcoms from that era. Take the old major from Fawlty Towers, some today try to say it was wrong to have such a character in the show, not understanding that the character of the major was put into the show to highlight just how ridiculous some of the old British attitudes were.
Another good example is 'Love thy Neighbour', I recently discovered some old episodes on RUclips and showed one of them to my 30 year old daughter, who is very sensitive about anything that concerns racism of any kind. At first she could not believe what she was watching, but she very soon realised that the show was really about us Brits ridiculing ourselves about some of our racist attitudes at that time. Laughing at ourselves for being so bad, and highlighting that fact.
I still do and ignore all the losers. Best thing to do.
@@100SteveB It highlighted racial stereotypes and plain ignorance.
@@100SteveB We've moved on and this show played its part on getting us to where we are today.
Whole cast was great
This show had every dynamic of comedic conflict you could ever imagine.
Forbidden love, racism, generation gap, politics, poverty, snobbery. You name it it's there.
The best sitcom ever,I still love it, and watch it today.
These are the greatest sitcoms Britain has ever made - Rising damp, Steptoe and Son, Hello Hello, Blackadder, ONLY WHEN I LAUGH (H.A.P.P.Y), One foot in the Grave, Only fools and Horses, Butterflies, My Hero (ThermoamaN - Mrs. RAVEN WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD!), The Good Life., Mind your Language, Some Mothers do have them..
All of these were truly special sitcoms
Truly wonderful. This was a magical moment. I fear never to be matched. Chemistry, quality scripting and just the right place at the right time. The acting and humor of time that will ever be a classic. So very thankful to have watched the first time around. Cheers
My fav Rigsby line, he was dressed in an ill fitted evening suit, was when he took Miss Jones to a posh old fashioned restaurant he didn't like the dull chamber music and yelled out "What about a Walz" me and my dad roared with laughter, funny man.
It's so sad to see the passing of so many familiar people, not faces, they were all people who entertained and brought joy to us.
Passing is just moving to the next room and we can all still feel our loved ones until we join them in spirit
It was nice, and sad to learn about what happened to the cast members.
This was my favorite British show ever, for a long time. Until "Wire in the Blood". And Peaky Blinders most recently.
There was something awesome about the comedic chemistry, the nervous tics of Rugby and the underlying sexiness if Miss Jones. I was sad they never did get married.... Laugh
I am glad I rediscovered this again, I will watch it again and again.
Thanks for posting this, and the show on youtube.....
Wire in the blood ? Really. You missed lots of great series off that list !
I've just discovered that, from 1983 to 1985, I lived less than half a mile away from where the series was recorded!
.Leonard Rossiter and Francis de la Tour BRILLIANT And I still adore them 👏🙏🏻👏🙏🏻👏🙏🏻👏🙏🏻
Priceless.
Comedy of the first order.
What a treat, amazing cast and performances!
Really struck a chord with me, loved this series growing up, superb comedy, thanks random YT suggestion 👍
🙏🙏🙏🙏 rest in peace Richard 🙏🙏🙏🙏
I loved Rising Damp as a kid I always found myself rooting for Rigsby, Leonard Rossiter the humble genius who was well loved.
I love how Don is so eloquent, and I a time growing up in Britain where he would have been the minority and coming up against actual racism he didn't make himself a victim. True conviction if character. Always admired him and Leonard in Rising Damp
Victims don't "make themselves victims". Bullies do that.
oh god shutup. he's not going to agree with what you've written. the buck stops at the racist. the onus is on the racist not the person who ahs been victimised.
People who cry racism today DO make themselves the victim. So bore off
I remember watching Rising Damp in my teenage years. A wonderful show that never got old. Leonard Rossiter was superb as was Richard Beckinsale and Don Warrington. Francis De La Tour was incredible as Miss Jones, a wonderfully sexy actress, desiable in the extreme. She made my and I suspect many others fantasies that bit better. What a lady!
Frances de la tour was know as my dads girlfriend. 😂 he was very fond of her, bless him
It absolutely sucked loosing Richard at such a young age but omg he left such a massive legacy.professionally and personal.
Leonard was an acting legend he could make you laugh just pulling a face genius and underrated I thought, I watch rising damp at least once a month, if ever I feel low rising damp, the whole cast was great but Leonard was awesome, did they get the right person to play Rigsby,
Fabulous trip down happy memory lanes. Seems a little sad that Frankie de la Tour took no part in the documentary. It would have been interesting to hear her side of the relationship between her and Rossiter. How and why they could have such chemistry on set, but dislike each other so intensely in real life. A fascinating dynamic.
never missed an episode dont see anything like it nowadays and probably never will
Held it in for most of the show but a few tears passed at the end.
Loved this show when I was a child living in the UK, and my father loved both Leonard Rossiter and Frances De La Tour. I think I had heard it was based on a play but didn't know the full story till now. I remember the movie as well, which we saw by default because my siblings and I were too young to get in to see the American comedy "Meatballs" - to me the movie wasn't quite as good because Richard Beckinsale had died by then.
genius. improved my quality of life
I cried a lot when Richard Beckinsale died young.
It’s work like this that changes the publics approach to comedy great writing, excellent casting, amazing comedy talent with the essential timing.
So sad what happened to Richard Beckinsale. He would be so proud of his daughters.
From mid 70's, to mid 80's, we lost some of the greatest comedic actors, many of them, while in a Theater.
God I luv this show, why is it never shown anymore in the states? I discovered it in '83-'85 living in Queens, I think it was on a&e... Definitely a treat for the ages, right up there with fawlty towers!
One of the few comedies I could and do watch repeatedly. Fantabulous 👏👏👏👏👏
Don Warrington is a superb actor. A genuine British man. Love you Don. A great English gentleman. Joe in Glasgow x
A million actors could never match that combo of four brilliant actors
Certainly the best ever sitcom made outside the BBC.
ITV did make many sitcom gems, it is simply they are forgotten more than BBC sitcoms, as the BBC uses their commercial arm GOLD, Drama and Yesterday to keep repeating them, whereas ITV barely use ITV 3, and instead sell them to niche channels Forces TV and Talking Pictures TV.
@@johnking5174 Talking Pictures is one of my favourites these days. Love those old 50's films.
Definitely
Simply outstanding
Just brilliant!! they dont make them like this anymore!
They really do not make them like this anymore.Grew up watching this and still love watching this today.
A beautifully presented documentary by Don on what must be one of the most underrated British comedy series. My favourite, by a country mile. Thanks for all the laugh's! 👏👏👏
It was never “underrated”,it has always been regarded as a classic up there with “fawlty towers” in the upper echelons of British sitcoms,and has consistently been called the best ITV sitcom ever!
Loooved ",Rising Damp,". An hilarious show
All the actors were wonderful
Oh but Leonard Rossiter. We all know a landlord like Rigsby.
Oh my word. We all laughed till we cried. 😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤
Excellent, brings back great memories, thanks for uploading
Don Warrington talking about left-handed writing reminds me of my own difficulties, as with all left-handers i imagine. I used to write 'upside down' too as my hand would smear the undried ink; it was all fountain pens, the Bic had yet to be invented. I would write with my hand above the script so as to avoid the ink and it works surprisingly well. I too was reprimanded by teachers who would tell me in no uncertain terms to write 'properly'-although being caucasian British there was no racial calumny.
I had much the same prejudice later when i apprenticed as a panelbeater.The first job i was given 'solo' was to repair a R/F(offside) wing/guard/fender in front of the wheel which involved me holding the hammer in my left and the dolly in my right so, if you can imagine, i had to stand over the front facing rear with my R 'dolly' hand up inside the panel and my L working the hammer which must have looked totally Gumpish. The boss shouted at me "what are you doing lad, hold the hammer properly, like this" hence i had to learn how to work metal with my wrong hands. After about a year or two i got quite good at sraightening metal to the point where the older guys would call me over to fix any damage to the left hand side on their jobs. I became quite an accomplished car repair man and ran my own business for many years....the best thing that happened was learning to be ambidextrous---so never give up
Excellent. Thank you.
Absolutely brilliant. I grew up with this. Omg I've laughed and cried 👍👍👍❤
"He even painted the doorknob" Omg too hilarious!
They don't make 'em like they used to. I love everything that Len Rossiter has ever done, but especially this and Reginald Perrin
Bob odenkirk reminds me of Leonard Rossiter, I could imagine him playing Rigsby.
Best ITV comedy of all time, and nearly, but not quite, the best on any channel.
Outstanding comedy love them all
Brilliant , first class comedy. Loved all the characters.
Had no idea that len and Francis did not get along. But was nice to hear that Richard and Len hit it off so well. So tragic that they both died of heart issues too🥲
one of my fav sitcom. we would laugh so hard and still do even now.
The car thief story was brilliant, Richard was superb, sadly missed
It's a shame Frances de la Tour didn't appear