One of the greatest sitcoms in the history of British television debuts on DVD
RISING DAMP, SERIES 1
"ITV's finest and most enduring sitcom"
-Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy
Acorn Media announces the January 10, 2006, DVD release of Rising Damp, Series 1. Like Archie Bunker in the U.S., Rupert Rigsby is the British comedy character the whole country loved to loathe. Comic genius Leonard Rossiter (The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin) plays the odious Rigsby, whose ludicrous pretensions and bigotry are played off against the hi-jinks of his more enlightened but cash-strapped tenants: long-haired medical student Alan (Richard Beckinsale), love-starved administrator Ruth (Frances de la Tour), and urbane "African prince" Philip (Don Warrington). The BAFTA Award-winning series, a critical and popular success during its four seasons on the U.K.'s ITV network in the 1970s, remains a winner. Voted one of Britain's all-time favorite sitcoms in a 2004 poll, ranking ahead of more recent hits like As Time Goes By and Coupling. The DVD single of Rising Damp, Series 1 is priced at $24.99 SRP. Its seven episodes have a total running time of 173 minutes. The DVD features production notes and cast filmographies. Pre-book date is December 13, 2005
Rising Damp was written by Eric Chappell, and is based upon his earlier play for the stage entitled Banana Box. Chappell's other notable U.K. comedy hits include The Bounder, Only When I Laugh, Duty Free and Home To Roost. Home to Roost, which starred John Thaw (Inspector Morse), was eventually adapted for American television as You Again? Chappell's greatest critical and ratings success remains Rising Damp, owing much to Leonard Rossiter's ability to create a comedy icon as Rigsby-surprisingly in his first-ever sitcom role.
Rising Damp, Series 1 is available from select retailers, catalog, and direct from Acorn at 1-888-870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.
Headquartered in suburban Washington, D.C., Acorn Media is one of North America's most active providers of British television on home video.
DVD Single
Catalog #AMP-8105
ISBN: 1-56938-810-5
UPC: 0-54961-8105-9-8
SRP: $24.99 U.S. / $35.99 CAN
Running Time: 173 minutes.