This was the first collection of programs released on DVD by HBO Video. There are six programs in this 2 disc collection and you'll find the links for each program in the right hand column of this page. There's also a link for the bonus features.
Golden Greats DVD Review
Golden Smiles
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Golden Smiles
[1985]
Airdate: 05/27/85
[50:36]
- Newlyweds
- Bird Talk
- Who's Winning?
- "Cost-A-Coco"
- Weather Boy And Girl
- Roughnecks
- The Lover
- The Scarlet Woman
- Carmen
- Just A Wee Bit Pregnant
- Flush TV
- It's My Hat!
- Underneath The Covers
- His Draws Have Come Up
- Do You Drink?
- Any Other Lovers?
- Dibble's Health Farm
Cast: Benny Hill, Henry McGee, Jack Wright, Bob Todd, Jon Jon Keefe, Louise English, Erica Lynley, Sue Upton, Len Keyes, Alison Bell, Kerry Gallagher, Jade Westbrook with Hill's Angels.
Review
"Golden Smiles" is the first program of six VHS Tapes from the "Golden Laughter" series featured on this 2-disc collection of Benny Hill. It starts with two standard gags from Benny, the first being Benny and an unknown girl in "Newlywed" and the second with Sue Upton and Bob Todd and a swearing bird in "Bird Talk"
The show "opener" is the "Cost-A-Coco" and features the recognizable voice of Henry McGee introducing Benny. The "Cost-A-Coco" song is very low key. The only girl I recognize here is Louise English.
The "Weather Boy and Girl" features Benny and I believe Erica Lynley as the "cuckoos" that come out of a clock to a tune sung by Benny.
"Roughnecks" features Benny as a Street Punk and Bob Todd as a priest telling him to leave his life of debauchery and "offering the kingdom of heaven". Notable here is Louise English and Jane Leeves as his "groupies" Just look at Louise's face as Bob offers his sermon! One of Jackie Wright's few appearances.
"The Lover" is the highlight of this collection and features the lovely Alison Bell as Benny's Lover. Benny is of course hired by Alison's husband Jackie Wright, and, as in previous sketches like this one, Benny plays a Butler, the Gardener and a Female Housekeeper. There is one brief instance of the girls disrobing here, but it's not memorable.
"The Scarlet Woman" has Bob Todd as Judge and Benny as Head Juror, ruling on the moral fiber of a novel. Louise and Jane are in the background again.
"Carmen" is a reworking of the opera by Georges Bizet. It's basically a medley of tunes set to a series of gags, but it plays slowly and lacks energy and there is a lot of padding. Bob Todd leads the army with his voice looped by Benny. The Cigar Girls are sexy, but I recognize none of them and Louise's role in this one is very much in the background. There is a Flamenco dancing sequence that is nice, but is out of place and gives the sketch more the feeling of a variety show than comedy. At 17 minutes, it's just far too long and slow.
Louse is the star of one brief gag, "Flush TV". "It's My Hat" has Bob Todd as the Priest once again. "Any Other Lovers" has Benny and Erica Lynley on their wedding night and Erica is actually funnier than Benny as the annoyed wife when Benny asks, "Have you had any other Lovers?" You can actually see Benny trying not to laugh at the end.
"Dibble's Health Farm" shows Benny trying to impress the girls with physical strength. There is a Little Angel in this one, which gambles, drinks Benny's beer, slaps him when he smokes a cigarette and sprays him with a water pistol! As if Benny hadn't been the wipping boy enough. There is one memorable moment when a swimmer pretending to drown gets two beautiful ladies to undress and reveal their stockings, garters and knickers as he quickly pulls out his camera and snaps some picks of their embarrassing moment. Bob Todd once again is the priest and Sue Upton is the old lady. Sue, Bob and the rest chase Benny and the Little Angel in a boat ride sequence to the end credits.
Overview
Golden Smiles is a pretty lackluster collection of sketches from Benny and company and many of the stars of the show are already receding into the background. Louise, Sue, Bob and Henry are all given small parts. The sexuality is also very tame and the "Little Angel" here does nothing to add to the program. The highlight here is Alison Bell in "The Lover". Even though it is a recycled sketch, Alison is absolutely stunning and makes up a little for the lack of comedy with her winning smile and figure.