Review of "Benny Hill: The Naughty Early Years, Complete and Unadulterated Set One 1969-1971, Episode 1" DVD

 

Review of

Benny Hill: The Naughty Early Years, Complete and Unadulterated Set One 1969-1971, Episode 1 DVD

Five out of five stars

 Benny Hill was a first rate comedian as well as a trailblazer in pushing the limits of what was allowed on television. He engaged in sexual inuendo that was heretofore disallowed. He did it with puns, the double entendre, suggestive sight gags and extreme facial expressions. The most common sight gag used in this episode is Hill dressed in women’s clothing  and playing everything from a television addicted housewife to multiple singers to women that are a bit of a vamp.

 There are parodies of medical procedures, a lampooning of international talent contests and a skit where Benny gets what he wishes for and then is content to be returned to what was before. Two characteristic features of the Hill comedy are the slapping of a bald head and the running away from the camera to the theme song at the end.

 One positive aspect of this episode is the underplaying of the laughter. Modern television comedies seem to think that there must be a significant laugh after nearly every line is delivered. Watching this episode took me back to the days when variety shows were taped before a live audience and the laughs had to be earned rather than inserted at will.