Worzel Gummidge (1979 -1981)

[Majikat]

I wouldn't be surprised if this collection does have subtitles considering the amount of effort and attention they appear to have put into this release, judging by the little I've seen and heard as well as how extensive the extras are; this is equalling if not exceeding classic Doctor Who restoration and extras.

Those old DVD's are very variable in quality, I can't remember who released them, I know it wasn't Network, I got both the follow up Down Under series at the same time, which I never saw on broadcast and don't much like, I don't think I've ever watched most of those episodes, they just didn't have the same quality of script as the original, they don't make me laugh.

Somewhere in my house, I'll hopefully find them when I go into the attic for the Christmas decorations in Dec' - are a couple of Southern TV publicity photo cards; one showing Jon Pertwee in costume and the other out of costume, both signed by him, from what I remember they have a lot of STV blurb on the back of them about the series. My dad got me them in 1980, somehow. I'll post copies of them, if and when I find them.

Originally Posted by daycity

Yeah, those masters used on the DVDs were bordering on the unwatchable, some episodes appeared to be near enough monochrome; the colour was that poor on them.

I've noticed on both the Amazon listing and FF's website that English subtitles look to have been included, hope that's the case.

[daycity]

Yeah, FF are notorious for not including subtitles with their boxsets so I was surprised to see them listed.

It's funny, although I remember watching WG as a child it wasn't til years later I even realised there were two separate series - the OG series and the NZ series. I remember seeing episodes where Barbara Windsor (The Saucy Nancy) would appear and then Worzel and Aunt Sally would be in New Zealand. Granada (my region) must have repeated the original series (I wasn't born when it was first aired ) during the '80s around the same time Channel 4 was showing the NZ series (?)

The DVDs really were appalling quality. I bought the box set around the early 00s and I think I managed to get through 4-5 eps before giving up.

[Majikat]

I remember that the original series was being repeated (on Channel 4, I think) on Sunday mornings in 1987. I don’t know if they repeated all of them or how long they did it for. I vividly remember because I would have it on it the background every Sunday morning, half watching it while looking out of the window for my grandfather’s car to come and take me out for Sunday day trips.

I recall being surprised that it went on for so long, I think the New Zealand series’ were first shown around ‘86/‘87 (which I think I only maybe know from looking at the production dates on the DVDs about 20 years ago).

Originally Posted by daycity

Yeah, FF are notorious for not including subtitles with their boxsets so I was surprised to see them listed.

It's funny, although I remember watching WG as a child it wasn't til years later I even realised there were two separate series - the OG series and the NZ series. I remember seeing episodes where Barbara Windsor (The Saucy Nancy) would appear and then Worzel and Aunt Sally would be in New Zealand. Granada (my region) must have repeated the original series (I wasn't born when it was first aired ) during the '80s around the same time Channel 4 was showing the NZ series (?)

The DVDs really were appalling quality. I bought the box set around the early 00s and I think I managed to get through 4-5 eps before giving up.

[daycity]

Originally Posted by Majikat

I remember that the original series was being repeated (on Channel 4, I think) on Sunday mornings in 1987.I don’t know if they repeated all of them or how long they did it for. I vividly remember because I would have it on it the background every Sunday morning, half watching it while looking out of the window for my grandfather’s car to come and take me out for Sunday day trips.

I recall being surprised that it went on for so long, I think the New Zealand series’ were first shown around ‘86/‘87 (which I think I only maybe know from looking at the production dates on the DVDs about 20 years ago).

This makes sense. So Southern Television lost the rights which were bought by Channel 4 and they broadcast the earlier series' followed by 'Down Under'.

I should really read the book by Stuart Manning.

[daycity]

It's back to its original pre-order price of £64.99 on Amazon.

There's been talk on Twitter (presumably by someone who's worked on this project) that if this box set sells well enough; 'Down Under' will follow in '23/'24.

[drush9999]

Fun fact:
Harvester only had the rights to use Worzel Gummidge in adverts and promo stuff etc for a limited period. They were still using lifesize cardboard Worzel's until the early 00s to welcome guests a decade later, but they didn't have the rights anymore and got into trouble over it

[ZombieTwin2]

Worzel put on his litigation head.

Kev W

[daycity]

Blu-ray Trailer - YouTube

This looks soooo good!

[RossyG]

Originally Posted by the ladykiller

Dang Wanglers
It better also include The Christmas Special at this price or they can bugger off to Zoo Nealand

Several shots of the Christmas special (complete with fake snow and Christmas trees) can be glimpsed in Fabulous Film’s trailer above, so it looks like it’s there.

It’d certainly be an odd omission.

[Majikat]

This looks so brilliant! I’m shocked at how pristine, clean, clear, sharp and vibrant it looks. I was expecting an improvement but this is beyond anything I imagined, what a teaser.

Thanks for finding this, I had a look a week or two ago for a preview of the new HD restoration but couldn’t find anything.

I’m going to have a very enjoyable December, will try so hard to limit myself to 1 episode a day, but it’s going to be hard not to binge the whole lot over a couple of days.

Originally Posted by daycity

Blu-ray Trailer - YouTube

This looks soooo good!

[ProfXtacy]

Looks like an amazing restoration.

[Dene]

Here is a longer trailer

that shows a bit more on the restoration + a glimpse at special features.

Incidentally I was in touch with Fabulous Films and they very kindly replied to confirm that the Blu-ray is 25fps "as originally broadcast/intended".

I think this is going to be a fantastic release. Unfortunately it's been delayed a few weeks--now out 19th Dec.

[ProfXtacy]

I thought it was very expensive initially for what it is but owning the DVD releases and knowing how poor those are and seeing this restoration I’ve actually come around. When you compare it with the Doctor Who releases it’s not that much more than one of those season sets, although the episode count will be a bit lower but many of those had substantial work already completed for the DVD releases, so I think the restoration of these episodes has been much more extensive this time around.

[daycity]

Originally Posted by Dene

Incidentally I was in touch with Fabulous Films and they very kindly replied to confirm that the Blu-ray is 25fps "as originally broadcast/intended".

I think this is going to be a fantastic release. Unfortunately it's been delayed a few weeks--now out 19th Dec.

That's great news about the frame rate. I was a bit concerned when I noticed the clips they've uploaded were in 24fps.

[Dene]

Originally Posted by daycity

That's great news about the frame rate. I was a bit concerned when I noticed the clips they've uploaded were in 24fps.

I agree with you, and I'd managed to convince myself it was going to be 24fps which is why I asked FF.

Here's a clip from the episode "Very Good, Worzel", and it's definitely 25fps:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1592918411633643522

I take your point ProfX--some of the Doctor Who Blu-rays are 14 eps for £40-ish (and entirely standard def VT--no film). We're getting 30 eps + a special here for £65, and True HD.

[The Fish]

Bollocks! Now pushed back to 26/12.

This was an Xmas present as well.

[pferreira]

The ultimate horror...now presented in HD!

[zicobones]

Originally Posted by The Fish

Bollocks! Now pushed back to 26/12.

This was an Xmas present as well.

This was posted the other day on fabulous films facebook page

[HillSprinter]

Originally Posted by drush9999

I can hum the Heidi theme from memory. I remember the bad dubbing too

Talking of bad dubbing, who remembers Silas?