[.ca] Keeping Up Appearances: Hyacinth Springs Eternal (Vol. 5-8)

"The 'Bouquet' residence! The lady of the house speaking!":
"Keeping Up Appearances" was a 44-episode, British TV sitcom that ran for five seasons between 1990 and 1995, with several specials filmed through 1997. The show's primary character was Hyancinth Bucket (Patricia Routledge), who always pronounced her last name as 'Bouquet' to make it sound as impressive as possible. She was obsessed with making her family appear as affluent and upper class as possible, which involved keeping her home immaculately clean and bragging to everyone about any new acquisition. While Hyancinth believes that she is admired and well respected by her piers, the reality is that no one wants anything to do with her. Her husband, Richard Bucket (Clive Swift), does not share Hyacinth's obsession, but he accommodates her as best as he can. Unfortunately for Hyacinth, her various plans to improve their station in life are often sidetracked by issues from her less affluent sisters or her senile father. The people that are most intimidated by Hyacinth are her next-door neighbor Elizabeth Hawksworth Warden (Josephine Tewson) and her brother Emmet Hawksworth (David Griffin, who appeared in the second season onward). The local church vicar, Michael (Jeremy Gittins), and his wife (played by Marion Barron) also try to avoid Hyacinth as much as possible. Hyacinth's three sisters live to varying degrees of affluence. Daisy (Judy Cornwell) and her blue-collar husband Onslow (Geoffrey Hughes) live in a row house that is in dire need of repair, with a wrecked car parked out front and an unkempt interior. Hyancinth's unmarried sister Rose (played by Shirley Stelfox in 1990 and Mary Millar between 1991 and 1995) lives with Daisy and Onslow and enjoys spending time with many men to the chagrin of Hyancinth. Hyancinth's only affluent sister, Violet (Anna Dawson), is rarely seen, but Hyacinth often speaks with her on the telephone. However, Violet's husband Bruce (John Evitts), who is also rarely seen, often has a penchant for wearing women's clothes to Hyacinth's embarrassment. Their senile father (George Webb) lives with Daisy and Onslow, and has a tendency to run away and get himself into all sorts of trouble. This 4-DVD set includes the following: * Volume #5, entitled "Everything's Coming Up Hyacinth", includes all seven episodes from the third season. * Volume #6, entitled "Some Like it Hyacinth", includes all seven episodes from the fourth season. * Volume #7, entitled "Living the Hyacinth Life", includes the first six episodes of the fifth season and interviews with Patricia Rutledge and Clive Swift. * Volume #8, entitled "Hats Off to Hyacinth", includes the last four episodes of the fifth season and the 1997 special "The Memoirs of Hyancinth Bucket". Though "Keeping Up Appearances" is not as well known in the U.S. as "Absolutely Fabulous" (nor is it as outrageous), it is a very good example of British comedy. Overall, I rank this 4-DVD set with a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

More Lessons in How to Keep Up Appearances!:
Never before has there been a middle class English houswife so determined to climb the social ladder (or at least appear to). Constantly on the look-out for opportunities to rub elbows with the "socially desirable" upper crust, Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced BOU-QUET) always manages to utterly embarass herself in the process. This set of 4 DVDs features more of the hilarious adventures of Hyacinth and the family and "friends" who put up with her obnoxiously uppety demeanor. Whether pretending to plan a "very expensive" trip or entertaining excentric millionaires (who could pass for vagabonds judging by their attire), Hyacinth never passes up a chance to show how superior she is to all of those "wanna-be's" out there. Supporting cast includes faithful (and long suffering) husband Richard, 3 sisters (of various social standings and emotional stability) and their husbands/gentleman-friends, ever-nervous next-door neighbors Elizabeth (whose husband is permanently on business trips) and her brother Emmett (who is happily divorced, now concentrating on his work as small-time music director at local functions). The sister's "Daddy" makes occasional appearances as dementia-ridden old man who is known for his flair to suddenly disappear. The oft-discussed and frequently telephoning "Sheridan" (Hyacinth's pride and joy son who is off at University studying needle-work and related handycrafts and enjoys asking for regular hand-outs from his Mummy and Daddy) is actually never seen, assuring that any actual person would be a disappointment after hearing all of the colorful stories about "My Sheridan". This is Brit-Coms at their very best! The laughs never stop long enough to catch your breath completely. This is the "I Love Lucy" of BBC's sit-com vault! There is no chance that anyone would not be absolutley thrilled with this collection of humerous situations. A five-star DVD set - highly recommended!*****

hyacyinths springs up again with 2nd DVD set:
I TOTALLY LOVE THIS BRITISH COMEDY SHOW. I USUALLY DON'T FIND THE BRITISH COMEDY SHOWS FUNNY BUT HYACYNTH AND HER UNFORTUNATE FAMILY ARE A RIOT. I HAVE BOTH HER BOXED SET DVDS AND I HAVE LOANED THEM OUT TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND THEY ALL AGREE WITH ME. THIS IS GREAT HUMOR WITH NO VULGARITY OR PROFANE WORDS. TOO BAD THE SHOW HAS ENDED BUT THANK GOODNESS FOR THE DVD WHICH I WILL NOT GET TIRED OT RE WATCHING THEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN...WORTH THE MONEY....THANKS. HIGHLY RECOMMDED.

Oh NICE:
Well done for the great and wonderfull DVD collection. I have bought both sets namely Hyacinth in full bloom and Hyacinth springs eternal, I cherished all the films with great amusement and laugh. I suggest this series to everybody who likes British comedy at its best. However and may I be subject to correction, Where is the episode THE ROLLS ROYCE which I assumed is in series five? I don't know the answer why its lacking and I think its a great pity not having it in my set, perhaps someone could anser my question. But all in all great series great crystal clear dvd and very good sound as well. Buy all I recommend.