'Allo 'Allo - Series 1 And 2 Review

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waterlily1882's Review of 'Allo 'Allo - Series 1 And 2

13th Sep 2005

Overall Rating

Where Did You See It?
Television

Starring Actor/Actress
Carmen Silvera and Gordon Kaye

Good Points

Classic Sunday afternoon watching.

Bad Points

Corny gags.

General Comments

Allo Allo was outstanding comedy when it was first aired, over time I must admit it has dated rather quickly.
The show is based around Ren Artois, a caf owner in the town of Nouvion, who becomes unwittingly involved with the resistance when they use his establishment as a centre, from which to hatch plans to smuggle two British airmen back to dear old Blighty (loosely based on Secret Army).
This adds complications to Ren 's life which is already complicated enough, as he is married to Edith (played by the inimitable Carmen Silvera), a formidable woman who entertains in the caf by singing (badly), but like all good comedy Frenchman, he is also enjoying a passionate affair. The object of his lust is the beautiful Yvette, a leggy waitress at the caf . Much mirth is caused by their constant attempts to steal a few precious moments alone, which they rarely achieve without coming close to being rumbled. Ren himself is the target of the unwanted attentions of the fey Lieutenant Gruber, aide-de-camp to the Gestapo's Herr Flick.
The patronage of Flick and other Germans, causes Ren further problems when resistance agent Michelle embroils him in her (often ludicrous) secret plans.
The show had a cunning method of dealing with language problems. French characters spoke their native tongue with pantomime-style exaggerated French accents, but when they spoke English, they adopted equally exaggerated posh Oxford accents. The English characters spoke English normally, but when they spoke French it was with a poor, almost incomprehensible French accent. I can't really believe I used to laugh at these jokes. Not politically correct, and nowadays probably would not have be shown on prime time TV.
Most of the jokes are completely irrelevant in today's society, mainly due to the fact that the period is just not understood by many people.
Carmen Silvera and Gordon Kaye however, were well chosen for this slice of nostalgic TV, but in my opinion, just wait for the reruns on UK Gold.