Search - The Best of... What's Left of... Not Only... But Also... on DVD

Not Only...But Darn it!

Donna M. Tindall | 10/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I loved Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, especially together. This DVD showcases the beautiful black and white [and some color] program they were well known for, not so much here in America back in the mid 1960's, but mostly in England. Being a John Lennon fan since 1964 it is wonderful to see a near mint copy of the visualization of the poem from his first book, In His Own Write, that being, Def Ted,Danoota and Me.
For fans, old and new alike, it breaks your heart when you read in the enclosed booklet that the BBC erased [wiped is the technical term] the master video tapes in the early 1970's due to some silly notion that they, the BBC, couldn't afford new reels of videotape and Peter Cook himself offered to BUY NEW REELS in order to keep the BBC from wiping the tapes, hence, the program, Not Only..But Also, would be eliminated like it never had been in the first place.
I don't really know how the material on this DVD survived, it must have hidden itself in a warehouse somewhere under the title "BBC Documentary:
How To Tell When It's Raining".
Shame on them for destroying the masters of this funny, funny, series.
Now, with both men gone forever, if you enjoyed their unique humor as I have, buy this DVD and enjoy what once was. We'll never see their likes again. Darn it!"

A Nice Chunk of Pete & Dud

Jazz Man | Madison, Wisconsin | 09/19/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In the early 90s the BBC released a ninety minute videotape called 'The Best Of ... What's Left Of ... Not Only ... But Also'. It was a greatest hits compilation of the few sketches that remained of the show. This DVD takes a different approach and re-creates six episodes.

Working from memory it looks as if all the material from the videotape has been included here EXCEPT for the Pete & Dud reunion sketch they recorded for the release of the video. The sketch is short, not terribly great, but it was nice to see the two of them together again. That's the reason for my four star review instead of five; that sketch should have been included here.

Having said that what's here is quite good. All of their most famous sketches from the series are here (nuns on trampolines, a handful of Pete & Dud sketches, Superthunderstingcar, Peter as Garbo, teaching ravens to fly underwater, Peter as a dad having a sex talk with his boy Dudley) and it's a lot of fun. A bit less fun are the jazz trio pieces and the female singers that occasionally perform with them. There's also a somewhat interesting bonus feature entitled 'Success Story' that includes some nice clips (One Leg Too Few) and an interview with the boys from the 1970s.

All in all it's great slice of mid-60s British sketch comedy. Although Monty Python would come along in a few short years and destroy this format, there's something very sweet, silly and ultimately quite satisfying about Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.

Don't hesitate to pick up this DVD and if you enjoy it then immediately head for the 'Beyond The Fringe' disc as well. You won't be disappointed."

Fantastic! But...

Pattie | I Am Here | 07/21/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You really can't go wrong with this DVD. "Not Only...But Also" is one of those beautiful moments in time with pure comedy genius. Cook and Moore are just as perfect together as Martin and Lewis or Laurel and Hardy. My only complaint is that there is so much footage out there that is NOT on the DVD. I know that most of the series was recorded over, which was the BBC's policy at the time, however, I know that John Lennon was on the show several times. They do have ONE of his scenes on this DVD (the classic "Deaf Ted, Danoota and Me"), but "Dan the doorman" is nowhere to be found, nor is "Good Dog Nigel" and several other poems of Johns that I believe were even on the same show that they featured him on the DVD. I know the footage wasn't recorded over because it's on YouTube, so why isn't it on this DVD? I think it's time to put together a new package. Other than that, this DVD rocks!"

Two of the funniest men who ever lived.

Miles D. Moore | Alexandria, VA USA | 04/29/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"We're lucky to have this compilation of skits and musical numbers from "Not Only...But Also." The dunderheads at the BBC, proving for all eternity that British broadcasting executives are no smarter than American ones, erased most of the tapes of this show despite Peter Cook's offer to buy either new videotape for the BBC or the "Not Only...But Also" tapes to preserve himself. This was an act of cultural vandalism that will never be forgotten or forgiven.

In any case, what survives is somewhat hit-and-miss, but much of it confirms the enduring comic genius of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. Some of my favorites include "Superthunderstingcar," a hilarious parody of Gerry Anderson's stiff, on-the-cheap sci-fi puppet shows; the skit showing a nervous, stuffy upper-class father (Cook) telling his son (Moore) about the facts of life; the Leaping Nuns of Norwich, a dry run for the sublime "Bedazzled;" "Bargo," Cook's goof on Greta Garbo, which MUST be seen to be believed; and any skit featuring Pete and Dud, Cook and Moore's Cockney alter egos, particularly the one in which they complain about constantly being molested by various Hollywood glamor queens. We also get generous portions of Moore's jazz piano, which of course is all to the good.

Watching this DVD hurt my heart a little, both because the BBC destroyed so much of Cook and Moore's legacy and because we will never see them again. But this DVD of "Not Only...But Also" is still a joyous event for anyone who appreciates the best of British comedy."