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Slapstick and opera go well together, as already the Marx Brothers proved, and here's another fine example. This entertaining version of the 19th century French opera contains some of the best scenes of Laurel&Hardy, such as the couples' hopeless attempt in robbery, the hanging fiasco, Stanilo's maddening finger and hand acrobatics and the drunk scene in the cellar. An absolute must for Laurel and Hardy fans! Especially as it also shows the superiority of Laurel's comedy over his partner's. Never mind that the scenery is as Californian as are the characters in the supporting roles. But after all - opera is all about illusion...

Excellent adaption of Nancy Mitford's sarcastic panorama of English upper class life between the wars. The casting is absolutely splendid from well known old battlehorses of British TV-drama like Alan Bates, Frances Barber, Anthony Andrews and Sheila Gish to outstanding new faces like the hilarious Daniel Evans. The congenial directing has managed to produce some of the funniest scenes on TV and I just love to watch the video again and again.