User Reviews

Of all the episodes of THE BENNY HILL SHOW that Thames aired from 1969-1989, this is the lone entry not yet released on DVD. This is also the only one that was shot in Australia, which explains why it remains unavailable in that format. I saw most of this footage in syndication in the US, and there was even more made available on the video release titled "Benny Hill's Video Sideshow" (copyright 1982). It begins with a skit that he'd done before (the one performer stuck with ugly dance partners), singing "Les Girls." Next, "Hold Back the Wind" has Benny as an old man who made his money by 'cuttin' out the middle man,' while dealing with an ugly wife who wants to go on a second honeymoon ("what are you, a sadist or something?") and a dimwit son engaged to the voluptuous Lucy Jardine, played by Lorna Lesley (Father: "she's 16 years old!" Son: "I know...but she looks 12!"). There were three musical selections featuring the same dancers- the NEW AVENGERS theme, "Suicide is Painless" (from M.A.S.H.), and "Hawaii 5-0," the girls all wearing skimpy hula skirts (the only section of the three shown in syndication). This is followed by a sketch depicting a sleeping hobo getting hit by a car driven by two gorgeous girls who take him back to their place for a little R'n'R. The main sketch depicts the thieving exploits of Benny Kelly, son of famed Australian outlaw Ned Kelly (allowing for actual nudity from some showering girls). Next is a skit previously done for the BBC but never repeated for Thames, Benny as a groom readying Lady Godiva's horse for her famous ride. The lone repeat is titled "Love Will Find a Way," Benny as a penniless actor carrying on with his married lover in many guises behind the old man's back, a sketch featuring Jackie Wright from Jan 27 1971's "Top of the Tops" (filmed entirely in black and white). "Archie's Angels" is his first of two takeoffs on CHARLIE'S ANGELS, not to be confused with "Charlene's Angels," in which Benny, Bob Todd and Jack Wright are three male detectives, from the Feb 6 1980 episode "Women's Lib Television." This early version has Benny donning an outrageous 'Farrah Fawcett' wig to impersonate a Playboy bunny undercover, his two partners also in drag (when one learns his bill is counterfeit, the response is, "my God, I've been raped!"). It ends with a typical romp on the beach, Benny causing trouble everywhere he goes due to his preoccupation with bikinis, all done by a cast that never appeared in any other shows, making this episode stand out even more. Missing from the 1982 "Video Sideshow" are the three musical numbers (only "HAWAII 5-0" included), along with "Archie's Angels" and "Lady Godiva." "Hold Back the Wind" was cut in syndication but intact on the video, while the final seaside romp was cut short on the video yet intact in syndication. The entire show is available on YouTube, marred by the Russian translator drowning out the English soundtrack; still, at least we now know how the original Australian broadcast was assembled, minus the opening and closing credits.