I've been watching some funny Benny Hill clips recently and trying to figure out where I had seen him (apart from in Benny Hill). It has been bugging me.
Henry McGee who played "Seymour" in this, was, for many years, a regular on The Benny Hill Show. He also gained national fame for appearing in a series of adverts in the seventies for the "Sugar Puffs" breakfast cereal, alongside the "Honey Monster."
This episode appears to have been broadcast a few months after the first Fawlty Towers episode, A Touch Of Class, in 1975, which has a similar plotline. I wonder if Rising Damp writer, Eric Chappell, had been influenced by that or whether it was just a coincidence. It probably is, because as other posters have mentioned, Rigsby and Fawlty do have similar class pretensions, making them naturally susceptible to conmen through their rose-tinted glasses, as Megan pointed out.
Rigsby and Fawlty do have very similar values, but I don't think they would get on. Rigsby is from a working class back ground, he has a bit of property, but his attitudes are those of the domestic service class of old. Looking up to the toffs, resenting those just above them, and generally were more Conservative than their masters. Fawlty is firmly middleclass, went to a minor public school, or aspired to. Family probably bounded around clerical roles or the colonies. Rigsby would quickly have resented his slightly elevated position while Fawlty would have thought Rigsby was more of the riff raff he wanted to keep out of his hotel.
Basil & Rupert definitely wouldn't get on. They're both snobs but Basil is middle-class whereas Rupert is very much working-class. They'd hate each other.
Henry McGee starred alongside Charlie Drake in The Worker. Rigsby and Fawlty would have loathed each other. Rigsby would think of Fawlty as an upper class snob and Fawlty would have looked down at him because he was working class even though they are both snobs. They are both easily taken in by con men who sound posh.
Pretending to be classy is a continual theme in RD. Many of the characters - including Rigsby, Ruth & Philip - are failures who routinely pretend to be classy.
Megan, may I suggest to you another couple of Eric Chappell (who wrote "Rising Damp") sitcoms, which came after "Rising Damp." Namely; "Only When I Laugh" and "Home To Roost." Hilarious. As far as I know, all of "Home To Roost" episodes are already up on YT. (well, last time I checked they were.) X
Agree about Only When I Laugh. The scripts weren’t as strong as RD, but the pairing of James Bolam and Peter Bowles was magical. Watch out for Peter Bowles in an episode of RD Megan, it’s hilarious.
Good morning Megan, and it's so wonderful seeing another beautiful reaction towards Rising Damp here! Seeing your videos makes my day here & have a beautiful weekend! ❤
Seymour was played by Henry McGee, who often worked with Benny Hill.
I've been watching some funny Benny Hill clips recently and trying to figure out where I had seen him (apart from in Benny Hill).
It has been bugging me.
One the greatest British sitcoms.
These days Seymore would be exposed as a scammer lol.
Henry McGee who played "Seymour" in this, was, for many years, a regular on The Benny Hill Show. He also gained national fame for appearing in a series of adverts in the seventies for the "Sugar Puffs" breakfast cereal, alongside the "Honey Monster."
Like Basil Fawlty, Rigsby's snobbishness is easily exploited by a conman who pretends to be classy.
This episode appears to have been broadcast a few months after the first Fawlty Towers episode, A Touch Of Class, in 1975, which has a similar plotline. I wonder if Rising Damp writer, Eric Chappell, had been influenced by that or whether it was just a coincidence. It probably is, because as other posters have mentioned, Rigsby and Fawlty do have similar class pretensions, making them naturally susceptible to conmen through their rose-tinted glasses, as Megan pointed out.
There called working class snobs!
Rigsby and Fawlty do have very similar values, but I don't think they would get on. Rigsby is from a working class back ground, he has a bit of property, but his attitudes are those of the domestic service class of old. Looking up to the toffs, resenting those just above them, and generally were more Conservative than their masters. Fawlty is firmly middleclass, went to a minor public school, or aspired to. Family probably bounded around clerical roles or the colonies. Rigsby would quickly have resented his slightly elevated position while Fawlty would have thought Rigsby was more of the riff raff he wanted to keep out of his hotel.
Basil & Rupert definitely wouldn't get on. They're both snobs but Basil is middle-class whereas Rupert is very much working-class. They'd hate each other.
Class and wealth don't always go hand in hand.
Henry McGee starred alongside Charlie Drake in The Worker.
Rigsby and Fawlty would have loathed each other. Rigsby would think of Fawlty as an upper class snob and Fawlty would have looked down at him because he was working class even though they are both snobs.
They are both easily taken in by con men who sound posh.
It's why Rigsby is so great a character. He is a terrible person in so many ways, but he is so complex, so relatable that we sympathise with him.
Tigers are in Asia.
Pretending to be classy is a continual theme in RD. Many of the characters - including Rigsby, Ruth & Philip - are failures who routinely pretend to be classy.
Failure? Phillip went on to be a Police Commissioner on the island of Saint Marie. 😁😁
@Poliss95 He was briefly president of Great Britain but was turned into a Cybermen 😂
A 70's scammer. Yes they did exist! A lot!
The guy who plays Alan is Richard Beckinsale who is Kate Beckinsales dad...
You got this right about the Lord at Fawty Towers who wanted to ‘loan’ £200 from the cash register.
Thank you for reaction, Henry McGhee appeared with Benny Hill and advertised Sugar Puffs, he’s very good
Oh really? Thats really cool! 😊
Megan, may I suggest to you another couple of Eric Chappell (who wrote "Rising Damp") sitcoms, which came after "Rising Damp." Namely; "Only When I Laugh" and "Home To Roost." Hilarious. As far as I know, all of "Home To Roost" episodes are already up on YT. (well, last time I checked they were.) X
Agree about Only When I Laugh. The scripts weren’t as strong as RD, but the pairing of James Bolam and Peter Bowles was magical. Watch out for Peter Bowles in an episode of RD Megan, it’s hilarious.
Check out Reggie Perrin with Leonard Rossiter. Same quality of writing.
You've left the e off the end of Episode.
Problem is Fawlty and Rigsby would compete for snob rank , He deserves to be conned through his snobishness--
At last a classic ❤✌️
Is she the actor's grandaughter? They look so much alike
You're saying that Megan looks like Leonard Rossiter?
@DavidZ4-gg3dm Check out the thumbnail for season 1 episode 4
@@DavidZ4-gg3dmLOL
Very forgotten scouser 👍👍👍
Good morning Megan, and it's so wonderful seeing another beautiful reaction towards Rising Damp here! Seeing your videos makes my day here & have a beautiful weekend! ❤
Thanks Falcom! Have a great weekend :)