This series to me is the number two of British comedy. Number one is and remains the completely insane "Fawlty Towers". "Mr. Bean" is in third position. 'Allo, 'Allo was on Dutch (and Flemish) TV and was repeated several times. And that was a good thing, for the jokes and situations are so ridiculous that most of them need a second and sometimes third viewing. I will not retell the story, for many have done before me.
A few things are really striking. The first is the great way all English actors utilize an accent, thus pretending to be either English, French, German or Italian. Even for people whose mother tongue is not the English language, but who understand it, this works perfectly well. Secondly is the repetitive use of the same joke, only slightly different.
The latter is best shown by Renee, the café owner. He is extremely attractive to the young women working in his bar. Why he is so attractive to them probably is the greatest mystery in both: heaven and hell. Regularly he is caught by his evil wife, Edith, holding one of the young women in his arms. She will always ask a question like: 'Renee, why are you holding that young girl in your arms?' His reply varies, but always starts with 'You stupid woman!' Soon you will wait for the famous question, the well known answer and wait for the excuse he comes up with this time.
This comedy is intelligently written, played and directed. It is top of the bill of comedy and proves that English humor is far better than American humor, for it really bites. Not only the Germans, but the French and even the the British are ridiculed! The only American comedy that has the same kind of bite ever produced was "All in the Family". Still the comparison to any American series I would like to make with "'Allo, 'Allo" actually is "Soap", for this has the same insane kind of humor.
A few things are really striking. The first is the great way all English actors utilize an accent, thus pretending to be either English, French, German or Italian. Even for people whose mother tongue is not the English language, but who understand it, this works perfectly well. Secondly is the repetitive use of the same joke, only slightly different.
The latter is best shown by Renee, the café owner. He is extremely attractive to the young women working in his bar. Why he is so attractive to them probably is the greatest mystery in both: heaven and hell. Regularly he is caught by his evil wife, Edith, holding one of the young women in his arms. She will always ask a question like: 'Renee, why are you holding that young girl in your arms?' His reply varies, but always starts with 'You stupid woman!' Soon you will wait for the famous question, the well known answer and wait for the excuse he comes up with this time.
This comedy is intelligently written, played and directed. It is top of the bill of comedy and proves that English humor is far better than American humor, for it really bites. Not only the Germans, but the French and even the the British are ridiculed! The only American comedy that has the same kind of bite ever produced was "All in the Family". Still the comparison to any American series I would like to make with "'Allo, 'Allo" actually is "Soap", for this has the same insane kind of humor.