There is not really much one can say about this show that hasn't already been said. Quite simply, it is one of the best sitcoms of all time. I was only a child when I first saw 'Rising Damp' so therefore I didn't really understand the humour. Now as an adult I can appreciate how great a show it truly is.
Starting life as a play entitled 'The Banana Box' ( which starred Wilfrid Brambell ) and then later a Yorkshire Television pilot entitled 'Rooksby', 'Rising Damp' was all about a tight-fisted landlord known to all as Rigsby ( first name Rupert if you can believe it ), who was played to perfection by the wonderful and much missed Leonard Rossiter and who ran a squalid bedsit. His lodgers include hippie-like medical student Alan Moore, frumpy spinster Ruth Jones and black planning student Philip Smith who happens to be the son of a tribal king. Rigsby often tries to woo Ruth, without success, who instead has romantic feelings for Philip.
Rigsby's attitude towards Philip has led to the show being branded as 'racist' in some quarters. True, Rigsby does not like Philip but it is not down to his colour, it is because he is jealous of Philip, jealous that Philip is all of the things that he isn't, intelligent being one of them.
While of course, it is Rossiter who shines throughout, Richard Beckinsale, Frances De La Tour and Don Warrington do a fine job in supporting him. Rossiter at this time was also to be seen in 'The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin' for the BBC while Richard Beckinsale was also to be seen starring alongside Ronnie Barker in 'Porridge' ( also for the BBC ). Eric Chappell's scripts were ( for the most part ) very witty and very well written.
Beckinsale dropped out after the third series, which resulted in series four looking rather patchy. In 1980, Eric Chappell devised a feature film spin-off with Christopher Strauli from Chappell's 'Only When I Laugh' replacing Richard Beckinsale ( having died suddenly the year before ). It was a disappointment. No effort was made afterwards to make more episodes.
Dennis Wilson wrote the show's brilliant theme tune, which suits the show so well. Four decades on, 'Rising Damp' still racks up enormous ratings even on repeat showings, and not without good reason.
Starting life as a play entitled 'The Banana Box' ( which starred Wilfrid Brambell ) and then later a Yorkshire Television pilot entitled 'Rooksby', 'Rising Damp' was all about a tight-fisted landlord known to all as Rigsby ( first name Rupert if you can believe it ), who was played to perfection by the wonderful and much missed Leonard Rossiter and who ran a squalid bedsit. His lodgers include hippie-like medical student Alan Moore, frumpy spinster Ruth Jones and black planning student Philip Smith who happens to be the son of a tribal king. Rigsby often tries to woo Ruth, without success, who instead has romantic feelings for Philip.
Rigsby's attitude towards Philip has led to the show being branded as 'racist' in some quarters. True, Rigsby does not like Philip but it is not down to his colour, it is because he is jealous of Philip, jealous that Philip is all of the things that he isn't, intelligent being one of them.
While of course, it is Rossiter who shines throughout, Richard Beckinsale, Frances De La Tour and Don Warrington do a fine job in supporting him. Rossiter at this time was also to be seen in 'The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin' for the BBC while Richard Beckinsale was also to be seen starring alongside Ronnie Barker in 'Porridge' ( also for the BBC ). Eric Chappell's scripts were ( for the most part ) very witty and very well written.
Beckinsale dropped out after the third series, which resulted in series four looking rather patchy. In 1980, Eric Chappell devised a feature film spin-off with Christopher Strauli from Chappell's 'Only When I Laugh' replacing Richard Beckinsale ( having died suddenly the year before ). It was a disappointment. No effort was made afterwards to make more episodes.
Dennis Wilson wrote the show's brilliant theme tune, which suits the show so well. Four decades on, 'Rising Damp' still racks up enormous ratings even on repeat showings, and not without good reason.