# Just got Rising Damp - The Works on DVD **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2004, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-rising-damp-the-works-on-dvd/252821 "2004-06-30T02:45:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-rising-damp-the-works-on-dvd/252821/1 "2004-06-30T02:45:40Z")
This is one of my favorite 70’s Britcoms. [Synopsis](http://www.tvtome.com/RisingDamp/) Rigsby, the landlord, is portrayed by the brilliant (but sadly deceased) Leonard Rossiter (who also starred in the hilarious _Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin_). Rigsby is a generally unlikeable type - greedy, bigoted, and narrow-minded. Yet, Rossiter does such a great job, you can help but like him (in a Frank Burns sorta way). Just like Burns (and Archie Bunker, to an extent), Rigsby rarely profits from his unpleasant ways. One of the co-stars is Richard Beckinsale (who died tragically at the age of 29 of a heart attack). He is the father of actress Kate Beckinsale. I did not know this until I looked up the show on the above website. The box indicates that this is “The Works - Series 1-4”. Almost. While it does contain the rarely seen “Stand Up and Be Counted”, it does not contain the Christmas episode “For the Man Who Has Everything” (luckily, I have this on tape). Any other fans of this show? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-rising-damp-the-works-on-dvd/252821/2 "2004-06-30T18:04:16Z")
Ah. Just me then. I thought as much. ---
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-rising-damp-the-works-on-dvd/252821/3 "2004-06-30T18:31:16Z")
Don’t feel too lonely, you’re not the only one. I just bought Rising Damp series 1 on DVD, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I really think that Leonard Rossiter is (was) one of the most talented comedy actors. His Rigsby is so sleazy, yet he lets a hint of humanity shine from underneath. I’m planning to buy more (maybe when the exchange rate is more reasonable - the Pound is so high right now!). I also want to buy The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. I also thought that Richard Beckinsale was excellent. I’d never seen him in anything before, so he was an unknown, but he was great. ---
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-rising-damp-the-works-on-dvd/252821/4 "2004-06-30T18:37:44Z")
I of course mean that he was an unknown _to me_, not necessarily to everybody else. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-got-rising-damp-the-works-on-dvd/252821/5 "2004-06-30T18:48:58Z")
> [@Ultraviolet](#): > > I of course mean that he was an unknown _to me_, not necessarily to everybody else. He had been in a few other comedies prior to RD. He had great potential and then tragedy struck.