Michael Palin, Jim Franklin, Terry Hughes & Alan J.W. Bell – Ripping Yarns (1976-1979)

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Following the phenomenal success of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Michael Palin and Terry Jones created this unforgettable, BAFTA-winning series of comic plays for the BBC. Gleefully parodying the conventions of Boy’s Own-style adventure, Ripping Yarns sees Palin taking the protagonist’s role in nine rip-roaring stories – from stirring tales of sporting endeavour, intrepid exploration and wartime heroism to skulduggery, supernatural mystery and murder… and, of course, the notorious exploits of Eric Olthwaite – Yorkshire’s most interesting outlaw.

An illustrious supporting cast includes John Le Mesurier, Iain Cuthbertson, Denholm Elliott, Joan Sanderson and Don Henderson, with Terry Jones starring in one episode and fellow former Python John Cleese also making a cameo appearance; the series was produced and directed by the multi-award-winning team of Terry Hughes (The Two Ronnies), Jim Franklin (The Goodies) and Alan J.W. Bell (The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy).

Tomkinson’s Schooldays
S1, Ep1
7 Jan. 1976
New boarder Tomkinson is thoroughly miserable at Graybridge public school where he has to fight the grizzly bear,get nailed to the wall on St Tadger’s Day and do the bidding of Grayson,also known as School Bully. When his mother refuses to let him come home he makes several attempts to escape,all unsuccessful,but after winning the Thirty Mile Hop against a rival (Buddhist) public school he is promoted to School Bully when Grayson leaves for Eton.

The Testing of Eric Olthwaite
S1, Ep2
27 Sep. 1977
Eric Olthwaite is so boring that his family all leave home to escape him. Then one day he is accidentally caught up in a bank robbery and discovers that the robber shares his interests in shovels,black pudding and rainfall so they team up to make daring raids to steal rainfall records. As a result Eric becomes famous and is considered interesting again,so much so that he is made the mayor of Denley Moor.

Escape from Stalag Luft 112 B
S1, Ep3
4 Oct. 1977
During World War 1 Major Errol Phipps is determined to escape from Stalag Luft 112B but his attempts all fail. However all the other prisoners and the guards succeed, leaving him alone in the camp to make elaborate plans – including a tunnel system so extensive it becomes the Munich Underground. He is so obsessed with his escape plans he fails to realise that the war has ended and dies a disappointed man. He does however manage to escape from his grave after he has been buried though.

Murder at Moorstones Manor
S1, Ep4
11 Oct. 1977
Sir Clive Chiddingfield invites his family to his birthday party at lonely Moorstones Manor but in the course of the evening half of those present are murdered one by one and the remaining survivors except for Lady Chiddingfield each admit to being the killer,eventually shooting each other.

Across the Andes by Frog
S1, Ep5
18 Oct. 1977
Explorer Walter Snetterton and his party travel to the Andes to prove his theory that frogs are able to climb mountains. Due to the Cup Final the only person willing to act as guide is an elderly – but extremely agile – old lady and as Snetterton prepares to strike camp all his men desert him for the charms of the local ladies. Snetterton is never found but the frogs manage to escape and make it to Mexico City,thus proving his theory to be right.

The Curse of the Claw
S1, Ep6
25 Oct. 1977
Sir Kevin Orr is anxious to return the Sacred Claw of the Naga hills given him as a child by his uncle Jack but warned that unless it is returned before his sixtieth birthday the curse of the claw will kill him. He sets sail to return it but falls for the ship’s female officer,who throws the claw overboard,killing everybody but Kevin. Years later the claw has returned and on his sixtieth birthday Kevin finds his wife Agatha dead,the claw beside her. He finally sends the claw back to the Naga hills,breaking the curse but sending him back in time to his childhood…

Whinfrey’s Last Case
S2, Ep1
10 Oct. 1979
In 1913 the British government, hearing that the Germans are planning World War I, ask top agent Whinfrey to intervene, but instead he decides to go on holiday to Cornish fishing village Torpoint. Here he believes he has stumbled upon a smuggling ring, but in fact they are Germans who are masquerading as locals in an advance invasion party. The British arrive and arrest them, believing that Whinfrey deliberately planned everything – though it is apparent that he did not.

Golden Gordon
S2, Ep2
17 Oct. 1979
Barnestoneworth United is the worst football team of 1935,who lose every match. Gordon Ottershaw is,however,their loyal fan,determined to prevent them from being disbanded after their final game. To this end he recruits the players from the renowned winning team of 1922 who turn up to defeat rivals Denley Moor.

Roger of the Raj
S2, Ep3
24 Oct. 1979
On the eve of the Great War Roger Bartlesham’s aristocratic parents are firm believers in the Empire though Roger, encouraged by socialist Latin teacher Mr Hopper,dreams of equality and opening a tea shop with his sweet-heart Miranda. After a sojourn in India where various officers shoot themselves to atone for breaches in etiquette Roger gets caught up in Hopper’s attempt to bring the Russian Revolution to England but is rescued from the chaos by Miranda…

1.Tomkinson's Schooldays.mkv

General
Container:  	Matroska
Runtime: 	29mn 59s
Size: 	464 MiB
Video
Codec: 	x264
Resolution: 	720x540 
Aspect ratio:  	4:3
Frame rate: 	25.000 fps
Bit rate: 	1 800 Kbps
BPP: 	0.185
Audio
#1:  	2.0ch MP3
#2:  	2.0ch AAC

Language(s):English
Subtitles:English

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Michael Palin, Jim Franklin, Terry Hughes & Alan J.W. Bell – Ripping Yarns (1976-1979)