"Ripping Yarns" (1976) TV series 1976-1979

Director:

Terry Hughes

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

7 January 1976 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy

Plot:

Ripping Yarns is a collection of tales that make for 'ripping good' television. Michael Palin plays a different lead character in each yarn.

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Michael Palin	...	Bank Manager / ... (9 episodes, 1976-1979)
Charles McKeown	...	2nd Native / ... (4 episodes, 1977-1979)

Series Directed by
Jim Franklin		(5 episodes, 1976-1979)
Terry Hughes		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Alan J.W. Bell		(2 episodes, 1979)

Series Writing credits
Terry Jones		(9 episodes, 1976-1979)
Michael Palin		(9 episodes, 1976-1979)

Series Produced by
Sydney Lotterby	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1979)

Series Cinematography by
Michael Radford		(2 episodes, 1979)
Alan Stevens		(2 episodes, 1979)

Series Film Editing by
Ray Millichope		(3 episodes, 1976-1977)
John Jarvis		(2 episodes, 1977-1979)

Series Production Design by
Martin Collins		(3 episodes, 1976-1977)
Gerry Scott		(2 episodes, 1979)

Series Costume Design by
Barbara Lane		(2 episodes, 1977)
Robin Stubbs		(2 episodes, 1977)
Roger Reece		(2 episodes, 1979)

Series Makeup Department
Jean Speak	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1977)
Sue Bide	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1977)
Jill Hagger	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1979)

Series Art Department
Ian Hewett	....	graphic designer (3 episodes, 1977-1979)
John Stout	....	design (2 episodes, 1977)

Series Sound Department
Ron Edmonds	....	dubbing mixer (5 episodes, 1977-1979)
Ron Blight	....	sound recordist / film sound recordist / ... (4 episodes, 1976-1979)
Bryan Showell	....	sound recordist (4 episodes, 1977)

Series Visual Effects by
John Horton	....	visual effects (4 episodes, 1977-1979)

Series Stunts
Stuart Fell	....	stunts (3 episodes, 1977-1979)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Hall	....	camera operator / film cameraman (6 episodes, 1976-1977)
Michael Radford	....	photographer (unknown episodes)
Alan Stevens	....	photographer (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lynda Woodfield	....	costumes (1 episode, 1977)

Series Editorial Department
John Jarvis	....	film editor (2 episodes, 1977)

Series Music Department
Dave Howman	....	composer: incidental music (1 episode, 1979)
André Jacquemin	....	composer: incidental music (1 episode, 1979)
Trevor Jones	....	composer: incidental music (1 episode, 1979)

Series Other crew
John Adams	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1976-1979)
Eddie Stuart	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1977)
Marcus Plantin	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1977)
Carol Abbott	....	assistant to director (2 episodes, 1979)
Sue Bennett-Urwin	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1979)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1976) (UK) (TV)
• Acorn Media Group (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Comedy Central (2009) (Hungary) (TV)

Runtime:

30 min (9 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Cape Cornwall, St Just, Cornwall, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The opening title music for the series is "Fanfare" from William Walton's Facade Suite No.2

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Comedy Connections: Ripping Yarns (#6.4)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Façade, Suite No. 2 - Fanfare

I thought this would never be released

This is a must buy ! Although I've not seen all 12 episodes, I have seen some, including the jewel: The Testing of Eric Othwaite. Inspired. Educational TV in S.C. serialized the show on Saturday evenings in the mid 70s, alongside the "Goodies" and their highly successful run of Python reruns. Palin and Jones were my favorites in Python. I felt the Oxford style was more accessible to the American audience, but still not to the Benny Hill extreme. As an example, The sight of Tomkinson and the other "faceless rabble" nailed to the walls of the school, by the school bullys (from Tomkinson's School Days) is one of my all-time favorite sight gags. I highly recommend this series to any Python fan. And almost any man over 40 whose ever read or seen a copy of Boys Life from the early 60s will howl in delight at Ripping Yarns.