"Jeeves and Wooster" (1990) TV series 1990-1993

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

April 1990 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Based on the well-loved novels of P.G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse, this British series featuring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie...

Plot Keywords:

Valet | Club | Country House | Gentleman | Fiancee

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Stephen Fry	...	Reginald Jeeves (23 episodes, 1990-1993)
Hugh Laurie	...	Bertie Wooster (23 episodes, 1990-1993)

Also Known As:

P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster (Australia)

Runtime:

55 min (23 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo | Mono (season 1-2)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Singapore:PG | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Barnsley Park, Barnsley, Gloucestershire, England, UK

Company:

Carnival Films

Trivia:

Stephen Fry (Jeeves), Hugh Laurie (Bertie Wooster), Robert Daws (Tuppy Glossop), and John Woodnutt (Sir Watkyn Bassett) are the only actors to play the same character in all four seasons. John Turner does not appear in the first season, but he plays Roderick Spode in each subsequent season.

Quotes:

Bertie: Yes! And, of course the old devil himself. Yes, he really put one up on the uncle didn't he? Thanks to Jeeves's masterpiece. What a wheeze!
Muriel: Darling, this is a friend of mine, Mr. Wooster. Mr. Wooster I'd like you to meet my husband, Mr. Worple.
Bertie: Husband? Huh! What rot!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Mickey Blue Eyes (1999)

Super, Jeeves!

A wonderful and almost perfect rendition of a classic.

Some people (few people) scoff at this version for being too visual. In fact, they scoff at any visual version for trying to interpret what in essence are novels driven by wonderful narrative. However, the charm comes in the perspective as well as the aesthetic.

Yes it's a beautiful show. It uses locations perfectly and remains diligent to those halls as to their fictitious namesake. You eventually come to know these halls and manors yourself as Bertie once again is called out to Tottley.

The music is a beautiful pastiche of all things 20s. Incidental score, while fairly repetitive (you'll hear the same motifs and themes pop up regularly) just adds to the warm familiar atmosphere. It adds charm and period distinction. The actual songs in the show are fun as well and made for a wonderful soundtrack.

The acting as well is perfect. It characterises the pomp without anyone seeming awkward. The scripts flow and the pace always complements the stories. Fry and Laurie were born for this part and never once slip from character or wither in the spotlight.

But as I was saying, the beauty comes in perspective. Some people have grumbled that Laurie's "Wooster" is too much of a fool compared to the beautiful prose he's meant to have jotted in "his" books, yet I think it adds, as I said, perspective. We all write and dictate experiences from a personal perspective, what the show does is offer similar instances (and they are similar not exact in most cases) from a third party perspective. What we write in hindsight is rare to what objectively happened. This warm hearted Oxford gentlemen is educated, but not over gifted in the sense department. He writes and plays beautifully, but he's not quick and we see that demonstrated perfectly through Laurie.

Fry is masterful as Jeeves. Younger than what some would prefer, nevertheless you don't doubt his presence for a second.

The stories are a mix of accurate rendition and loose interpretation. The final fourth season especially has a couple of episodes which don't really feel quite on the ball as the rest, possibly because the divert too far from Wodehouse's material, nevertheless, the fourth season does sort of tie up the loose ends yet has a finale which keeps Jeeves And Wooster feeling as eternal on the TV screen as it does in book form.

A wonderful compliment to Wodehouse's masterful books. Miss at your peril.