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Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
Rodney Rude-Live-Volume 1 (1984)

Rodney Rude-Live-Volume 1 (1984)

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Released 23-Nov-2004

Cover Art

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Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Comedy Interviews-Cast-Serious Interview
Outtakes-Newsreader Bloopers
Additional Footage
Trailer-Other Rude Videos
Rating Rated R
Year Of Production 1984
Running Time 57:55
RSDL / Flipper No/No Cast & Crew
Start Up Menu
Region Coding 1,2,3,4,5,6 Directed By None Given
Studio
Distributor

EMI Music
Starring Rodney Rude
Case Amaray-Transparent-Secure Clip
RPI $29.95 Music None Given


Video Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame None English Dolby Digital 2.0 (448Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio 1.29:1
16x9 Enhancement No
Video Format 576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio 1.29:1 Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles None Smoking Yes
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits No

NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here.

Plot Synopsis

    When I inserted this DVD for review, I was a little surprised when the rating appeared on screen warning of medium level coarse language. I was expecting a barrage of high-level coarseness from Rodney Rude. In fact, that's what I did get, though perhaps there are a few words even he doesn't utter, at least not on this recording.

    Rude has been a fixture on the licensed club circuit for more than two decades now, and has released a number of videos and CDs of his work. I recall him from a late night ABC programme in the early 1980s which featured stand-up routines from the Comedy Store in Sydney, and comedians such as George Smilovici and Vince "my name's Vince, here's a picture of me as a baby" Sorrenti. Rude's routines were always the highlight of the show for me, even though he was less than rude in the watered-down television material. Rude was involved in the setting up of the Comedy Store, which was located in Margaret Lane in a building that I think has now been demolished. I recall his routines as being the highlight of the show, though there was only one joke I could remember, involving a mate named Roy with a cat that drank red wine. That routine makes a cameo appearance in this programme.

    Rude's routine involves catchphrases such as "Hello, trendsetters", "You know what I hate?" and "I hate that". Peppered with four-letter words, his routine is for adults only, discerning or undiscerning. This programme was recorded as long ago as 1984, and seems to come from only one or two performances. Some of it gets a bit relentless, such as the lengthy limericks portion where audience members are invited onto the stage to deliver their own limericks, but mostly this is vintage Rude. Sensitive viewers who prefer their humour with full political correctness should look elsewhere.

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Transfer Quality

Video

    While this programme was recorded on video technology circa 1984, it scrubs up reasonably well, about as well as one could expect it to. There are the inevitable problems, but I doubt whether anyone would be disappointed with the transfer.

    The programme is transferred in the original aspect ratio of 1.29:1 and naturally is not 16x9 enhanced.

    There is a slight softness to the video image characteristic of video recording of the time. Light levels are generally low as well, but the video is still adequately sharp and clear. Contrast levels are average, while shadow detail is not very good. Colour is fairly muted, partly given the light levels and partly given the video technology.

    The usual problems with video recordings rear their ugly heads here. There is some chroma noise visible, there is some colour bleeding and there is a slight smearing of the image from time to time. There is some burn-in of bright lights causing flaring as well, but this is fairly minimal. There are a lot of brief horizontal lines denoting analogue video tracking errors.

    No subtitles are provided on this single-layered disc.

Video Ratings Summary
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The sole audio track is Dolby Digital 2.0 and seems to be fully mono.

    The audio track is serviceable. Dialogue from the comedian is clear most of the time, though there were a few instances here and there where it was a little difficult to understand. The limericks from the audience members are very hard to understand, though I think unfamiliarity with microphone technique and familiarity with alcohol consumption are to blame here. While the recording is a little strident at times, I doubt whether anyone will consider it different from expectations.

    There is no music score, though Rude does some singing.

Audio Ratings Summary
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

Interviews-Cast-Serious Interview (4:16)

    This interview was recorded in Tamworth presumably around the time that the video was recorded. It looks like a news piece for local television, and Rude is fairly serious as the title suggests. He describes his early career living and working in Tamworth.

Outtakes-Newsreader Bloopers (1:47)

    This is just several attempts by the interviewer in the above material to do his initial piece to camera. A waste of disc space, really.

Additional Footage (7:56)

    Three additional routines from other performances.

Trailer-Other Rude Videos (13:22)

    Three trailers for other Rude material. The first of these includes routines identical to those in the main programme, though from a different gig. The last is the longest, running 6:01, and is a lengthy diatribe about a certain fast food outlet recorded in 2002. Rude looks older, but little else has changed.

Censorship

    There is censorship information available for this title. Click here to read it (a new window will open). WARNING: Often these entries contain MAJOR plot spoilers.

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

    I hardly think this will be coming to a Region 1 or Region 2 store near you, so you have no choice but Region 4.

Summary

    Typical Rodney Rude humour, so if you respond to it, this is for you.

    The video and audio quality are acceptable.

    There are about 25 minutes of extras.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Philip Sawyer (Bio available.)
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Review Equipment
DVDPioneer DV-S733A, using Component output
DisplaySony 86CM Trinitron Wega KVHR36M31. Calibrated with Ultimate DVD Platinum. This display device is 16x9 capable.
Audio DecoderBuilt in to DVD player, Dolby Digital, dts and DVD-Audio. Calibrated with Ultimate DVD Platinum.
AmplificationSony TA-DA9000ES
SpeakersMain: Tannoy Revolution R3; Centre: Tannoy Sensys DCC; Rear: Richter Harlequin; Subwoofer: JBL SUB175

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