Product Description

"As Time Goes By" stars Judi Dench & Geoffrey Palmer. Long ago Lionel, a dashing young British Army officer met Jean, a lovely student nurse and fell deeply in love. When Lionel was shipped off to fight in the Korean war the two lost touch. In the first episode of Series One they meet again and slowly begin to rekindle their romance. The wonderful series that ensues is simply a pleasure to watch.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64629 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-09-17
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 375 minutes

Amazon.com
The fundamental things--engaging characters, impeccable performances, and witty, literate scripts--apply in As Time Goes By, the beloved 1992 British comedy series starring Dame Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer as former lovers Jean and Lionel. He is a divorced ex-army officer. She is a widow who runs the Type for You secretarial agency. They had "a great romance" during the Korean War, but they lost communication. Thirty-eight years later, the two run into each other again and rekindle what had been started so long ago. This series follows the two--along with Jean's twice-divorced daughter, Judith (Moira Brooker); Jean's assistant, Sandy (Jenny Funnell); and Lionel's young trendy publisher, Alastair (Philip Bretherton)--and takes a wry look at love among the youth and the more "mature." The first three episodes of the series introduce the slightly cantankerous yet vibrant characters, set up their history, and lay the groundwork for Jean and Lionel to tentatively circle around each other, trying to decide at what level they should continue their friendship, that is, if they should even continue being friends at all. Mixing modern romance with nostalgia for yesteryear, writer Bob Larbey and director Sydney Lotterby create a delightful comedy and a touching love story.

At the beginning of the series' second season. Lionel has written a dry memoir, My Life in Kenya, and reluctantly prepares for the book launch. As the date approaches, the tentative couple have a too-close encounter with Penny (Moyra Fraser), Jean's former sister-in-law, who invites them to spend the weekend at her country home. Finally, My Life in Kenya is published and Lionel steels himself for the book signing, while an anxious Jean buys up 140 copies herself. These episodes bring the second season to a touching and satisfying conclusion.

Customer Reviews

They Still Say I Love You
Imagine my excitement when I found that the first two seasons of "As Time Goes By" are heading for the DVD format. It is simply a wonderful series, well-deserving of such good video treatment. The previous season to be released on DVD (season 4) looked absolutely stunning in the crystal clear format. The images just came alive. Very beautiful. I already own these episodes on VHS, but there is no question that I will more than happily re-buy them.

"As Time Goes By" begins here with Lionel Hardcastle (the sublime Geoffrey Palmer) needing a secretary to help type-up the manuscript to his new book "My Life In Kenya". The secretarial agency he hires is run by Jean Pargetter (the great Judi Dench). Lionel and Jean meet, and realize that they used to be sweethearts 38 years previous, in the few short months before Lionel was sent away to the Korean War. After they parted, they lost touch, got re-married, and moved on with their lives. Now Jean is widowed and Lionel is divorced, and the stage is set for a possibly warm reunion.

Warm is not the word to describe the first season, however. The romance is very up and down, and there are actually other *possible* love interests that come into the fray. But the season does have its positively sweet moments -- pre-cursors of the enjoyable situations to come. And I found the up & down nature of the romance at first one of the more believable elements. Relationships aren't always easy, whether new or old, and to show that two people who are really meant for each other may hit some bumps along the way, almost makes the romance that much more satisfying when things start working out.

I love "As Time Goes By". There are very few TV series that I can say that about - less than I can count on one hand - but this is one of them. The writing is always impeccable, the acting superb, and the stories warm and funny. And on DVD, it all looks great. I wish more shows were like it.

Where is my Lionel?
Okay,I have never met a British TV series that I didn't like,so it comes as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I own Sets 1-V of As Time Goes By. It is a gentle, civilized comedy about two lovers separated by a undelivered letter forty years before the series opens in c. 1992. Judy Dench and Geoffrey Palmer, as Jean and Lionel, are the perfect middle age lovers: Jean has lines on her face, is not a stick in a size 0 dress, and Lionel has jowls and thinning hair. It matters not! They adore each other and we adore them! The supporting cast is excellent -- especially the young women who portray Judy and Sandy, Jean's daughter by her first marriage, and her assistant respectively. Nothing very profound can be resolved in 30 minutes, but what is is interesting is the process of rediscovery, falling in love, and learning to love and accept each other, "warts and all," that the viewer sees in episode after episode. It is refreshing to see that someone believes that love is just not for the under 30 set. Jean and Lionel are never treated as "cute," as in "how cute that people that age can be in love." Why they even have sex -- always implied and never seen -- and it is treated as a natural and normal state of being for a middle aged couple. Buy the series -- you won't be sorry!

Second Chances
Lionel and Jean had a breif encounter at the beginning of the Korean war. But when Lionel's letter gets lost, they both assume that it was just one of those things.

Series 1 (they have series not seasons in the UK)

Flash forward 45 years later. Jean is a widow with a daughter. She runs a secretarial agency. Lionel has spent his time in Kenya. He had a coffee plantation but is escaping a bad marriage with no kids.

Lionel is writing his memiors and needs a secretary. Enter Judith, Jean's daughter. Eventually, Lionel and Jean meet up but neither is willing to make the first move. Therefore, Judith decides to date Lionel. While Lionel's publisher, Alister, takes a liking to Jean. The series ends up on a double date. When Judith and Alister poop out, Jean and Lionel finally connect.

Series 2

Jean and Lionel start to see each other. But the main storyline is Lionel's book. It actually turns out that Alister is publishing the book because of a debt that his father owed Lionel's father. In this series, Lionel's free spirited father, Rocky, is introduced and Rocky's housekeeper Mrs. Bale.

This is a two disc set. Series 1 contains 6 episodes and Series 2 contains 7 episodes.

This is the beginning of a great series. (Seven more series to come)