Stars: Michael Angelis, Bernard Hill, Tom Georgeson, Julie Walters

Director: Philip Saville

Summary: Five episodes of the now-classic series, which portrays the bleak atmosphere of Liverpool in the 80's are contained in this program. Jobs for the Boys: Chrissie assembling of an unofficial building gang leads to a tragic raid by the fraud squad. Moonlighter: Former foreman Dixie, is working illicitly on the docks when he uncovers shady dealings he'd rather not be privy to. Shop Thy Neighbor: Chrissie's dole money is cut off after his moonlighting is discovered. He then must deal with his wife, Angie. Yosser's Story: Yosser dreams are dashed as he manicly searches for work while trying to avoid eviction and hold onto his three kids. George's Last Ride: Chrissie uncovers a secret about George after George passes away.

Five episodes of the now-classic series, which portrays the bleak atmosphere of Liverpool in the 80's are contained in this program.
Jobs for the Boys: Chrissie assembling of an unofficial building gang leads to a tragic raid by the fraud squad.
Moonlighter: Former foreman Dixie, is working illicitly on the docks when he uncovers shady dealings he'd rather not be privy to.
Shop Thy Neighbor: Chrissie's dole money is cut off after his moonlighting is discovered. He then must deal with his wife, Angie.
Yosser's Story: Yosser dreams are dashed as he manicly searches for work while trying to avoid eviction and hold onto his three kids.
George's Last Ride: Chrissie uncovers a secret about George after George passes away.

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Alan Bleasdale's Boys from the Blackstuffgripped television audiences in 1982 with its bleak, fiercely funny exploration of the effect of the UK's economic depression on a group of Merseyside characters, originally introduced in his 1978 play, The Blackstuff. Bleasdale's writing is unsparing in both its pain and its unconditional affection for characters being pushed to the very limit of civilisation. Yosser Hughes (the outstanding Bernard Hill) is still, and rightly, recognised as one of the great creations of modern television drama: a man on the brink of madness, unlikeable, ostracised, digging a deeper hole with every desperate act, but ultimately a human being deserving our sympathy.

The performances are wonderful throughout: particularly Peter Kerrigan as Malone, the once giant union leader reduced to a shadow but still with the spark that commands love and respect; Michael Angelis as Chrissie and, in a typically sharp cameo, Julie Walters as his wife. "My dreams still give me hope and faith in my class. I can't believe there's no hope," says Chrissie towards the end. And it's testament to Bleasdale's skill and the resilience of his characters that somehow, that flicker of hope remains unextinguished.

The blackstuff--the tarmac--of the title becomes increasingly ironic. There is none. The boys have no work. The dole office scenes have a grimly nostalgic, documentary quality. Each second drips another droplet of disillusionment on people whose expectations are crushed by every effort to haul themselves up. Thatcher's Britain was a cruel place for many people. The unspoken question that hangs in the air after watching Bleasdale's poetic dissection of ruined lives is, have things really changed that much? Television drama doesn't come any more powerful or honest than this.

On the DVD:Boys from the Blackstuffis presented in standard 4:3 TV format with a mono soundtrack that often suffers from a muffled quality. There's only one additional feature, but it's a treasure: The Blackstuff, Alan Bleasdale's original 90-minute play, is presented as a prelude to the series with the bonus of an insightful commentary from the author and the director, Jim Goddard. --Piers Ford

Aspect Ratio:	4:3
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Scene Selection, Commentary From Alan Bleasdale And Jim Goddard
Year:	1989
Release Date:	May 26, 2003
Runtime:	306 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	B B C D V D 1178
Keywords:	Black, Boys, Comedy, General, Three, Stuff, From, Tv, Discs
Genre:	Comedy