Stars: Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith

Director: Steve Bendelack

Summary: More surreal and disturbing comedy from theLEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN. In classic 'A Christmas Carol' style, the League of Gentlemen present three yuletide stories about the bizarre lives of the inhabitants of Royston Vasey. The state of the Christmas tree provokes Stella to reconsider her life with Charlie. In the next section, Herr and Frau Lipp take in a young student boy and reveal their vampire side. Finally a flashback that sees how Dr Chinnery's ancestor changed once he moved to Royston Vasey.

WIN DVDs by rating this DVD

Average User Rating:

WIN DVDS by being amongst the first to review this DVD. Reviewing DVDs earns you bonus entries and lets you WIN DVDs!Please login before reviewing this DVD. If you're a new user, register for free and enter to WIN FREE DVDs!

A Gothic-comedy masterpiece, The League of Gentlemen Christmas Specialis a horrific anthology of three related stories, all set in Royston Vasey, which takes its inspiration as much from the writings of MR James and Edgar Allan Poe as the low-budget Hammer and Amicus shockers that the team parody so affectionately. The stories are all linked by the Dickensian device of Reverend Bernice receiving unexpected guests on Christmas Eve: the first concerns troubled married couple Charlie and Stella becoming unwittingly involved in voodoo and witchcraft; the second features the horrendous Herr Lipp in a Nosferatuskit that reveals the terrible truth about what really goes on in Duisburg; while the third, and best, tells of the horrible hereditary curse that afflicted Dr Chinnery's great-grandfather. This one-off special distils all the League's penchant for disturbing, twisted characterisation and macabre humour into a single hour; the result is one of the most daring "comedies" ever seen on British TV.

On the DVD:The League of Gentlemen Christmas Specialon disc contains the hour-long main feature accompanied by a diverse and entertaining array of extras. There's another illuminating group commentary; a 20-minute documentary "Tales from Behind the Crypt", in which we get to see excerpts from the team's first ensemble effort, "Highgate House of Horror"; a chat with composer Jody Talbot; and the League themselves "In Conversation" with Paul Jackson in the complete Radio 4 broadcast. A selection of out-takes, extended scenes, character biographies and a photo gallery are all worthwhile, but best of all is a Jackanoryspecial with Mark Gatiss as the Victorian Dr Chinnery telling the Gothic tale of "The Curse of the Karrit Poor", a spot-on Arthur Conan Doyle spoof. --Mark Walker

Aspect Ratio:	16:9
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Tales From Behind The Crypt Documentary, Character Biographies, Interview With Composer Joby Talbot, Jackanory The Curse Of Karrit Poor, Photo Gallery, Outtakes, The League In Conversation With Paul Jackson, Commentary By The League, FX Shots
Year:	2001
Release Date:	November 25, 2002
Runtime:	60 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	B B C D V D 1050
Keywords:	Special, League, Christmas, Comedy, General, Gentlemen, Tv
Genre:	Comedy