Boys From The Black Stuff (DVD 2003)

I've been after this for some time. I was living in Liverpool throughout the time that this series was made and shown on TV. It shows a very black and grim side to working (or none working)life in Liverpool. I wanted it so I could remind myself of what life was like then before computers, mobile phones and holidays oversea's.It shows the very worst of life then, but pulls it back round with humour. The collection is perfect and top quality. And as an added bonus has the original pilot film in with the collection.

Already well known on Merseyside as a local playwright and as the voice of "Franny Scully" during the Early days of Radio City as it was then known. Boys from the Blackstuff, was possibly Alan Bleasdale's first major drama Production to be shown nationally, and on TV Rather than his normal outlet, the Theatre. Following the trials and tribulations of a bunch of unemployed Liverpool tarmac layers and their families, as they struggle to earn a living in the recession ravaged eighties. Possibly the most harrowing character of all of them, and without doubt the most easily remembered was Yozza Hughes, brilliantly portrayed by Bernard Hill, as a man teetering on the brink, as, like the rest of them he struggles to earn a living to try and keep his family together whilst simultaneously trying to stay one step ahead of Social Services, as well as the DSS who are looking to catch him working illegally. The fact that this has now been released on DVD made it a must have, especially as I never saw the full series, and it's never been repeated on Television (Can't think why) Also as a bonus the set contains the original play "Blackstuff" shown on television a few years earlier than the series Originally as one-off, from which the series arrived (although I Honestly thought it was called "Boys from the Blackstuff" Just like the series was) (Funny what a gap of 20-odd years does to the memory. Full of Pity, anger and even humour, it's all there dark as an unlit street

Stahlhertz

True to life drama set in Liverpool,well worth watching.Shows the grim life and hardship of 70's unemplyment

excellent dvd, remember it from my youth, but did not remember the first feature lenght episode set in middlesbrough. so that was a massive bonus for me as i only live about 8 miles away. great purchase and a pleasure to deal with seller

The quality of theis DVD is excellent, exactly as described by the seller and value for money. I bought it as a gift and chose it for the good price.

i have not seen this in 25 years.this is the way it was in the early 8ts.every now and then you should remind yourself how people get through life or crumble.this is a perfect example.

I decided to buy this because I thoroughly enjoyed the series years ago, on television and have never seen it repeated since. The Pub scene was one of the most hilarious things I have ever seen. Robert Ashling

I absolutly loved this DVD and would recomend it highly to anyone... Black Stuff follows two regular black men who, denied entrance to the black section of heaven, share the experience of finding themselves in a culture that prizes false perceptions and re-presentations of black manhood in life and visual culture. Through use of satire, Black Stuff explores the negative and positive roles black men perform and raises important points about ignorance and racism in American culture. The production is far too tongue-in-cheek to make its statements about false identities valid (like Disposable Men), but Black Stuff is an engaging and winning multimedia examination of black men and popular culture

Just how I remember it, mass unemployment, chaps trying to support their families, the department of employment trying to catch them out, real life drama of the day. Also a good price for the hours of viewing it contains

i bought it for my husband it was very quick delivery and he said the film was excellent their was nothing to dislike about it

This series was hard hitting back in the Eighties when it was first shown. The charactors in each episode were portraying life as it had become back then, apart from the obvious changes to the backgrounds, cars, products, etc, the people of today will feel the pain and, the hardship that was part of everyday life when three million people were out of employment. Following the charactors as they strove to be better, will strike a chord with every person that, is finding themselves out of work in Britain at this trying time. The way that the DHSS is shown is a far cry from how it is today, the chairs were bolted to the floor and the officers were behind thick glass back then. Now it's cushy furnishings and security guards. Watching the mental decline of Yosser, as his life is taken from him was heartbreaking but, it was true to a lot of people back then. If you saw this series then you won't ever forget it, Yosser and the others are old friends that went through the hard times as we did. I can recommend to people that, they should take time to visit the past as we knew it. This set of films give us that chance and I'm happy to sit and watch these memories, it's like the story of my life as was. The only other TV that came close was Auf Weidersen Pet. The Eighties wasn't all yuppies and money, some had it and didn't they tell you! most didn't have anything. That's why I bought this set. It comes recommended from someone who lived it all the way through, that person is me. Buy it.

After seeing this dvd on ebay i knew i had to buy it straight away for my husband, as he watched the series on tv a long time ago and always wanted to buy it. He was really pleased. This is a excellent dvd box set

Saw this when first on tv,loved it then.Although now it seemed so dark it was full of humour. The characters were cast well, never realised how Thatcher destroyed the north.People were left with no self respect, low self worth and in some cases suicidal.Showed how being out of work tore familys apart leading to all kinds of confrontation.

Although I am not from Liverpool and currently live on the other side of the Mersey. I love watching these Dvd's. This was a good series and I apreciate it even more. The characters are so real. This is a must for fans of the series and would make a good present. I brought this for myself but would have been overjoyed to have got it as a present. Go on treat yourself or someone you know eould appreciate it. I do.

Having last seen this series when it first aired in the early 1980's,I looked forward to reminicing about my youth and the antics of Yosser Hughes,I was disappointed that he wasn't featured in it as much as I remember.
Each programme concentrates on one of the main characters and their struggle with unemployment and the effects this has within the family.
Alot of the topics and feelings viewed over 25 years ago are alarmingly relevent to whats happening in the country today.
Although I remember it been alot funnier then,it still raised a chuckle or two and quite a few tears.
This is well worth another viewing if not just to look at the hair styles the cars and the fashion.

I bought this as I had watched the original broadcast by the BBC back in the early 80's. It has never been screened on TV since and has only recently been released on DVD. It was great to see it again and it did not disappoint. However 25 years or so later I now appreciate more the message the drama was trying to get across, about Thatchers' Britain and unemployment.

You wont regret adding this to your collection.

What a very interesting series by Alan Bleasdale, about life in England. Liverpool in particular in the early 80's. The ups and downs about a group of people married and single ,the story being how they intereacted with each other. Pity they didn't make anymore of this series, I missed most of this series the first time around & I always promised myself "I'd get it someday"

both hubby and myself remember this series from years ago and so wanted to see it again,the dvd was brillant as new,very pleased would buy again from that seller.

I`ve always wanted the video or DVD ,since whatching it all those years ago .the acting was tear jerking at times and side splitting at other timeesthank you.

This series of three DVD's were purchased as a birthday present for a member of my family who enjoyed the series when first televised. This series of videos of the televised programmes lived up to the original showing, clarity of picture and acting came over better that remembered.

Boys From the Blackstuff, the first television series by Liverpool playwright Alan Bleasdale, was a technical and topical triumph capturing the public mood in 1982, at a time of economic recession and anxiety about unemployment. Set in a grimly recognisable Liverpool, it chronicled the disparate and sometimes dissolute attempts of five former members of a tarmac gang to find work in a city hit hard by mounting unemployment and depression. As an outwardly realist intervention into a serious social problem, its impact, sustained through its dramatic power and emotional truth, was comparable to that of Cathy Come Home fifteen years earlier. With its ostensibly sombre subject matter leavened by passionate direction and flashes of ironic Scouse wit, Boys From The Blackstuff overcame its regional setting and minority channel scheduling (on BBC2) to receive instant critical acclaim, winning an unprecedented repeat run only nine weeks later on BBC1 and a BAFTA award for best drama series of 1982.
This is what British drama is all about, gritty, hard hitting and inspiring, teriffic.

The cast in the series are brilliant, this series is worth watching over and over again, good character acting by Yosser Hughes

iloved this series,its a xmas present for my boyfriend, he was only a kid when this was out, so he is in for a treat.