Product Description

This is a video primarily about the 'rules of the table.' It has been in VHS format since 1998 and it was entered on Amazon in April, 2000. It quickly became the top selling etiquette video on Amazon and it remains the No. 1 etiquette video that Amazon lists.

Please refer to the VHS information page of "American Dining & Entertaining Etiquette; Manners for the Table" for a more extensive review of this video.

Review

I am a big fan of Ruth's! I love this DVD. -- Marci Holzer, Hostess, Highland Park, IL

I have occasion to dine with clients and I refer to Ruth's DVD to refresh my memory about dining etiquette. -- Dixie Malek, Lawyer, Wadsworth, IL

I love this DVD! Keep up the good work, Ruth, America needs you. -- Elizabeth Bertucci, Business Owner, Chicago, IL

Ruth always acts like a lady and her DVD can help you learn some of her secrets. -- Starr Kondos, Boutique Owner, Barrington, IL

Product details

Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.33:1
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.1 x 5.42 x 0.58 inches; 2.93 ounces
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Multiple Formats, NTSC, Color, Digital Sound
Run time ‏ : ‎ 37 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ October 4, 2002
Actors ‏ : ‎ Kern, Ruth L.
Studio ‏ : ‎ Ruth L Kern
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00006WS7R
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

Best Sellers Rank: #284,142 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #17,899 in Special Interests (Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews:
15

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3.6 out of 5

15 global ratings

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A. Y. Smittle

Interesting

Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2003

Verified Purchase

This really was a helpful video on dining etiquette. Its interesting in that you go right into Ruth's house and use her silver and china to work on your manners and presentation. Now, my one complaint was that the bulk of the video was on how the fork and knife were proportioned, napkin placed, etc. I was looking for a bit more on hostessing and entertaining, etc. You get what you pay for---you see how to set a table for luncheon, formal and dinner parties. What fork to eat with, which glass to drink from, etc. I was hoping for a more well-rounded video on all topics, as well as a greater time length. But I feel I have gained something. Try to see if you can rent it from somewhere and save your money! (Library? Video Store? Used off Amazon.com?)

19 people found this helpful

Helpful

Divine Mafa

A must for Americans

Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2010

Verified Purchase

I bought this for my little sister. She had no respect for food after having been in boarding school all her life. Its not like she had no table manners. Boarding school kids do a lot of food fighting and apparently, she still hadn't realized that a real world is judgemental. Had to bring her back to the family basics. Eating with style is fashionable. There is no reason not to have fashionable dinning manners. Its a valuable set of rules in life.

Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2009

Verified Purchase

I purchased American Dining and Entertaining Etiquette; Manners for the Table as a training tool for our young adults participating in our annual cotillion. After previewing the tape, I am very disappointed. Ms. Kern is quite boring and would not hold the interest of me as a 43 year old adult. I would not torture our youth by forcing them to watch this video. There was too much discussion on wine and where to serve the guest and no real demonstration as I expected. May I suggest you redo the video and have actual people at the table. Demonstrate how the table should be arranged, the place setting, etc. Also consider showing real people having a meal utilizing the proper instruments. Include proper conversation and provide tips for various negative encounters (spill water or beverage, how to request additional food, what to do if you don't like the food on your plate, etc.) that may occur and how to recover from them. Do a video just for young adults demonstrating how men should seat women, show bad manners vs. good manners, etc.

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

mmm

manners 70's style

Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2011

Verified Purchase

It's my own fault for not researching this more. This is fine if you are wanting to serve high society but definitely wouldn't fly with high school students. Decided to shelf this one rather than risk their rath and being forced to watch something that in no way relates to them. Keep in mind I teach in a very affluent suburb of the city.

Helpful

P. Caetano

good but scarce and non-fully illustraded advice

Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2003

Verified Purchase

The advice in this DVD is good: Ms. Kern spends most of the time filming a table, explaining in detail how to navigate your way in several table settings, what each utensile and plate is for, what is the correct order for glasses, how to hold the fork, etc. However, in that long sequence she is alone and the plates and glasses are empty. Thus, for instance, when she describes how to interact with the other guests at the table or deal with the food in front of you she is just describing what you should do instead of actually showing you what to do. Well a book can do that. I bought a DVD on etiquette expecting to see a display of good manners rather than, mostly, having them described to me. Nevertheless, I was not able to find a better DVD on etiquette so I would recommend this one.

28 people found this helpful

Helpful

K. Abbott

Etiquette Video

Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2007

Verified Purchase

Excellent content but hosts clothing was a joke. A little bit dated and over the top to say the least. I could only get the VHS tape and the video quality was a bit grainy. Another complaint is that the video shows people smoking at a dinner party. Smoking is no longer acceptable in a lot of peoples homes. I bought this for the high school students in my business club but I have to skip over the smoking and drinking parts.

Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2021

Verified Purchase

Informative

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