Buffalo_Chuck

TCM-USA is showing 3 of Arthur Askey's films (all available on R1 or R2 DVD):
Ghost Train (1941)
Band Waggon (1939)
Charley's Big-Hearted Aunt (1940)

but our local film festival is showing three of his that were only on R2 DVDs, none of which I've seen:

Back Room Boy, Bees In Paradise and Miss London Ltd

Any notes about these 3 films? Last year, we had a few of his (including Ghost Train and Charleys), and this year, a few more. We've got a few more Will Hay films this year, but that's later in the summer. Your ex-pat pals do us well with their good choices - we get most of the P&Ps on the big screen, but one cannot live by fine film alone.

donna

the most irritating wee man ever , never liked him .my mum liked Charlie Drake but not my cup of tea either.

bhowells

Arthyr was woefully ufunny. I remember him being one of the captains on Jokers Wild the opposing team had Ted Ray. Couldnt stand him either, its occurred to me that Ted Ray was the uk equivilent of Jack Benny, not just the fact that they both had a violin as a comic prop but their slick deliver.

I have watched Jack Benny on some dvds, I have tried to warm to him but I cant, that wide eyed stare and constant jokes about his meanness get extremely wearing after a bit, I know he was a master of comic timing but I have to say he is not for me.

Now, his old pal George Burns and spouse Gracie Allen much more to my tastes. Her scatterbrained routine was a joy to watch. Shame I wasnt around when they debuted on Brutusg telly in 1958.

WickedLadyKiller

I have to admit having a soft spot for Arthur Askey. I also think that he provided at least some of the inspiration for Arthur Atkinson in this pretty ruthless Fast Show
parody: YouTube - The fast show George Formby's wartime propaganda pictures also an obvious source.

Anyway, Back Room Boy is great fun and worth watching as an example of a very British type of wartime comedy.

"Made from peanuts, I suppose"

donna

Dont think the UK took to Jack Benny, I loved Life with the Lyons, thought it was great on the radio, although the Amercans do seem to have different sense of humour we have to applaud Frazier, it travels well across the pond, slick.

suzepulcheria

I cannot agree- perhaps this is a generation thing? He was the most wonderful pantomime dame- I saw him at the Palladium twice and in summer stock at Torquay. And his songs! 'I want a banana' is perhaps my favourite- risque and sweet at the same time in the best seaside postcard humour style.
I Thang Yew.

"I've come a long way you know!" "Equally long way to go back..."

suzepulcheria

PS I loved Jack Benny too. His 'To Be or Not to Be' movie was miles better than the Mel Brooks remake.

"I've come a long way you know!" "Equally long way to go back..."

donna

loved the Dads Army gang, they were hilarious, great script too, Arthur Lowe was a time genius.

bhowells

The Dads Army cast were all brilliant, not a dud amongst them, that goes for the supporting roles such as Bill Pertwee and the Arp Warden.

I admire Arthur Lowe for escaping from Coronation Street and not becoming type cast after Leonard Swindley. Looking at old episodes of Corrie on video it is noticable that Eileen Derbyshire as Emily Nugent were a good comic pairing.

Prior to Dads Army the Swindley character appeared in a couple of sitcoms one was called,"Pardon My Expression." I was a bout six at the time, so I cant really make much comment about these spin-offs.

Surprised they never tried it with Reg Holdsworth.

Steve Crook

I'd say they were all brilliant except for Bill Pertwee - who was the ARP warden

Steve

Joenoir

I remember seeing Benny and Burns doing a sketch with Benny dragged up as Gracie. It was either on Sunday Night at the London Pallidium or one of the Royal Variety Shows. I thought at the time it was quite funny.

BTW what was Brutusg telly?

Start every day with a smile and get it over with.