Hancock

[The_Late_Peter_Cook]

Originally posted by 42ndStreetFreak@Feb 28 2005, 03:44 AM Sure there are some classic radio episodes (many of which did feature Williams) but there were also many weak ones.

I don't agree there. I first got into Hankcock via the '85 repeats, so I'll always have a soft spot for the tv series, but for me I tend to prefer the radio series. Episodes like THE POETRY SOCIETY, SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT HOME, THE CHILDHOOD SWEETHEART and THE LAST BUS HOME, I think are the best of either meduim.

As for Bill Kerr, I love his character, just thinking about how gormless he could be brings a smile to my face. :)

[DB7]

Originally posted by The_Late_Peter_Cook@Mar 2 2005, 05:31 PM I don't agree there. I first got into Hankcock via the '85 repeats, so I'll always have a soft spot for the tv series, but for me I tend to prefer the radio series. Episodes like THE POETRY SOCIETY, SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT HOME, THE CHILDHOOD SWEETHEART and THE LAST BUS HOME, I think are the best of either meduim.

For me it would be the episodes The Economy Drive and the Poison Pen Letters. Some of the 'Hancock' episodes were excellent but I missed Sid's presence.

[David Brent]

Originally posted by The_Late_Peter_Cook@Mar 2 2005, 05:31 PM As for Bill Kerr, I love his character, just thinking about how gormless he could be brings a smile to my face. :)

I thought Bill was fantastic but especially so in the radio episode "The East Cheam Drama Festival"

"Prompt"
"Hello Mum"
"Ah...Prompt"
"Hello Dad"
"Ah...um...Prompt"
"It's not your line !"

I also think that Kenneth Williams played a HUGE part in making the radio series such a timeless classic.Can anyone forget his hillarious quips like "Good Evening" & "Stop messin' about".
Although i hear that Hancock didn't get on well with Williams the banter between them on the shows was a joy to behold.
Superb stuff! :grin:

Dave.

[The_Late_Peter_Cook]

Originally posted by DB7@Mar 2 2005, 07:37 PM For me it would be the episodes The Economy Drive and the Poison Pen Letters. Some of the 'Hancock' episodes were excellent but I missed Sid's presence.

Though 'The Lift' is probably my favourite tv episode, I tend to agree, as I kept missing Sid throughout that series. Another favourite of mine is the obscure 'Sid In Love', the scenes with Tony and Sid on the bus sums up the series for me. :)

[The_Late_Peter_Cook]

Originally posted by David Brent@Mar 3 2005, 06:00 AM I also think that Kenneth Williams played a HUGE part in making the radio series such a timeless classic.Can anyone forget his hillarious quips like "Good Evening" & "Stop messin' about".

Ken's wonderful in the earlier, more 'fantasy' episodes (hearing him chatting up a dragged-up Tony in 'Hancock In The Police' was one of the funniest things I've ever heard). He didn't quite fit into the more realestic later shows but he had a very good cameo in 'The Childhood Sweetheart'.

[Hackett]

Originally posted by The_Late_Peter_Cook@Mar 3 2005, 05:20 PM Though 'The Lift' is probably my favourite tv episode, I tend to agree, as I kept missing Sid throughout that series. Another favourite of mine is the obscure 'Sid In Love', the scenes with Tony and Sid on the bus sums up the series for me. :)

Galton and Simpson used the premise of "THE LIFT" in thier 1977 series "GALTON AND SIMPSON PLAYHOUSE" for Yorkshire TV. "CAR ALONG THE PASS" starred Arthur Lowe as Harry Duckworth who with his wife are the only English passengers on a stranded cablecar. Anton Diffring (as always) was excellent as the butt of Duckworth's (don't remember him being a Sun reader) xenophobia. Duckworth sums up his character by saying: Should the cable car plummet to the ground it would not be such a disaster as most of the dead would be foreigner's.

[The_Late_Peter_Cook]

Originally posted by HACKETT@Mar 4 2005, 10:58 AM Galton and Simpson used the premise of "THE LIFT" in thier 1977 series "GALTON AND SIMPSON PLAYHOUSE" for Yorkshire TV. "CAR ALONG THE PASS" starred Arthur Lowe as Harry Duckworth who with his wife are the only English passengers on a stranded cablecar. Anton Diffring (as always) was excellent as the butt of Duckworth's (don't remember him being a Sun reader) xenophobia. Duckworth sums up his character by saying: Should the cable car plummet to the ground it would not be such a disaster as most of the dead would be foreigner's.

I remember watching that in the early 'eighties, when ITV repeated it as a tribute to Arthur Lowe following his death.

By the way, Lowe fans should check out the forthcoming 'Complete Bless Me Father' box set.....if they have a multi-region player as its a Region 1 release.

[David Brent]

Originally posted by The_Late_Peter_Cook@Mar 3 2005, 05:20 PM Though 'The Lift' is probably my favourite tv episode, I tend to agree, as I kept missing Sid throughout that series. Another favourite of mine is the obscure 'Sid In Love', the scenes with Tony and Sid on the bus sums up the series for me. :)

Of course Hugh Lloyd, who I believe is still with us, was an integral part of 'The Lift'
episode as he was in many of the HANCOCK'S HALF HOUR /HANCOCK television episode's.
He always played the unhappy, unsmiling and authorative characters.
Remember him as Smudger Smith in 'The Reunion Party' & as the patient who whips Tony's wine gum's in 'The Blood Donor' ?
Amongst many other episode's he also played Bert in 'Sid In Love'.
So many great episode's, so many great character's :grin:

Dave.

[smudge]

Originally posted by David Brent@Mar 5 2005, 03:05 AM Of course Hugh Lloyd, who I believe is still with us, was an integral part of 'The Lift' episode as he was in many of the HANCOCK'S HALF HOUR /HANCOCK television episode's. He always played the unhappy, unsmiling and authorative characters. Remember him as Smudger Smith in 'The Reunion Party' & as the patient who whips Tony's wine gum's in 'The Blood Donor' ? Amongst many other episode's he also played Bert in 'Sid In Love'. So many great episode's, so many great character's :grin: Dave.

My favourite also includes Hugh, as the librarian in THE MISSING PAGE.

That piece of mime when Tony is trying to describe the plot and outcome of the crime book is a MASTERPIECE ; it kills me every time I see it. Also, of course, you have a wonderfully manic performance by George Coulouris as the other frustrated reader of Lady Don't Fall Backwards... :grin:

Brilliant !

And I too love the pictures on the radio...

SMUDGE

[The_Late_Peter_Cook]

Hugh's still alive (thankfully!) as is June Whitfield who popped up in 'The Alpine Holiday', 'The Blood Doner' and 'The Succession' as well as Tony's ITV series. I think Bill Kerr's still around as are Tony's two (radio) girlfriends. but it's an sobering thought that the radio series started over fifty years ago.

Hugh's also great in Tony's very under-rated 'The Punch And Judy Man' (a movie which also give John Le Mesurier on of his best film roles).

[42ndStreetFreak]

Hugh recently popped up in an episode of "Foyle's War" actually. To think he outlived all of those actors involved in Hancock to any great degree except June Whitfield.


Only taped 2 of the TV Gold episodes. Missed last nights and "The Bowmans"! Nuts!

I see it's moved to the "Half Hour" episodes next week.

Recently been listening to Williams reading his Autobiography and i've just picked up his Diaries.

[The_Late_Peter_Cook]

Originally posted by 42ndStreetFreak@Mar 5 2005, 02:19 PM Only taped 2 of the TV Gold episodes. Missed last nights and "The Bowmans"! Nuts!

Still, not to worry, as your never alone with a pilchard.

I have the 'Hancock' episodes on DVD, with the strange exception of 'The Succession' which ended the series. Makes you think whether the BBC will rerelease that DVD with the missing episode or simply stick it on the end of the series six one.

[42ndStreetFreak]

Where does "Alpine Holiday" fit in?
It's called "...Half Hour" but has no Sid. So was before the Sid episodes or after, but before the name changed just to "Hancock"?

Pretty awful picture quality it has to be said (and not that good, but the 'Snide' TV appearence is, as mentioned, of historic interest).

[DB7]

It's part of Hancock's Half Hour; The Alpine Holiday is probably the oldest episode not 'lost'. Not sure when Sid entred the fray.

As the series progresses one noticble element is Hancock having to read his lines from idiot boards.

[Steve Crook]

Originally posted by DB7@Mar 7 2005, 08:07 PM As the series progresses one noticble element is Hancock having to read his lines from idiot boards.

And fluffing his lines more - and occasionally bumping into the furniture

Steve