Mr Pastry Time

Hi Folks
I thought one or two Mr Pastry fans might be interested to learn I picked up a couple of Mr Pastry DVD'S from America in NTSC system. The quality is good and the film is Madame Gambles (Madame Louise). If anyone needs one I obtained a couple of spares just in case.
Remember though these are NTSC imports, but much better quality than the UK versions.

Moor Larkin

In my small collection of Fifties TV mags, I was reading about Mr. Pastry going down a storm in the US on the television. I was kinda surprised. I have the happiest of memories of watching his TV shows as a kid, here in England, albeit those memories are inevitably very vague. For whatever reason I had him down as a very British Act and wouldn't have expected he would have appealed to America. But he evidently did and the fact that they're putting his films out on Region 1 proves some kind of longer term enduring popularity......

I was at work recently, with a colleague somewhat older than me. After a customer had gone a look of fond remembrance came over her face. She reflected "Oh! That Richard Hearne. He did make me laugh!" The reason for her memory was that someone had been in the shop who looked just like Richard Hearne (apparently). I was scratching my head because the bloke had not had a droopy moustache and had not tripped over a single bucket............

But of course I was thinking of the TV-Mr. Pastry whereas she remembered the actual actor/comedian !.....

[code]http://www.flickr.com/photos/29487363@N02/sets/72157606700675506/code]

penfold

I have a very vague (and possibly incorrect) memory of the gallopping dancers sketch...on the Ed Sullivan show??

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Mr Pastry Time

Hi Penfold
Yes this dance was called the Lancers. Also popular was the passing out ceremony on the ED Sullivan Show. I have both of these and they are very watchable clips and always raise a smile. Its nice to see interest in Richard Hearne as I feel he was such a decent sort, if thats the correct lingo. His films seemed such good family viewing and he was a man of honour which came through on stage I thought.
One of the good guys...

penfold

I have to say that some of the Mr Pastry material left me cold...but his two dancing sketches - the invisible partners in the country dance (I thought that was The Lancers) and the rows of partners on poles....as an ex-Morris dancer, and a ceilidh frequenter, they had me in stitches...

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

smiffy

I am trying to find out anything about a film with richard hearne,and William Hartnell,which I think was called tons of trouble.Does anybody know if it is available in any form.I have also been trying to find mr pastry tv shows without any luck.
With all the tv channels available these days,especially on freeview with the beeb and ITV, you would think that there would be an audience for a nostalgia channel especially for the kids like me who never grew up.
I wonder what the young ones of today would make of the wholesome, funny entertainment we used to watch as kids .

I have been reading the comments about the BFI and am becoming alarmed as to what is part of our heritage that seems to be locked in a time capsule.
any kind of help greatly appreciated

penfold

Apparently not - at least not legitimately...


Much of it ill-informed, I'm afraid. The NFTVA own (or have on permanent loan) the physical prints they hold for the nation, but not - or seldom - the copyrights, which reside still with the makers or their estates, and will do for a very long time yet. They do not have the legal right to exploit the films they have, let alone the financial clout. They can do little about either.
What they can do legally is show you the film - at their London base, either in a small viewing room or mini-theatre, for a reasonable fee. This is done using a loophole in copyright law for research...they could also rent out a copy to a local artshouse for a public screening, providing the cinema pays for the nominal rent, transport, and rights payment to the holders.
The bad news is...at least according to my 1995 catalogue, they don't have Tons of Trouble, which does seem to be the right title......but you should contact the BFI | National Archive | Archive Information and Enquiries to see if they have it now...

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

smiffy

Thanks Penfold,I shall carry on regardless with my search and will post any developments.

MrT

A 16mm print of the Mr Pastry film "Tons of Trouble" is currently up for auction on ebay. I am tempted, but the opening bid is £125 which seems a bit expensive - but maybe someone out there will buy it and perhaps get it onto dvd. The auction finishes in two days so you will need to be quick to view it - search "Richard Hearne" and it will come in the list of a dozen or so "Mr Pastry" related auctions running this week.

It is a great pity that neither this or the other Mr Pastry fim "The time of his life" from the 1950s has made it to dvd - we've had releases of Muffin the Mule, The Army game, etc, so why is this piece of nostalgia ignored. Come on DD video - lets please have a Mr Pastry dvd in 2007!

Mike (MrT)

smiffy

Thanks mr T I have had a look on ebay lets see what happens.

Mr Pastry Time

Several 16mm film prints are kicking around. The one on ebay I would avoid as I know its history.

Jan 07: This film has now been relisted...

smiffy

Thanks Mr Pastry time,I was tempted to make a bid ,but I will keep my eyes on ebay now to see what happens to this particular film.:

Matt Barrow

Not sure if my last post worked ...

My Father wrote Tons of Trouble and I'm really keen to find out more.

Matt

Mr Pastry Time

Hello Matt. I have been researching Richard Hearne for a few years now, visited his home and filmed it, met a few of his friends still alive and had contact with family. I do also make the 600 mile round trip to tend his grave as and when I can and yes I do have a number of his films and shorts. I have sent you a mail so we can make contact direct as I would like a chat.

I am hoping to screen the film in question in a cinema and celebrate the life of Richard but these things do take time to get organised.

Chat soon.
Kindest regards

reed-carol

Group 9.5 is due to show "Tons of Trouble" on February 3rd on 16mm and "The time of His life" on 35mm on February 17th. Group 9.5 is a membership organisation but they usually don't mind potential members comming along. Screenings are held at St Gabriels Parish House, Churchill Road, Pimlico SW1 at 7.30pm though the first film is usually on at 8pm. They ask for £1.00 for tea at the interval. The prints arn't always the best quaity but are often the only time you will see some of them on a large screen - I find them a friendly bunch and they do a good magazine as well. website www.pathescope.freeserve.co.uk/pathe95.htm
Richard S