Punk Anarcho
Friday 28th September 2012 8:53pm [Edited]
146 posts
Quote: Gordon Bennett @ September 26 2012, 5:25 PM BST
Watched the first episode yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised. At first I was a bit worried about the black & white and that the jokes would be a bit too old timey for me...but after 5 minutes I began enjoying it a lot. I especially loved the Mainwaring actor and his straight acting. What puts me off of some old comedy (and some new) is when certain actors (mostly playing secondary characters) try too hard to be funny instead of playing it straightfaced. For example most of the fun of "Naked Gun" derives from the straight acting by Leslie Nielson and George Kennedy. They don't behave like clowns on speed but they speak their silly lines as if they would play in a drama or a thriller. I appreciate that in comedy.
Yes it's remarkably compelling comedy. And it's the understated that works rather than the later slapstick episodes.
There were others of this period like All Gas & Gaiters and they definitely had a foot in music hall.
Obviously I'm fascinated by John Le Mesurier and his relationship with Hattie Jacques, all recently covered on BBC Four.
But I hope you enjoy the box set, as you should, it's great British comedy.
AP Scene
Edited by Aaron - spelling, grammar, you name it.