British Comedy Guide

The Unknown Hancock Page 2

I remember watching Alfred Molina playing Hancock. It's never been repeated, more the pity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbdCaubCM5U

Quote: James Cotter @ February 23 2011, 10:38 AM GMT

Who was she playing in Oliver!? Nancy?

Nah, she was too old even then (and couldn't sing). She played Mrs Sowerberry. The brilliant Victor Spinetti played Fagin. He was great with us kids and full of stories, having worked with Orson Welles, been in 'A Hard Day's Night' with The Beatles, etc.

Quote: Steve Sunshine @ February 23 2011, 3:31 PM GMT

Don't call Tim that!

:D

Quote: Griff @ February 23 2011, 5:03 PM GMT

I saw Spinetti's one-man show in the late 80s or early 90s and he was hilarious.

I have really fond memories of him. A charming and funny man.

Quote: Baumski @ February 23 2011, 4:12 PM GMT

I remember watching Alfred Molina playing Hancock. It's never been repeated, more the pity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbdCaubCM5U

That was a really good production, with Molina excellent as Tony. Shits all over that recent crapfest with Ken Stott.

Quote: Griff @ February 23 2011, 5:03 PM GMT

I saw Spinetti's one-man show in the late 80s or early 90s and he was hilarious.

I've just finished his autobiography 'Up Front' and it too was hilarious. The guy is a comic genius.

Quote: Tim Walker @ February 23 2011, 5:01 PM GMT

Nah, she was too old even then (and couldn't sing). She played Mrs Sowerberry. The brilliant Victor Spinetti played Fagin. He was great with us kids and full of stories, having worked with Orson Welles, been in 'A Hard Day's Night' with The Beatles, etc.

The undertakers wife that makes sense now. Victor Spinetti is a real legend.

Quote: Tim Walker @ February 23 2011, 5:01 PM GMT

He was great with us kids

And here's me thinking you played The Beadle.

Quote: Baumski @ February 23 2011, 4:12 PM GMT

I remember watching Alfred Molina playing Hancock. It's never been repeated, more the pity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbdCaubCM5U

Just saw that on the link there. Fascinating stuff. Shame there's no DVD release.

I remember watching that at the time and I'd never really heard of Alfred Molina.
After that he seemed to be in a lot of things.

Ooh look there's Hancock beating up Spiderman.

I remember watching Unknown Hancock when it was first on. Boxing Day I think it was - definitely a sad documentary. I think Spike Milligan summed him up perfectly: 'First he got rid of Kenneth Williams. Then he got rid of Bill Keer. Then he got rid of Sid James. Then he got rid of Galton & Simpson. Then he got rid of himself'. Was a very poignant documentary.

Other points raised in this discussion: Victor Spinetti. Great actor - absolutely brilliant in the forgotten but brilliant sitcom Two In Clover opposite Sid James.
The Punch and Judy Man - watched this myself for the first time the other night. Not shocking, but not good either. Doubt I'll ever watch it again.

Glad to see that amongst all the usual respected knowledgeable talking heads that the documentary made space to include the demented ramblings of celebrity drug fiend Pete Doherty. I'm much rather hear him mumbling into his dribble stained t-shirt than listen to Graham Stark or Hugh Lloyd.

Why was Pete Doherty on it? I can't remember him on it now it's been a while since I watched it. What did he contribute?

The scrawny gerbil faced balladeer apparently wrote a song called 'Up the Bracket' on one of his many albums, with a vague Hancock theme. Mr Doherty was on screen muttering and drooling away about how he used to have some Hancock albums when he was young, he's probably long since sold them all for crack by now, but it was a revealing insight into someone I really quite detest. He then played a song in the background as Joan Le Mesurier reminded us all once again that she shagged Hancock, just in case we had forgotten. The song was called 'Lady Don't Fall Backwards' and seemed to be the title repeated endlessly with the odd 'oooh don't hurt yourself' inserted here and there at random. I felt like weeping for all the wrong reasons.

Quote: Agnes Guano @ February 25 2011, 11:54 AM GMT

The scrawny gerbil faced balladeer apparently wrote a song called 'Up the Bracket' on one of his many albums, with a vague Hancock theme. Mr Doherty was on screen muttering and drooling away about how he used to have some Hancock albums when he was young, he's probably long since sold them all for crack by now, but it was a revealing insight into someone I really quite detest. He then played a song in the background as Joan Le Mesurier reminded us all once again that she shagged Hancock, just in case we had forgotten. The song was called 'Lady Don't Fall Backwards' and seemed to be the title repeated endlessly with the odd 'oooh don't hurt yourself' inserted here and there at random. I felt like weeping for all the wrong reasons.

Laughing out loud

Slightly noteworthy that Lady Don't Fall Backwards is actually the title of a song he's written, and of course of Joan's memoirs. (Presumably no coincidence given that he made himself out to be a fan.)

I know to one 'proper' Hancock tribute song, Mr Homburg Hat by Harvey Andrews.

http://www.railwaycuttings.co.uk/sounds/homberg_hat.mp3

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