Entertainment For Lively Minds
The Day Off plus Q&A with Galton & Simpson
Posted by DogFacedBoy on 30 January 2012 - 2:05am.
When:
29th January 2012
Where:
National Film Theatre, London
Comments:
This was the world premiere debut full cast performance of the film script that Ray Galton & Alan Simpson wrote for Tony Hancock after their success with 'The Rebel'. The self destructive Hancock eventually rejected the script as not "international" enough and fired his writers. Hancock went on to make the none more parochial 'Punch N Judy Man' before drink, depression and personal demons drove him to his death. Tonight, this visual radio show was enlivened by a superb cast with its crown jewel being Tom Goodman-Hill in the Hancock role getting the rhythm and character of the comic without feeling like an impression. Kevin Eldon's Bernard Bresslaw-like "bloke in park", Morwenna Banks' daft waitress and the comic timing of Norman Lovett gave the script a real spark. Despite being 50 years old the script was fresh and relevant. It was a genuine thrill to hear this lost gem for the first time along with its authors who provided a very amusing interview session at the end.
The Audience:
Comedy spods, comedy TV types and fans of the Lad 'Imself. Enthusiastic and gave Ray n Alan a standing ovation at the end of the night. Stone me, what a bunch.
Food & Drink:
Do you want a punch up the bracket?
It Made Me Think...:
When Hancock split with Ray and Alan they did 'Comedy Playhouse' in which one episode featured a pair of Rag N Bone men. You have to wonder how different British comedy would have been if 'The Day Out' had made it to the screen.
D'oh!!!!
That should be 'The Day Off' at the end. Bahhhh!!!
Anything interesting
come out of the Q&A/interview?
Erm let me think
- the script was their first draft. In fact it seemed that they didn't 2nd drafts and simply rewrote as they went along
- the 2 other film ideas they started but were stopped by Hancock were one where Hancock ruins the businesses of four wealthy brothers. They only got as far as writing the first part where Hancock is a chef at a health farm who has a sideline in black market full english breakfasts. They reworked it for a Comedy Playhouse episode starring Alfred Marks. The third was Hancock on a cruise ship but never got much further than the concept
- they dismissed the BBC drama about rift between the Steptoe stars, said they got on completely fine, generous to each other. They also confirmed the story about Harry H Corbett and the MBE. "Harold" was a Labour party supporter and the other Harold (Wilson) put his name forward for an honour. Somewhere along the way the "H" was lost and the medal went to the Sooty Show host.
- on their long friendship they said they still compliment each other perfectly "I help him up the stairs, he reminds me what day it is.....although I'm sure there's no 44th of April"
- when sharing offices with Spike Milligan and Eric Sykes they were bombarded by their jokes and pranks. A running gag involving blowing raspberries went from phoning up pretending to be the Head of BBC comedy *pttttthhhpppp!*, sending a telegram boy *opens telegram* *pttttthhhpppp!* to the final act of hanging Harry Seacombe out of the window above theirs by his ankles, feeding a vacuum cleaner tube into their open window and Harry delivering a large *pttttthhhpppp* leading to Spike and Eric dropping him as they doubled up with laughter
- current faves are Count Arthur Strong and Outnumbered
- that the film has been optioned and so hopefully will get made. I feel this would be a BBC Films or similar TV movie rather than theatrical release.