The early stylistic awkwardnesses of recording on video are evident in this episode; the sometimes clunky camera-work, the shifts of scene with bridging sequences of stock-footage and title cards, and the occasional enjambment that reveals some uncertainties from director Duncan Wood.
Yet still the core of this legendary comedy series remains to withstand the test of time. In the television version Hancock had shed all of his costars - including Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Williams, and Bill Kerr - and did two-handers with Sid James. They shared the same seedy apartment at 23 Railway Cuttings, East Cheam; and led down-at-heel lives where money was always a problem. Yet circumstances did not seem to get in the way of their fundamentally cheerful relationship; although Sid was perpetually out to benefit at Hancock's expense, he retained sufficient respect to ensure that neither of them suffered excessively as a result. This was a male bonding relationship that no one would ever conceive of in adverse terms.
As a pair of actors, James and Hancock fed off each other. They were highly adept at delivering Galton and Simpson's memorable scripts and had an instinctive understanding of one another's body- language. They knew when to deliver lines and how to get laughs. Sometimes the strains of live broadcasting got the better of them; on at least two occasions during this episode Hancock nearly corpses, and has to deliver his dialogue again. But this doesn't seem to matter in a comedy where the performers are acting out their roles with such conviction and verve.
For the record, this often surrealist episode involves winning competitions, some Japanese visitors, a boring bureaucrat (played by Hugh Lloyd) and an evening out with then-notorious blond bombshell Jayne Mansfield. It doesn't really matter whether these elements cohere or not; we should just sit back and enjoy the privilege of watching two geniuses at work.
Yet still the core of this legendary comedy series remains to withstand the test of time. In the television version Hancock had shed all of his costars - including Hattie Jacques, Kenneth Williams, and Bill Kerr - and did two-handers with Sid James. They shared the same seedy apartment at 23 Railway Cuttings, East Cheam; and led down-at-heel lives where money was always a problem. Yet circumstances did not seem to get in the way of their fundamentally cheerful relationship; although Sid was perpetually out to benefit at Hancock's expense, he retained sufficient respect to ensure that neither of them suffered excessively as a result. This was a male bonding relationship that no one would ever conceive of in adverse terms.
As a pair of actors, James and Hancock fed off each other. They were highly adept at delivering Galton and Simpson's memorable scripts and had an instinctive understanding of one another's body- language. They knew when to deliver lines and how to get laughs. Sometimes the strains of live broadcasting got the better of them; on at least two occasions during this episode Hancock nearly corpses, and has to deliver his dialogue again. But this doesn't seem to matter in a comedy where the performers are acting out their roles with such conviction and verve.
For the record, this often surrealist episode involves winning competitions, some Japanese visitors, a boring bureaucrat (played by Hugh Lloyd) and an evening out with then-notorious blond bombshell Jayne Mansfield. It doesn't really matter whether these elements cohere or not; we should just sit back and enjoy the privilege of watching two geniuses at work.