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Post by Tim S on Dec 7, 2004 15:34:17 GMT
I don't know if this is old news or not, so apologies if it is! Their ATV series has been found in the archives, some of which will be shown on The South Bank Show next month. Details on ITV Teletext p132.
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Post by Laurence Piper on Dec 7, 2004 16:02:55 GMT
Just for us without teletext though, can you repeat the basics of what it said?
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Post by Tim S on Dec 7, 2004 16:30:43 GMT
Sorry. I'll look for an online link.
Basically, four shows made in 1968 have been "found" in various states of repair. There's a brief discussion about the quality of the performances and writing.
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Post by Tim S on Dec 7, 2004 16:35:41 GMT
www.itv.com/page.asp?partid=2648Pete 'n' Dud: The Lost Shows 01/01/2005 23:05 In 1968 Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, fresh from the success of Not Only…But Also, were lured to ITV to make four comedy sketch shows called Goodbye Again. These hour long programmes have not been broadcast since then. In fact, they have languished unnoticed in various archives ever since. The South Bank Show has unearthed this footage offering the chance to rediscover the work of these comic geniuses. The success of Not Only…But Also made Peter Cook and Dudley Moore national comedy stars, particularly since it had come hot on the heels of their hit revue Beyond the Fringe, which also starred Alan Bennett and Jonathan Miller. Despite being offered a lucrative deal, after two series with the BBC, they decided not to make any more. When Lew Grade, the then boss of ATV made them an offer they couldn’t refuse, Peter and Dudley left the BBC for ATV in 1968. The result was four comedy sketch shows called Goodbye Again, which also featured musical appearances from such international stars such as Ike and Tina Turner. The sketches ranged from new interpretations of Sherlock Holmes and Robin Hood, to the familiar ruminations of cloth-cap wearing Pete and Dud mulling over affairs of the day and the meaning of life in various situations from the gym to a prison. Bursts of ad-libbing and a fair amount of giggling from Dudley Moore was the norm. Combining extensive excerpts from the rediscovered archive and interviews with collaborators and fellow comics, The South Bank Show will showcase the sketches which have not been seen for 35 years. Additional contributors include the director of the series, Shaun O’Riordan, who remembers Peter and Dudley’s reluctance to rehearse, actor Rodney Bewes, who also appeared in some of the sketches and remembers there always being champagne in the makeup trailer every morning and Billy Connolly who says how delighted he is to discover more material from his comedy heroes. Much of Cook and Moore’s television work has been destroyed or lost over the years, so the rediscovery of four hours of their comic genius is truly something to celebrate. Additional contributors include Richard Ingrams, editor of The Oldie, comedian Rob Brydon, playwright Ned Sherrin and writer Neil Shand.
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Post by Laurence Piper on Dec 7, 2004 21:53:55 GMT
Thanks for the info. When is this on? I must make sure I don't miss it!
Those programmes have been known to exist for a long time (albeit in a state of disrepair) so they weren't really missing - merely neglected. It will be great to see it all but why don't they just screen the whole shows? Maybe they plan a DVD release in full? Now that would be good...
Anyone know if any of the four are still in colour (presume not)?
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Post by lfbarfe on Dec 8, 2004 0:30:48 GMT
Thanks for the info. When is this on? I must make sure I don't miss it! Pete 'n' Dud: The Lost Shows 01/01/2005 23:05 Indeed so. Harry Thompson refers to one of them 'needing work', which I assumed to mean that it either existed as a grotty print that needed restoration, or that the individual items existed and just needed to be edited back together again. Wouldn't it just... Were they all made in colour? Would make sense, as ATV was making colour programmes from 1967 on. I have a copy of one of them and it's from a B/W telerecording, but that means nothing about the original format. |
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Post by H Hartley on Dec 8, 2004 10:50:40 GMT
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Post by Laurence Piper on Dec 8, 2004 15:03:44 GMT
[quote author=LF Barfe
Were they all made in colour? Would make sense, as ATV was making colour programmes from 1967 on. I have a copy of one of them and it's from a B/W telerecording, but that means nothing about the original format.[/quote]
As I understand it, they were all shot in colour - particulatly with the export market to the U.S. in mind (which means they were probably NTSC). In the absence of any series 3 colour Not Onlys, these would be some consolation. There's a thought though: if Carlton don't have the colour copies, I wonder if they are knocking around in the States?
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Post by Laurence Piper on Dec 8, 2004 15:23:34 GMT
Just reading a thread on Mausoleum about these shows too. A colour clip of Pete and Dud is supposed to be in The Elstree Story (in-house retrospective of the studio). I'm not sure when this was actually made (some years ago, I know) but is it possible a colour master was around then? If so, is it still there?
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