P Cook and D Moore BBC sketches query

[John S Miller]

Reading Stephen Frys boigrphy on Peter Cook 'Tragically I was an only twin'. I note a number of BBC sketches have been published in this but wanted to query which survive of those in the book.

Three of the sketches for the 1970 series elevate this higher in my estimation. From the time I recalled it to be comparitively weak on seeing most of the earlier material for the first time in 1990. Though all their material has become important now, 'Flowers' and 'worms' in particular have excellent little touches.

The Milligan appearence in series 3 is also a must; though I seemed to recall apart from the sketches on film, the studio being long winded, with several ong numbers from the Dudley Moore trio aper show filling it out. Had I been a few years older I might have been more sympathetic, but I had fond memories of Marty and Monty python from the period, possibly as these were more visually dynamic, as were the filmes Cook / Moore pieces.

Published sketches and my queries:

'TRAMPONUNS' 65 (filmed insert exists)
'FACTS OF LIFE' 66 (sketch exists on T/R)
'FATHER AND SON' 66 ( ? ) (appears to echo the format of 'facts of life'.
'THE PSYCHIATRIST' 66 ( ? ) - a sketch from ATVs 'Goodbye again' appears to be a slightly amended remake.
'RAVENS' 65 (exists on T/R)
'FLOWERS' 70 (N/E)
'WORMS' 70 (N/E)
'FILM STARS' 65 (exists on T/R)
'AT THE ART GALLERY' 65 (exists on T/R)
'ON THE BUS' 65 (? filmed inserts for sketch existing ? Seem to think these are silent and the middle segment was a cut to missing studio material)
'RELIGON' 65 ( ? )
'AT THE ZOO' 66 (exists as filmed insert)
'SEX' 66 ( ? )
'THE FUTILITY OF LIFE' 70 (N/E).

To repeat the Not only but also archive list, is the following correct?

65 series - 4 of 6.
66 - 3 of 6 or 7.
film inserts - bus sketch; cigarette advert spoof; Dracula sketch.
70 - film inserts only:
'Cycling titles'
'Psycho titles' (silent)
'Launching of piano from ship titles'
'Bargo'
'Shakespere' (punch marks defect on vision)
'Mozart sketch insert'
'Cricket sketch'
74 - The best of not only but also.

As the last show drew solely upon filmed insert material, presumably all the VT material for series 3 had been wiped by the time this show was compiled.

[William Muir]

Hi, not much time so I'll make it quick:

'TRAMPONUNS' 65 - whole sketch survives (as a part of episode three of the series proper)
'FATHER AND SON' 66 (does not exist in vision, but does on the series two LP) (entirely different sketch from "Facts of Life"/"A Bit of a Chat" except that they both involve sons and fathers)
'THE PSYCHIATRIST' 66 (see above, video wiped) Similar to the Goodbye Again sketch, but only in the basics. Cook's psychiatrist voice very similar.
'ON THE BUS' 65 (very beginning showing a bus with "Not Only... But Also" on the side and Pete and Dud running for the bus survive, possibly along with the very end (silent). All the substantive material reproduced in the script book, shot in studio, is missing)
'RELIGON' 65 (does not exist in vision, but does on the first series LP)
'AT THE ZOO' 66 (exists as filmed insert intro and studio sketch, along with all of series two, episode one)
'SEX' 66 (only exists as audio on second season LP Once Moore With Cook)

To repeat the Not only but also archive list, is the following correct?

65 series - pilot, episodes 1-3 and 5 survive (5) total. Mute film sequences as described survive from episode four. For this reason, a recovery of the soundtrack from this episode would be perhaps the most useful of all, as we would at least get back one whole sketch (Dracula Canvassing), and a couple of ad parodies.

66 series - first and last episodes of a total seven survive. If you wish to include the Christmas special as part of series two, then three out of 8 survive.

Series three is a whole 'nother thing, and unfortunately I don't have time to tackle it now.

Hope this was of use. Most of it is covered on the main site, if you wish to have another look at the NOBA page.

Regards,

William

[John S Miller]

Thanks for this William. I see there were quite a few errors on my 60s list but I think the 70 list is more or less accurate.