>They were all the rage in the seventies. Just ask Jamie Theakston. And most of them were unutterably bad. However, two shine out: the Likely Lads film and the Porridge film. Both, of course, scripted by Clement & La Frenais. Gems.
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You're forgetting the Steptoe and Son films, scripted by Galton & Simpson, with their gritty realist take on 70's London, plus the Dad's Army film, which I didn't think was too bad despite the Yankie interference behind the scenes...
I've never seen, or even knew of, the LL film. But I love the Porridge one - it starred that bloke who went on to be in the Comic Strip and do loads of other minor comedy acting jobs. Who is he?
"Are You Being Served? - the film" was shite, actually worse than the series, if that's possible. There were loads of "On The Buses" films, but I've never seen them, or the TV version.
Hang on - the "Dad's Army" film was good.
Yes, I's forgotten the Steptoe ones. And was "The Rebel" supposed to be basically Hancock's sitcom persona?
BTW Simon, what do you mean about US interference? I suppose they got involved after it started, but it wouldn't have been finished without them.
I always regarded "The Rebel" as a cinematic expansion of "Hancock's Half Hour". It's basically the same but longer.
I think there should be a Time Gentlemen Please sitcom film where they relocate the bar to Majorca and they get a Spanish barman who can't speak English and makes the other staff so angry they do Nazi walks or something. Don't tell me it won't happen!
Yeah, I'd forgotten the Dad's Army film. And the Steptoe ones, come to think of it. But that still leaves Mutiny on the Buses, Bless This House, Are You Being Served? et al.
Jon, the bloke's name you're trying to think of is Danny Peacock.
I think I am correct in thinking that Peacock was also one of the "why do Do It All do it?" singing men.
Am I right? Am I?
He was. Their names and faces will never be forgotten. Unlike those of the Kwikfit fitters.
This practise seems to be coming back into fashion..
Bottom -> Guest House Paradious
Red Dwarf -> Totaly crap movie of the same name.
Do any of your reader know of any other recent examples of this?
Is The Fast Show Film going ahead?
The Harry Enfield film was a spin-off of a tv-comedy. Apparently.
What about the excellent film of The Lovers?
And as for Are You Being Served/On The Buses et al-what do you expect?
There was also a Till Death Us Do Part film made that was almost a "prequel"-it looked at Alf and Else's life through WW2, and the birth of Rita, and her wedding. It doesn't have the pace of the TV series, but it's an interesting development, and worth a watch.
Do they have to be British sit-coms?
I did so love the Brady Bunch when I was knee high..............
Didn't see the film at the cinema (couldn't get the disguise together quickly enuff) - but I did see it in the privacy of my own home.
Gary Cole with permed hair?? R U sure??
There were three OTB films, On The Buses (1971), Muntiny On The Buses (1972) and Holiday On The Buses (1973). These were made by Hammer Productions, who also went on to make the film spin-offs for George & Mildred, Nearest & Dearest, Man About The House, Love Thy Neighbour and Rising Damp. A CD containing music from the films was released last year by GDI Records; its catalogue number is GDICD004 and is worth obtaining if you're into old TV and film themes.
>A CD containing music from the films was released last year by GDI Records; its catalogue number is GDICD004 and is worth obtaining if you're into old TV and film themes.>
Forgot the title - it's The Hammer Comedy Film Music Collection.