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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
When Ray Galton and Alan Simpson created Hancock's Half Hour--their first big hit before Steptoe and Son--they needed a supporting cast, and their choices were inspired. Sid James became the quintessential shifty crook, Bill Kerr played Tony Hancock's best friend while Moira Lister became his girlfriend, and as Kenneth Williams intoned a variety of authority-voices--police, magistrates, etc.--another comic star was born. Out of the 16 original programmes from the period under review, the BBC managed to lose six--culpable carelessness--but among the extant 10 there are outright gems, some of which will be unfamiliar even to fans, and many of which would today be banned as hopelessly un-PC. Viz Hancock's cheery greeting: "Morning Charlie. Working? Oh, of course you don't need to, with 28 children!" Or his observation--of some sluggish British workmen building a house--that he's glad they've been provided with shovels complete with arm-rests. Asked for his own address, he replies "I've just moved. They pulled down my house to build a slum". Relayed cold, such comments may not even raise a smile: Hancock's magic was all in the telling, and in the momentum he built up, as in his Monte Carlo rally programme, in which signposts were turned round and bridges blown up. One of the nicest sketches evolves out of him being left to do the housework like Cinderella, while everyone else troops off to the ball. When he died, a victim of depression, in Australia in 1968, Britain lost something irreplaceable: this five-CD set, with its accompanying booklet, makes a splendid memento. The next batch of releases is eagerly awaited. --Betty Tadman
Product Description
Features 10 half-hour shows from Series 1 of Tony Hancock.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
On velvet,
By A Customer
This review is from: Hancock's Half Hour: Collector's Edition (Series Five: January - June 1958) (Audio CD)
By series five, Hancock and the regular team (Sid James, Bill Kerr, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams) were on unbeatable form, as were writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. This ten-CD set contains all twenty episodes from the series, and those who know Hancock only from later material such as 'The Blood Donor' will find some real gems here. Outstanding episodes include 'The Americans Hit Town', 'The Publicity Photograph' and 'The East Cheam Drama Festival', but picking highlights is almost invidious - there simply isn't a weak episode in this set. This is a world-class performer, with a superlative cast, at his very best, performing some brilliant and unforgettable scripts. The only downside is that all but five of these episodes have previously been issued on audio cassette, so this is a rather expensive way to acquire comparatively little new material if you've already bought the tapes. If you don't own the tapes, or are one of Hancock's very many admirers, this is a "must own" box set.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Four fantastic episodes,
By A Customer
This review is from: Hancock's Half Hour: The Diary/The Old School Reunion/Hancock in the Police/The East Cheam Drama Festival No.4 (BBC Radio Collection) (Audio Cassette)
This is one of my favourite Hancock compilations, all four episodes are of a high standard. Hancock is superbly backed up by Sid, Bill, Hattie and Kenneth (Snide appears in the first three episodes). This is an obvious plus point, I always feel that the Hancock shows are at their best when those four actors are involved.The Diary sees Hancock reminiscing about the past year and his aspirations for the coming one! In The Old School Reunion Hancock finds himself being invited back to his old public school. The episode Hancock in the Police is one of my favourites. A reluctant Tony and Bill are forced by Miss Pugh to get a job. Naturally enough, the two upright citizens decide to join the force, much to Sid's obvious delight. The East Cheam Drama Festival is the final episode on the cassete. In this story we get to hear three plays produced by the East Cheam Drama Society. This is one of the best Hancock compilations. If you are a Hancock fan then I highly recommend that you purchase it. If you are new to Hancock this is certainly one of the best to be initiated with.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Episode listings for collectors editions 1-6,
By
This review is from: Hancock's Half Hour: Collectors Edition (Series One: November 1954 - February 1955) (Audio CD)
If you have been searching for Hancocks Half Hour then it's a sure bet you don't need to read yet another review of how fabulous the late great Tony was. We all ready know THAT. When I was pondering on whether to buy, the most helpful piece of info was sadly lacking from any of the reviews. So here is the episode listing of the collectors box sets series 1-5. Please note the number of episodes differ from series to series as some were lost. I will add series 6 once I've got it.
Series 1 The first night party The idol The boxing champion The new car Cinderella hancock A trip to france The monte carlo rally A house on the cliff The sheikh The end of the series Series 2 The holiday camp The chef that died of shame The rail srike The television set The marrow contest Series 3 The pet dog The jewel robbery The bequest Hancocks hair The student prince The greyhound track The conjurer The test match Series 4 Back from holiday The bolshoi ballet * the first 2 episodes came with the wrong sleeve, so check this if you buy The income tax demand Michaelangelo 'ancock Anna and the king of siam Cyrano de hancock The expresso bar hancock happy xmas The diary The 13th of the series Almost a gentleman The old school reunion The wild man of the woods Agricultural 'ancock hancock in the police The emigrant The last of the mchancocks Series 5 The new radio series The scandal magazine The male suffragettes The insurance policy The publicity photograph The unexploded bomb Hancocks School Around the world in 80 days The americans hit town The election candidate Hancocks car The east cheam drama festival The foreign legion Sunday afternoon at home The grappling game The junk man Hancocks war The prize money The threatening letters The sleepless night Series 6 The Stolen Petrol Bill & Father Christmas The 13th of the Month The New Secretary The Ballet Visit The Ellection Candidate The Smugglers The Childhood Sweetheart The Last Bus Home The Picnic The Gourmet The Elopement Fred's Pie Stall The Waxwork Sid's Mystery Tours The Fete The Poetry Society Hancock in Hospital The Christmas Club The Impersonator Enjoy!
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