SHAKESPEARE

Synopsis

Compilation videotape. Shakespeare parodies and spoofs from the television holdings of the BFI National Archive, London. Compiled by Luke McKernan and Charles Fairall.
THE BOWMANS (Hancock) [BBC tx 2.6.61] Tony Hancock auditions for Hamlet. THE DICK EMERY SHOW [BBC tx 4.12.64] Dick Emery and Joan Sims in spoof of ‘Compact’ using Shakespearean language. AROUND THE BEATLES [Rediffusion tx 6.5.64] The Beatles as the rustics in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. THE MUSIC OF LENNON AND McCARTNEY [Granada tx 16.12.65] Peter Sellers performs ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ in the manner of Laurence Olivier. THE FRANKIE HOWERD SHOW [Thames tx 25.9.68] Frankie Howerd and Cilla Black in Othello. MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS [BBC tc 24.11.70] The first underwater production of Measure for Measure. MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS [BBC tx 22.9.70] Julius Caesar with an Aldis lamp. MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS [BBC 21.11.74] End credits to episode entitled ‘Hamlet’ THE BASIL BRUSH SHOW [BBC tx 3.2.73] Basil Brush and Derek Fowlds in Romeo and Juliet. MORECAMBE AND WISE: BRING ME SUNSHINE [BBC tx 23.7.91] Eric Morecambe as Hamlet. THE BEST OF TOMMY COOPER [Thames tx 23.7.91] Tommy Cooper performs the ‘To be or not to be’ soliloquy. COMIC RELIEF (Omnibus) [BBC tx 24.4.86] Frank Bruno and Lenny Henry in Romeo and Juliet. A NIGHT OF COMIC RELIEF [BBC tx 5.2.88] Macbeth as a sitcom, with Martin Jarvis, Penelope Wilton and Derek Nimmo. A NIGHT OF COMIC RELIEF 2 [BBC tx 10.3.89] Jonathan Pryce as Hamlet and Harry Enfield as the Ghost. PACKET OF 3 [Channel Four tx 20.9.91] The Reduced Shakespeare Company perform the histories, Hamlet and Othello. HYSTERIA 2 [Channel Four tx 1.12.89] Rowan Atkinson gives advice to Hugh Laurie’s Shakespeare on cutting Hamlet. NEXT (GB 1990) d. Barry Purves p.c. Aardman Animations A puppet William Shakespeare auditions by performing his complete works. All titles held individually by the BFI National Archive and catalogued separately on this database.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video

Year of release

1995

Duration

70 mins

Credits

Contributor

Charles Fairall; Luke McKernan

Additional Details

Production type

Sitcoms/Variety

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

History

Compiled for screening at the NFT 19 April 1995, when it was preceded by film extracts from the AROUND THE TOWN cinemagazine, THE HOLLYWOOD REVUE OF 1929, THE IMMORTAL GENTLEMAN, TEDDY BERGMAN’S INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST and a trailer for ROMEO AND JULIET (GB/Italy 1954).

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7255 1444

Fax

020 7436 0165

Address

21 Stephen Street
London
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