H.M.S. Pinafore: "Never mind the why and wherefore"

Sir Joseph Porter: John Reed
Josephine: Pamela Field
Captain Corcoran: Michael Rayner
telefilm 1974

[@Sharoney]

This is BY FAR the best performance overall of this number.

[@RKHageman]

Oh, my. How splendid this is! I was so lucky as to be able to meet Sir John Reed (and have my libretto autographed) at the University of Colorado when he was visiting. A more gracious gentleman does not walk the earth.

[@stevenmathers6661]

Not SIR. He was never knighted.

[@pathuey7194]

@@stevenmathers6661, he should have been! He was wonderful.

[@EdwardNorton-w5p]

@@stevenmathers6661actually I believe Reed may have had some award bestowed upon him by her majesty but definitely not knighted

[@jellyfishattack]

Beautiful! Did it get any better than John Reed? Not in my lifetime.

[@JoshFreilich]

STILL NOT ENOUGH ENCORES! AGAIN, AGAIN!!!!!

[@sldlee]

Oh!!! Where oh where are the inks for the whole operetta! This has to be the very best HMS-P ever! LOVED this clip!

[@person-1184]

In case you're looking for this version completely, Here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGfMf3qmp8irfKs

[@0276boy]

Can that old guy step the minuet or what!!? Fantastic dancing! So natural and charming.

[@DandyLion662a]

Outstanding. I saw Reed in this role in 78 in Toronto and again in 81 in Oxford. Aside from being an ideal singer for these roles, he also had the knack of knowing how not to overplay the comedy.

[@beatlesopera]

I've seen John Reed as Ko Ko in clips on Youtoube (I don't own the film) and he's quite good. I have also heard him as Sir Joseph in the 1960 Doyly Carte pinafore album and he's absolutely outstanding. Pity they didn't get round to filming him as Sir Joseph until 1974. Oh and Pamela field is Outstanding. I am glad they had the good fortune to film her and Michael Rayner in their prime.

[@gillianroberts1659]

Like this

[@FranklinPUroda]

Out of nowhere this beguiling tune invades my mind and my spirit does pirouettes.

[@robinaxeman]

Never have so many encores been loved so well by so many.

[@TigerRose246]

Priceless! No wonder it's become legendary - it's completely in the G & S spirit. I am now in love with John Reed. Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this wonderful performance.

[@JayPabalat]

With an unexpected amount of encores, most enjoyable.

[@PooBah891]

I could swear that was Hugh Laurie. What a great performance. Would that today one could have so many encores

[@gvghs2012]

Brilliant - simply brilliant ! Two years ago, at the Buxton Festival one of the groups performed an extact replica of this with 6 encores and the audience was roaring :) NOW I know, where they got the idea from LOL - but seriously: This is simply priceless and in the true G&S spirit - most enjoyable.

[@jenodonnell3561]

I agree! John Reed is awesome, the Australian version is good too. The Plymouth (England) Gilbert and Sullivan Society are amazing too.

[@evilchunkycat]

My sister and I used to watch this ten minutes over and over again with my Dad growing up. Some truly happy memories, thanks so much for sharing.

[@stetic77]

John Reed.. just the very best..saw him in Sunderland, Newcastle and Manchester in the 1970s.. happy memories...

[@sldlee]

Yes, but frankly, John Reed was THE consummate "Ruler of the Queen's Navee" Thanks for the suggestion though. I still hope that at some point, this version will be digitized and available on DVD. When i need a "pick-me-up" i play this clip and laugh myself into high spirits. i appreciate your suggestion. Thanks. s

[@mrchdant]

genius. i attempted patter songs in a G&S group in my youth but never even came close to Reed's genius.

[@peterlucas4672]

Love this, easily my favorite production. For those who have asked, this full production is on youtube, just search "HMS Pinafore" and it comes up fairly high up.

[@richard1493]

Truly impeccable footwork.

[@MrJyull]

Words are lost. John Reed Fantastic.

[@Calsop170]

I was at that performance and I quite agree, they were all wonderfully funny.

[@songsmith31a]

Sullivan's glorious infinitely hummable melodies and Gilberts sonderfully witty words performed impeccably by great G & S talent. Impossible not to be delighted at such a gift.

[@williamhoward4384]

It was my greatest moment to dance with the young lady on stage in Milton-Freewater...

[@gvghs2012]

I totally agree - re encores: at the HMS Pinafore performance at the 'Internatioal G&S Festival' at Buxton/Peak District in 2010 the company performed 5 wonderfully funny encores :)

[@Rollin_L]

It is so good to have a large portion of the D'Oyly Carte production of Pinafore on record, in the form of this TV presentation. I saw the company live in 1976 and 1978, their final American tours. Spent some time with John Reed at the company's hotel while a friend had secured an interview with him. He was so gracious. Other than a different Soprano (Barbara Lilley) this is largely the cast that I saw those two seasons. Sadly there is little film/video available (at least publicly) to preserve the magnificent productions of the original company.

[@kneenack]

Thank you for this posting! Saw John Reed and this D'oyly Carte crew and set at Lincoln Center in 1976! Memories !!!

[@Arkelk2010]

Thanks for posting this. I had forgotten all the stage business.

[@johnprovince5304]

I saw John Reed as Koko in The Mikado at the Hollywood Bowl in 1976. A very long time ago but his fantastic performance has never left my memory.

[@tanneristi]

This is great!

[@kathish]

I expected to be bored by the last encore, but John was so charming it was a pleasure to watch.

[@MrsMedcat]

What a delightful version, thank you for sharing!

[@mensamoo]

John Reed: Son of Darlington. Quality

[@49mrbassman]

I saw the telefilm of the whole performance many years ago on KZbin. Shame KZbin took it down, as it was one of the best versions I've ever seen. Equalled only by the Essgee performance.

[@josephkrider1306]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGfMf3qmp8irfKs&pp=ygUnaG1zIHBpbmFmb3JlIGQnb3lseSBjYXJ0ZSBvcGVyYSBjb21wYW55

[@simonstanley9]

Saw him in a concert at Hatch End High School in Harrow many years ago.

[@clrobertson13]

I have looked for this for a long time. I believe this was from an after school special hosted by Richard Thomas. He explained the plot during breaks. He then admitted that he performed Pinafore in college. He was the Admiral.

[@suzihanney6194]

Heaven xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[@beatlesopera]

Excellent performances by John Reed Michael Rayner and Pamela Field but did they really need to have that many encores?

[@StephenHartland]

I think a few more would have done it.

[@thomasewing2656]

Yes!

[@youripdees]

Yes. Comic opera at its finest, a send up on so many levels hypocrisy, pomposity, the navy lark: so many encores so carefully and brilliant staged even sends up encores themselves.

[@sirjarhead]

So can anyone point me to the whole show with this cast? By far my favourite so far, would be good to see the full version.

[@Nazza_Bazza]

Here’s the link :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGfMf3qmp8irfKs

[@skit555]

This triangle who raised above sound compression... Gosh!

[@RyanSEW666]

John reed rip x x x x legend

[@jhill74893]

each encore he did something else to make it funnier

[@verkaforever]

8:22 Michael Rayner can't help smiling

[@Bfdidc]

Encore! Encore!

[@losascio]

Being a Captain is high honor. Not everyone gets there !

[@ne-station0314]

This is quite good. I have seen other version which are terrible.

[@ne-station0314]

Have you watched the Opera Australia version with Anthony Warlow made in 2000? That's the best version I have seen.

[@zacariasdelalcazar8873]

I really like that version on all counts except for whenever Colette Mann's Buttercup sings. That shrill grating is just intolerable most of the time...

[@DanielJames-dg2zs]

I love John Reed’s performance. However, there is one thing I cannot understand: in verses one and two, why does John Reed sing “For the union of my Lordship, With the man who owns her love” while Pamela Field and Michael Rayner sing “For the union of a maiden”? On the 1959 recording, he sang “maiden”, which is correct, but, on the 1971 recording and the 1974 video, he sings “Lordship”. A) It does not rhyme. B) It makes no sense, neither grammatically nor in terms of contents.

[@lurtz88]

Full video deleted by KZbin...

[@josephkrider1306]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGfMf3qmp8irfKs&pp=ygUnaG1zIHBpbmFmb3JlIGQnb3lseSBjYXJ0ZSBvcGVyYSBjb21wYW55

[@Erikaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Pamela Field did come across as a bit stiff in comparison to John Reed's energy, but it's hard to blame her. I don't think anyone could look good next to him lol

[@weaponizedgodzilla]

And a tar who ploughs the (daugh)ter