"SOME MOTHERS DO 'AVE 'EM" | Film Trims, Unused Takes & Comparisons

[@freewheelinfranklyn]

He really did risk life and limb to make us laugh. Some Mothers should be constantly on TV like Father Ted. It's a classic

[@PipMadeley]

Agreed. Happily it's all on iPlayer at the moment and BBC4 are showing it weekly on Tuesday nights.

[@malcolmwhite6588]

Yes, he’s extremely talented acting stuntman Phantom of the Opera, one of the very few actors that did almost all his own high-risk stunt- to this day, meaning of the action hero, actors that people would think are very much tougher and braver than an actor. Like Michael Crawford are just wannabes Tom Cruise would be one of the exceptions.

[@CammieInOz]

Such fun to watch. Michael Crawford has stated that despite the many risky stunts he did himself, he never had any serious injuries.

[@eileenbond971]

Absolutely brilliant, watching this right now. I adore the childlike quality of the hapless Frank Spencer, no one else could have done it better ! 😂

[@manonymous4737]

When I worked as a delivery driver I would always check in with the depot by calling them and saying "Demon King, Demon King...." My boss had a good sense of humour and knew where it came from

[@Telly_1]

This is fantastic! Especially some of that original sound, sometimes it's completely drowned out by the audience

[@Craigmt12]

Thank you for putting this together. Really interesting seeing the original footage.

[@anaccount8474]

I don't think MC had any actual stunt training, he just did all this crazy stuff. So hugely talented.

[@sallyjoan]

i didn't like the Jessica episodes, it went crap then.

[@Peye-pv4cb]

I imagine people that worked in sequences with Frank probably had to be angry with him otherwise they wouldn't get anything done from pissing themselves with laughter

[@mekonta]

Great stuff! Will you be uploading the documentary ‘To Be Perfectly Frank’ (1977) in full on here or elsewhere?

[@PipMadeley]

It's available on BBC iPlayer for the next two weeks.

[@markgreet3543]

Comedy classic when will this sort of thing return? Still we got youtube to remind of us of the golden age of comedy.

[@DVDandFilmBloke]

Damn, I missed the 2023 repeat. You know it was such a missed opportunity for the BBC not to include it as an extra on the DVD set, in fact the DVD set was pretty lousy, usually the BBC themselves do pretty good jobs with their catalogue (a full copy probably still exists in the archives). I would be happy to double dip if they release a remastered set. Did they make To Be Perfectly Frank on film or on VT? The inserts had aged by the time To Be Perfectly Frank was produced, that might be the reason there dirtier. The original inserts might still exist in the archives due to them being used in the documentary, actually the fact the original quad masters for the whole series still exist is a miracle. I must say what was shot for The Public Relations Course was pretty funny due to just how awkward it is, though the transmitted version was probably cut down for time. It is very surreal seeing the inserts without the studio audience because the actors have to play as if there is a studio audience and just prey they laugh at the right moments.

[@PipMadeley]

You'll be glad to know it's on iPlayer for the next 29 days.

[@DVDandFilmBloke]

@@PipMadeley Great

[@DVDandFilmBloke]

@@PipMadeley I've finished watching it (I was recording it with OBS at the same time for archival reasons) and I thought it was fantastic. Again such a crying shame the BBC never released it as a DVD extra.

[@DarrenMartin-x9v]

Very well researched and edited. Thank you.

[@sallyjoan]

apart from the Jessica episodes.

[@sjcuk7]

Such a shame the original 40 minute length version wasn't shown, I wonder what was cut out for the 30 min one

[@jamestheposh]

If I remember correctly, the 30 minute edited version was also shown in 1999, during ‘Crash, Bang, Wallop Night’ on BBC2.

[@PipMadeley]

The 1999 repeat was a 20 minute edit (further details in the video's description).

[@jamestheposh]

@@PipMadeley Ahh, memory fails me, thank you.

[@alexfletcher5192]

Even today, watching this makes me go: 'It's all Health & Safety gone mad these days... and this is what sent it there...'

[@Robert_Manners]

Never seen this before, amazing to see 🎉

[@TheHarrip]

That was wonderful thanks Pip

[@catherinetelford8449]

One of the best shows in the world and you got the best laugh

[@daveboybrookes]

Fantastic stuff! Thanks for sharing

[@afriend9428]

*amazing show! Funniest thing on tv* ❤

[@sabrinatirabassi3529]

Derek Ware everyWare

[@ronmccullock1407]

Did a lot of stunt work in Dr Who the Jon Pertwee season

[@PipMadeley]

Derek worked on Dr Who from the very beginning, as fight arranger for An Unearthly Child. His final credit was The Sea Devils in 1972.

[@sjs260563]

who knew that Lord Heseltine was a cameraman on SMDHT? :)

[@stevedickson5853]

Health and safety wasn't a top priority in the 70s lol, they don't make em like they used to

[@johnclay7644]

16mm informative content.

[@ROCKINGMAN]

Was the laughter added after or real reaction to funny sequences? Always thought that when filming it must be annoying with people just stand around and watching.

[@PipMadeley]

The laughter is from the studio audience who were watching the pre-filmed sequences on monitors.

[@ROCKINGMAN]

@@PipMadeley I see thanks for that. So, they really did react to what we see. It sounded convincing, so wondered how. Thanks.

[@PipMadeley]

No worries! Canned/artificial laughter is much more an American thing but some producers might pepper their shows with laughs where the audience didn't give quite the response they wanted.

[@robertfoster6070]

I imagine that an unseen driver drove Mr Bean’s mini in the sale sketch.

[@haydnwatkins7594]

Great stuff!

[@robrob8258]

Amazing

[@paulbarrell9109]

Such are versatile actor then become a star as the phantom of the opera

[@danielwilliamson6180]

3:48

[@arricammarques1955]

Duped 16mm interpositive prints.