THIS is why they called Cook, the Comedian's Comedian. The way he made Bennett laugh and keep a damn straight face!!! That whole thing about The Thieves are responsible was pretty much impromptu. I saw another version of BTF and that went quiet differently. This is was funnier, of course.
"Train robbery" does not involve a loss of train... Well that explains my confusion -- and subsequent arrest -- at the garage sale I recently attended.
"Who do you think is behind the criminals?" "We are - considerably." Classic stuff. The entire show is available on DVD and worth renting for this and the Shakespeare sketch ("So That's the Way You Like It") alone.
Wonderful wordplay and brilliantly delivered. I think Peter Cooke's character in this must have been the inspiration for Sir Arthur Streeb-Greebling in the Not Only But Also sketch about teaching ravens to fly underwater.
Yes, that clearly comes from here. The Pythons got a lot of things from Peter Cook, as well as Fry and Laurie and tons of other British (and not only British) comeadians.
I've never seen this sketch before and Cook is brilliant. When he was on form he was excellent. He seemed to be able put on performances like this mainly in the 60s, then it became less and less in later years.
great post- please if you anymore original BTF- please post it for me. Cook may have had the least financial success, but he is the most remembered and revered.
giles422 He did OK. Had a West End show running with Kenneth Williams while he was still at school, 3% author royalties every night for months on end, then three or more years in the West End and on Broadway with _BTF,_ also on author royalties as well as acting fees: he also owned _The Establishment_ nightclub and _Private Eye,_ then he had _Monty Python_ and _Not Only but Also_ royalties and residuals for the rest of his life. And a few movie parts . Not too shabby.
Yes. He was also clearly the most talented of the bunch, the one to whom everything came easiest. John Cleese said that it took Cook three minutes to write a three-minute sketch. I guess that partly explains his (relative) failure. Though looking at their subsequent careers, I wouldn't be so sure that Moore came out better than Cook.
Absolute ,,brilliance ..I,m sure it was all," ad lib "..incredible timing and so young ...and maybe 50 ..60 years ahead of their time ,,where does Bernard Maning fit it here ? ..I,m lost ..I wish It was possible to bring them all back in their pomp !
Watching a Pawn Stars episode and someone brought in an "Identi-Kit" to sell! Simply HAD to look up this routine, as I has actually heard this routine many many years ago on - get this - an album I checked out from the LIBRARY! Over the years I have always remembered this "kit" as "L'identi-KEE" as the French foppishly call it. Took French in high school that's why I remember that part! LOVE Peter Cook and Dudley Moore!!
The straight man in this sketch is Alan Bennett, NOT Dudley Moore. They were part of a 4 man comedy group called "Beyond the Fringe", (which did include Dudley Moore).
The Great Train Robbery took place in 1963.... The ruling incumbent Archbishop of Canterbury at that time and from 1961 to 1974 was the Right Reverend Michael Ramsay...... No one knows if he had ever heard (or appreciated?) this Peter Cook satire/spoof....
L humour britannique est irresistible WOODY ALLEN can mesure up to those guys , in a different way Claude PARIS .MY SURNAME IS NOT PARIS , BY THE WAY PARIS , FRANCE , NATURALLY
The straight man in this sketch is Alan Bennett, NOT Dudley Moore. They were part of a 4 man comedy group called "Beyond the Fringe", (which did include Dudley Moore).
Ingeniously enough you can create one for yourself by simply watching it back and writing down everything they say, it's a cunning little invention called 'transcription'
Shame your sanity couldn't stick around as long as you feebile mind. Did you ever think it's possibly not the comedy, an just infact you? It'd be fine if you said you didn't find it funny, but saying it hasn't stood the test of time. It clearly has, read the comments around you, thats not an example of not standing the test of time.
