I was a dancer back in the early 70s, and had the honour of working with Frankie at the London Palladium. The show was the pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, and also featured Dora Bryan, Mark Wynter, Alfie Bass and Elisabeth Larner (Lurkio's mistress in Up Pompeii). It was a long run - about 6 months, with a matinee and evening performance 6 days a week. We'd arrive mid day and not leave the theatre until late at night. I know that Frankie found this all very tiring. It's true that Frankie used to 'try it on', but like all the other eccentricities in show biz people, we tolerated it. There were no angels. I was 19 at the time - and pretty good looking so became the object of his attention. He used to look for me between shows and when I'd get back to the dancers' dressing room the other guys would laugh and tell me that Frankie had come to look for the 'welsh boy' as he used to call me. I'm from the north-east of England, so had a northern accent which unsurprisingly Frankie confused with the Welsh lilt. They are both rather musical accents so it wasn't surprising. I just wanted to tell you this ancient history because Frankie was rather lonely, but basically a very decent guy. We would chat in the wings about this and that while he waited for his cue to go onstage. He used to listen to my immature bleats about this or that problem in my life and would give me sterling advice (him having been through some really low times himself during his life and career). One thing he said to me I've never forgotten - because I've subsequently found it to be true .. "you can never know whether something in your life is good or bad until 5 years down the line." Sometimes what you feel as the worst thing to have happened to you turns out to be the best thing. At the end of the run we had a cast party at the White Elephant, on the Thames, and I was invited to sit on the main table with the stars of the show (God knows why). I sat next to Elizabeth Larner, who had a devilish wit. She turned to me and said "Be a good boy and I promise to rape you later.". Obviously, at that age I had charms I was unaware of. Story of my life, only realising my potential when it's far too late. Anyway ... being young and inexperienced I had far too much to drink and ended up being completely sloshed. I remember very little except one moment when we were leaving the party and I was staggering all over the pavement. Frankie turned to another of the male dancers and said "See he gets home OK" - then gave the lad some money for a taxi. Later, I was as sick as a dog. Now if Frankie was as predatory as some of these talking heads would like us to believe he would have used his manager, Dennis to ensure that I got back to HIS home safely. But he didn't. He was kind and unselfish. At some point during the run of the show he turned to me and said "How would you like to be kept"? To which I didn't respond (though he got the message the answer was no). All in all Frankie was a lovely man, though a lonely man. As usual people look back in hindsight and judge people, though back in the 70s acceptance of gay people (I'm gay) was much less than it is today. Elizabeth Larner was racy and very nice; Dora Bryan was fantastic, and used to sit in the wings knitting while waiting for her cue (she was lovely to me). Alfie Bass was past his best and used to go on stage pissed as a fart every night. He used to just make his lines up as he went, spouting any old rubbish. God knows what the audience thought. He was rather full of himself and not very pleasant. So, happy memories. And no, Frankie never had his wicked way with me. 😂😂😂
Great stories...I was just thinking of Dora Bryan tonight, they played her "All I Want Is A Beatle..." song on overnight radio...She was a great character...👌
Wow…the misinterpreted comments on here are mind blowing. There is absolutely nothing disparaging about this documentary. In light of his behaviour , it’s remarkably sensitive and loving.
Loved him in the carry on films, Mr bigger who didn’t believe in medical care in carry on Dr 1968, brilliant stand up, up Pompeii he was one funny fella.
I don't care about his preferences, beautifully comic man that has enlightened my days,nights many times since a boy to a man. will always be a comedy legend to me.
It’s not about preferences… it’s about him using his power for his own gratification. Most often without permission from the other party. If you’ve ever been in that position you’ll know that it haunts you for life.
@@ysthafellgynghori8423 you clearly don’t know the meaning of the word. You blindly defending Howerd of course does make the world a better place. Perhaps you’re a secret groomer? There we go….
@@rajo741the MeToo movement did have its day -but not as far as gays in thebiz.... his predatory behaviour may echo heterosexual predators at the time but it was a grim story, being gay is one thing - locking the door is another
Don't you love the irony of this user that he/she nicks other peoples work and sticks a great big logo on the side, totally destroying the upload, so paranoid they are at someone else putting it up on their channel....
Thank god for tape and film. The tension between high public achievement and private anguish is there in great art from the earliest times. This sad accumulation of Howerd's private destructiveness can't cancel the truly great comic art of his public performances. He was a great comic actor, and most of us are quite aware of the extraordinary personal conflict that is there in almost all great actors - their private lives are rarely anything to write home about - indeed are almost always a problem (Brando, Olivier, Redgrave, and back to Plautus probably) - but are thrown into the irrelevant darkness by the incandescent glory of their creativity in the theatre spotlights. Picasso was a squalid individual in his dealings with women; but what a sketcher, dauber of paint, and manipulator of objects. As I say thank god for the tape and film evidence of a truly great, public, performer! Comics wanting illumination about their art and craft will be studying Howerd's performances a century hence.
FF thru the hatchet job of diagnosis by the Psychologist who never met him, and Rory McGrath who went on to... In May 2013, McGrath assaulted two people whilst intoxicated, leaving one person with a bloody nose and scratches. He received a caution. In January 2017, McGrath was sentenced to 10 weeks in jail, suspended for 18 months, for harassing a former lover
So because McGrath had his problems, it negates Howerds history. Understood. It would be so wonderful if people thought a moment before they commented.
His whole act was rehearsed and calculated? Not like all the other comedians who are telling you the truth when they say a funny thing happened to them on the way over to the studio.
Who the hell is Rory McGrath anyway? He has a criminal record for drunken harassment for Christ's sake. And as for Paul 'Radio Graveyard Shift' Ross, he had a full-on gay affair when one of his marriages broke up in the wake of a drug addiction, so HE can talk. Frankie was a one-off, a real star. I spotted him once on the beach at Burnhsm-on-Sea, learning a script, and when I approached him he told me to piss off. It made no difference, I loved him and still do.
@@traciemarsh1611 The Sexual Offences Act 1967 legalised homosexual acts between consenting adults over the age of 21 in England and Wales. Get YOUR facts straight.
Frankie howerd talent a side was a predator. In today's world men would not put up and shut up. Any repressed person we can have empathy however we must also remember the victims and the damage such actions of predators do which is anything other than funny. Rip Frankie may you now live your authentic life
i adored frankie i still do. there was nothing wrong with him at least he wasnt a peodo or rapist. these idiots always do these nasty documenteries when the person has died so they cannot defend themselves its barbaric, i dont care if its man and man lady and lady or lady and man it shouldnt be ilegal who someone is attracted too. he was brilliant in carry on jungle and doctor loved him in in nightmare park. no one really knows anyone.....they think they do. everyone hides something even from family
It wasn't a nasty documentary at all , it might not have painted him as perfect , but it reflected very well , the conflict between his professional career , as well as his personal demons . I worked in a Theatre near my home town , where he made an appearance with a one man show . He was , as many people in the documentary pointed out , a man who was always unsure of his place in the world . And he barely uttered a word to any of the stage crew .In fact , on the evening of his performance , he had apparently fallen out with his then partner . Such was his fear of going on stage , mixed with his black mood over the rift in his relationship , that he arrived at the venue with a bottle of whisky , which he consumed in one sitting . He went on stage , did a reasonable , if not amazing show , then disappeared again into his dressing room , without uttering a word to anyone . Given the experience I had on that night , I can quite understand , that hee must have been a difficult man to ever really be close to . While on the one hand , he certainly enjoyed a long career , which certainly had it's ups and downs , I don't believe he ever found a sense of acceptance or true happiness . He made me laugh , he was a professional performer . But it was aa fascinating insight as to what drove him to perform .
