I think they were more likely Gods or Bigfoot of comedy than giants specifically. Giants are generally disliked owing to their clumsiness and loudness, but Peter Cook certainly was not renowned for creating a general racket, or a din, or a cacophony, when he moved about on his two legs. Bigfoot, or bigfeet - when in groups - are much more dainty, and sighting a Bigfoot is cause for celebration, whereas sighting a giant is cause for scorn and loathing at best; panic and gnashing of teeth at worst.
@@mooseandspade6251 that's the strangest comment I've read in a while. "Bigfoot or bigfeet when they're in groups are dainty." Never mind the fucking part about them being dainty ...what?? I fucking lost it at the bigfeet when they're in groups part. I don't know if you were trying to seriously make a point or if you are taking the piss but that was funny. I think it was because I read it in a matter of fact kind of way it just sounded funny. What do you call a herd of bigfeet? Also can you please tell me how bigfeet (I'm laughing every time I type that) are dainty when they're moving about? Aren't these creatures that don't exist called bigfeet (lol) for a reason? Otherwise they'd be called daintyfeet. Not quite got the same ring to it though eh?
@@TheMan-WithNoName dear Bolotov Gavinski, swift of leg and firm of buttock, the bigfeet's daintiness is a matter of historical record. In the 14th century, a peasant who went by the name of William Tebbit, wife of Miriam Tebbit, sighted a bigfoot at close range (30-50 feet). This bigfoot was sufficiently close to make out important features on its countenance - its clothing, demeanour, and most crucially its possession of one foot. Suddenly, the bigfoot sighted William, and though William was not afraid, the bigfoot was, and leapt away through the forest. But it made scarce a whisper as it did so, and was said to be 'daintee and shie' by William, who subsequently gave testimony to the village Sire. All were entranced by the tale that he told, so filled with magical appearances that they too wished to see the bigfoot. But, it is said, you cannot wish to see the bigfoot - the bigfoot must wish to see you.
True, but here's John laughing hysterically at Lee Mack's story about doing a stand-up routine while drunk: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dmbpagijVkk.html
Peter Cook's talent is absolutely bottomless. What a pitch-perfect performer with absolutely flawless comic timing. I feel bad for the many, many people on my side of the pond who only know him from his "Mawwidge" speech in The Princess Bride.
He gets that reaction out of Dudley in every sketch they do together, but to almost get Cleese is an incredible achievement 🤣 He hardly ever laughs at anything. Honestly I think it's incredibly challenging not to laugh at Peter Cook, and I have yet to meet anyone who can sit through any of his sketches without laughing.
At last! I've been trying to find this sketch for years. I once listened to a recording of it on a flight. Though I think the one I listened to was a different version with Ronnie Corbett instead of Peter Cook. All I could remember was John Cleese was in it. The bit that stayed in my head the most was the "grain of rice" part.
So happy to find this! We had the VHS way back when I was a kid, and my friend and I did this skit in our school variety show. We got some laughs and some reeeeally weird looks!
I've seen a couple of comments here about Cleese on the verge of corpsing around "intestinal modelling". 100% bang on, but one of the comments says that part of Cook's genius is that he never seems aware of how funny he is. This is where I diverge sharply. What you see here is Cook instantly recognising that Cleese is on the verge and then _Cook_ gets that wicked gleam and, master that he was, re-words the 'intestinal modelling' line just for the fun of it. Wisty is, of course, ludicrously devoid of all the gifts that made Peter Cook a marvel to behold. That's what makes him such a great character.
I'm entirely aware of how old this comment is, but I am also offended by this opinion that you've observed, and want to do my part to make sure nobody else believes it. Part of what made Peter Cook so excellent was his acute sense of exactly what would make the other guy corpse, and how he liked to tease them with that power. He seemed to enjoy walking that line where he got Cleese struggling to keep a straight face, Cook has that joy in his eyes, Cleese knows that Cook only needs to say a few more words and he'd break completely, and Cook usually backs off to let the sketch continue. On some of the live shows with Dudley Moore, Cook wouldn't back off, and he'd have Moore rolling on the floor. At times Cook was definitely more focused on making Moore break than anything else. Such an unparalled master, and so indescribably funny.
Cleese’s background in Python was based on sticking to the script. Cook was prone to flights of improvising fancy. Whoever shared the stage with him had to forget about the script, just try to keep up with him, not knowing where he was going.
My dad liked to imitate this sketch over dinner, especially the interesting fact about whales. It is a memory of him which i am fond of. Glad to have found this gem...thank you
I predicted it, actually. I thought, on the preceding line, 'this is so improbable as to clearly be a joke', and thus it was so. Only unpredictable for individuals of lesser wisdom and intelligence!
Peter was always like that. His performances always seemed like a deadly earnest combat with the straight man to force him to his quivering, shaking knees and completely corpse himself. It's why Peter always needed a straight man for the maximum effect. Watch his face carefully - he pushes the idea of intestines harder and harder at Cleese until Cleese (who was very good at staying in control usually), actually nearly cracks up.
The character Peter Cook played here was called E.L.Wisty from the program That Was The Week That Was or TW3. I recognised him straight away as he was probably Cook’s most widely imitated character by those of us who were Sixth Formers in the sixties.
Remember reading that Cleese had his lines written inside the newspaper he was flicking through. I think you can see him reading them in his final speech.
When I was going to College the library had records. One was by Peter and Dudley called Good Evening as I recall. If I felt stressed I would put it on and listen to the Frog and Peach. Made things so much better
@ipolson Well I just ordered the book by Harry Thompson, the one with Peter smoking a pipe on the front cover. Thanks. I don't know much about Cook, but enough to know, he's one of the most interesting people on the planet....irrelevant from the fact he may have come from another planet entirely. Thankyou, I shall get that too!!!!
@@markschildberg1667 I found that out later. He was based on a waiter that Cook knew at college, whose name (I think) was Dowling, and whom Cook started doing impersonations of to crack up his friends.
Mostly Peter Cook's sketch with John Cleese as the straight man, but at the end, Cleese seemed to do his typical act from Monty Python. Just like the parrot sketch is about how many synonyms he can find for "dead," and the cheese shop sketch is an endless variation of types of cheese, here he's finding a long list of synonyms for "boring."
They were great friends and I think it's probably down to background and language. Cleese temporarily gets the upper hand. But it tells you something about both their relationship and stature.
wow two best comedians ever in a double act, Peter was voted 1st in funniest person in Britain and John 2nd! I really thing john Cleese shouldve won though
At, 2:20 it makes a sort of Wonderlandish sense: That a man who considers informing a randomly-met person of various random and often mangled facts to be a conversation, would consider straight-facedly informing him of completely made-up nonsense to be a joke.
Cleese had some of the lines written inside the paper. Some of the startled looks he gives Peter Cook are because Cookie was improvising, therefore JC didn't know where to pick it up again !
@MichaelPalinFan2008: Or might have been in the documentary that came with the Policeman's Ball Box Set. Can't remember now...long time ago I heard or read it
