|
|
Post by Molly on Apr 2, 2009 16:35:26 GMT 12
Aha, yes I see, thank you. A few cases have emerged recently here where so-called "immigration agents" take vast sums of money off people trying to get residency and then disappear with it. Not very nice at all  |
|
|
|
Post by straycat on Apr 3, 2009 0:37:22 GMT 12
Even in that 1969 show we learned that each of those illegals had paid their coyote 150 pounds to get into the country. In 1969, 150 pounds must have been a small fortune, especially to these aliens trying to get in.
|
|
|
|
Post by Molly on May 2, 2009 21:28:11 GMT 12
I've been watching more of It Ain't Half Hot Mum lately. It took me a while to warm to this show, but I'm really beginning to enjoy it. There was a wonderful scene in an episode I watched last night where Williams has been cursed by the holy man. The concert party end up dressing Gloria as a holy man and had Williams chanting owha tana siam. It took me a few seconds to get it, but I laughed so much!
I love Michael Knowles in it too. I thought he was excellent in Dad's Army so it was great to find him in another series. I like the double act of him and the Colonel - so clever.
I've noticed how much the dynamics changed after Solly's departure. He was a wonderful character, but the others seem to be more prominent (if that's the right word) after he was written out. Does anyone know why he was written out?
|
|
|
|
Post by straycat on May 2, 2009 22:58:39 GMT 12
Molly, have you seen Michael Knowles in You Rang M'Lord? He's excellent there once again. I thought he made the Honourable Teddy one of the funniest characters in the whole ensemble.
|
|
|
|
Post by straycat on May 3, 2009 1:10:30 GMT 12
Forgot your question about Solly's departure --
As I understand it, George Layton felt he was ready for bigger and better things, and his leaving Ain't Half Hot was strictly a career choice on the actor's part.
|
|
|
|
Post by Molly on May 3, 2009 15:53:49 GMT 12
Hi straycat and everyone, no, I haven't seen that one at all. I can't remember if we ever had that series here in New Zealand. I looked it up and it sounds great. I love the fact Jeffrey Holland is in it too - I think you gave me the info on him as well a few posts back. I'll have to try and get my hands on some You Rang M'Lord episodes. Thanks for that. I see Mavis Pugh is in it, wasn't she married to John Clegg? If so, was there a fair age difference between them? I can't find John Clegg's birthdate online, but he seems to be quite a bit younger than Mavis Pugh in the episode of It Ain't Half Hot Mum that she appears in. Not that I think an age difference matters one bit, am just interested.
I haven't seen series three yet of It Ain't Half Hot Mum, but I imagine the episode in which Gloria is made bombadier after Solly's departure must be very funny. Good to know the actor who played Solly left of his own accord and didn't lose the part. Thanks for that information as well.
I'll let you know how I go with You Rang M'Lord but am looking forward to it already.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on May 3, 2009 16:25:36 GMT 12
You Rang M'Lord has screened twice in NZ. It's a brilliant series, very funny, very intricate with its plotlines, and a great cast. One of the best comedies ever in my opinion. It's out on DVD these days I believe.
Yes Mavis was married to John. I don't think she was quite as old as they made her up though, was she? She was great in her appearance in IAHHM too.
|
|
|
|
Post by straycat on May 5, 2009 8:22:56 GMT 12
I love Michael Knowles in it too. I thought he was excellent in Dad's Army so it was great to find him in another series. I like the double act of him and the Colonel - so clever. P.S. You Rang M'Lord is also another chance to see Michael Knowles and Donald Hewlitt working together. |
|
|
|
Post by Molly on May 8, 2009 18:44:28 GMT 12
Yes, Mavis Pugh was great. Yes, I guess she was probably made up to look older than she really was. She was born in 1914 so I suppose that makes her in her late fifities or sixty-ish when she appeared in the episode of Dad's Army.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on May 8, 2009 20:27:52 GMT 12
In that case she was older than I'd thought. She'd have been 62 in Dad's Army. She was later in IAHHM, Hi-De-Hi and You Rang, so a regular Perry and Crofter. I am sure she was also in Are You being Served once too.
|
|
|
|
Post by nunky on Dec 25, 2010 7:31:37 GMT 12
Recently got series 1 to 5 of IAHHM.
Up to series 3 now and thoroughly enjoying it, as is my 13 year old daughter.
|
|
|
|
Post by jonboy on Dec 25, 2010 10:15:34 GMT 12
Jimmy Perry' wife Gilda appeared in Dads Army, so did Donald Hewitts and Michael Knowles, Gilda sister was the late Diane Holland , the ballroon dancer from Hi De Hi, they were all 'family' shows..
|
|
|
|
Post by iahhmfan on Aug 5, 2017 8:51:38 GMT 12
Sad, theres been a few gone from the show now, I was lucky enough to meet Don Estelle a year or so before he died because he was singing at my local shopping mall. I went along and bought his autobiography which he signed for me and I got a few pics as well. - A true gent! Andy, hi, I am desperate to get hold of Dons autobiography. I was wondering if you would be willing to sell me your copy, or if anybody out there has one to sell. Thanks. |
|
|
|
Post by iahhmfan on Aug 5, 2017 8:58:57 GMT 12
Hi all. Does anyone have a copy of Don Estelles autobiography that you are willing to sell to me please? I would dearly love to get hold of this book. Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by ohblimey on Sept 4, 2017 13:54:06 GMT 12
loved these"
and this siimple but hilarious clip"
i laughed till my sides ached
|
|
|
|
Post by Andy Howells on Aug 29, 2018 23:12:29 GMT 12
Apologies, I note there's a few posts up there directed at myself asking if I'd like to sell my copy of Don's book. As much as I'd like to help its currently not for sale. I do occasionally see it in charity shops however so I'd advise either checking those or ebay.
I'll certainly keep an eye out for copies moving forward, just in case anyone on the forum is looking (it won't cost you much...)
|
|
|
|
Post by Andy Howells on Aug 30, 2018 4:31:58 GMT 12
Some might remember an IAHHM Appreciation Society sprung up briefly around 20 years ago.
A chap called Michael Geraghty briefly ran it from Bristol. I still have two of the newsletters (I wrote a little article in one edition about Don Estelle's visit to a local shopping centre!). Does anyone know how many editions were created? I think the society was sadly very short lived and I think Michael disappeared off the radar soon afterwards...
|
|
|
|
Post by Andy Howells on Sept 2, 2018 11:24:05 GMT 12
Been watching series 1 of It Ain't Half Hot Mum this week and this is probably the first time I've seen several of the episodes since they were repeated on UK Gold around 20 years ago.
Of course on this occasion I was able to see the two episodes recovered by Dave a while back, A star is Born and Its a Wise Child.
Despite the fact that these are often promoted as not broadcast quality, I was quite surprised how good a recordings they actually were (give or take a few bits of tape interference in places). I've certainly seen other examples of lost TV shows over the years that were in far worse condition!
Clearly the shows have been cut in places (the incidental music has been lost in several parts) so the episodes tend to jump a bit more than the regular shows (I assume this was to accommodate an advert break for Australian TV) but on the whole it was great to see these and watching It's A Wise Child reminded me that I had probably seen it when it originally went out as I recalled the last 10 minutes when watching it.
All in all the first series is still excellent and there's lots of funny scenes, particularly from Windsor Davies as BSM Williams who just has to be one of the best examples of a character you love to hate
|
|
|
|
Post by Andy Howells on Sept 2, 2018 23:40:00 GMT 12
Here's one which I'm not sure was made up by the reporter who wrote Don Estelle's obituary for The Guardian, it implies that Jimmy Beck was originally to play Gunner Sugden in It Ain't Half Hot Mum! "Estelle became the obvious choice to play the gunner "Lofty" Sugden in the Croft-Perry team's It Ain't Half Hot Mum when the actor James Beck, who played the spiv Private Walker in Dad's Army, died..." LINK: www.theguardian.com/news/2003/aug/04/guardianobituaries.artsI recall reading this at the time of Don's death and thinking how absurd that was, as I really can't imagine Jimmy playing Gunner Sugden, if he had it would have been a very different portrayal and character! It did make me wonder however, if it had ever been intended in the earliest developments of It ain't half hot Mum! if Jimmy Beck was to appear in it. I could, for instance, imagine him playing Bombardier Solomons (played by George Layton) as Solomons was undoubtedly a lively character. It was often remarked that Jimmy was obviously destined for greater things by people like Bill Pertwee, and at the time of his death was still very much a member of the Dad's Army ensemble as well as having his own sitcom on ITV, Romany Jones. Thinking that the first IAHHM episodes were recorded in 1973, I'm not sure if these shows were recorded before or after Jimmy's death, so I severely doubt it was ever intended that he was to have been in It Ain't Half Hot Mum! But its an interesting thought, would he or could he have been asked to take on a role in another Perry/Croft vehicle - I guess we'll never know! I know Dave has researched this so no doubt he'll clarify! |
|
|
|
Post by Andy Howells on Sept 3, 2018 4:17:18 GMT 12
Windsor and Melvyn on Razzmatazz (early 80s) promoting a pantomime!
|
|
