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Hancock's Half Hour - The Collector's Edition - Series 1,2,3 & 5

Customer Rating:

I was introduced to Hancock by my Grandparents many years ago when I the first heard The Blood Donor, being the most famous (but not in my opinion the best) show - from there on I was hooked and the collector's edition box sets that were eventually released were a dream come true! Supporting Hancock throughout the first series were Sid James, Bill Kerr, Kenneth Williams & Moira Lista. 16 episodes were recorded by the BBC for the first series, broadcast between November 1954 & February 1955, however, only 10 survived at the time the box set was produced. 5 CD's in individual sleeves include two shows per CD, and contain the following episodes in chronological order: The First Night Party The Idol The Boxing Champion The New Car Cinderella Hancock A Trip To France The Monte Carlo Rally A House On The Cliff The Sheikh The End Of The Series Standout episodes for me are The First Night Party, A Trip To France & The End Of the Series, but all are thoroughly enjoyable and the whole package is well worthy of a 5 star rating. Supporting Hancock throughout the second series were Sid James, Bill Kerr, Kenneth Williams & Andree Melly. 12 episodes were recorded by the BBC for the second series, broadcast between April 1955 & July 1955, however, only 5 survived at the time the box set was produced. 3 CD's in individual sleeves include two shows per CD, and contain the following episodes in chronological order: The Holiday Camp The Chef That Dies of Shame The Rail Strike The Television Set The Marrow Contest Only The Rail Strike really stands out for me, and interestingly the first 4 lost episodes starred Harry Secombe in Hancock's lead role, as Hancock `disappeared' with what apparently was diagnosed as a minor nervous breakdown. Supporting Hancock throughout the third series, were Sid James, Bill Kerr, Kenneth Williams & Andree Melly. 20 episodes were recorded by the BBC for the third series, broadcast between October 1955 & February 1956, and only 8 survive. 10 CD's in individual sleeves include two shows per CD, and contain the following episodes in chronological order: The Pet Dog The Jewel Robbery The Bequest Hancock's Hair The Student Prince The Greyhound Track The Conjuror The Test Match The shows improved considerably from the second series, and The Jewel Robbery, The Bequest, Hancock's Hair, The Student Prince & The Conjuror are all standout episodes. Supporting Hancock throughout the fifth series, were Sid James, Bill Kerr, Kenneth Williams & Hattie Jacques. 20 episodes were recorded by the BBC for the fifth series, broadcast between January 1958 & June 1958, and all 20 survive. 10 CD's in individual sleeves include two shows per CD, and contain the following episodes in chronological order: The New Radio series The Scandal Magazine The Male Suffragettes The Insurance Policy The Publicity Photograph The Unexploded Bomb Hancock's School Around The World In Eighty Days The Americans Hit Town The Election Candidate Hancock's Car The East Cheam Drama Festival The Foreign Legion Sunday Afternoon At Home The Grappling Game The Junk Man Hancock's War The Prize Money The Threatening Letters The Sleepless Night There are some top drawer episodes in this series, notably The Scandal Magazine, The Publicity Photograph, The Unexploded Bomb, The Americans Hit Town, The East Cheam Drama Festival, Sunday Afternoon At Home, The Grappling Game, Hancock's War, The Threatening Letters & The Sleepless Night. Each set includes a CD sized 15 page booklet, which includes a synopsis of each episode, and biographies of the stars & writers. I also recommend the book `Fifty Years of Hancock's Half Hour' by Richard Webber, ISBN 1-8441-3389-3, which tells the story of how the show was conceived, with detailed synopsis & information of every show produced.

Hancock's Half Hour Foursome

Customer Rating:

I was disappointed with this, to some degree. Hancock's War, & the Christmas Club, were poor quality episodes. The latter, was done on the cheap probably, as it had so few characters. I think, that the reason for there being 4 together, was because the first two, would not sell seperately. The Lift & Twelve Angry Men, though funny, were obviously transferred, straight from the TV Episodes, judging by the amount of silences, punctuated by 'Canned Laughter,' seemingly.the Radio Versions, of these two, are, to me, funner, than the TV ones. I would have purchased only the latter two episodes, if possible, but the BBC Shop, offered even less choice oddly, as he was 'Their Star.' I, and I suspect others, could empathize, with Hancock's feelings, about the smug producer, in 'The Lift. One thing, that struck me though, about all the Hancock Episodes, was the lack of any non white characters, even in The Blood Donor, set in a London Hospital, which must have had some non whites. This episode,although funny, sees Tony become craven, when it is his turn It has become hackneyed, though through over exposure.

First outing for classic scripts

Customer Rating:

This book was first published in 1974 and was the first appearance of the scripts in print. This was just when the Hancock series were first being recognised as comedy art rather than throwaway TV, and Galton & Simpson were beginning to be regarded as great playwrights rather than just hack comedy scriptwriters. A long interview with them is included with this collection, which is well illustrated with stills. The episodes included are The Missing Page & The Reunion Party, which was from the last series of 'Hancock's Half Hour', and included Sid James, and Hancock Alone, The Bowmans and The Blood Donor from 'Hancock', the last series he did for the BBC.

Great but designed for TV not radio

Customer Rating:

This is vintage Hancock but be aware that the programmes were designed for TV broadcast and therefore some of the sequences don't work without the visuals, in particular the "Grimsby Pilchards" advertisement sequence in the marvellous "Bowmans" episode, one of the very greatest of Hancock's shows. "The Bedsitter" also suffers in this respect. The "Blood Donor" and "Radio Ham" were subsequently remade for broadcast (in slightly more polished performances, also available on CD) but what we have here are the TV transmissions. The comparatively short interview "Bonus disc" with Galton and Simpson consists of material that will be largely familiar for anyone who knows much about Hancock. All the same this is highly recommended notwithstanding the reservations stated above and it is great to have Hancock's last great performance as "Old Joshua" in "The Bowmans" available on CD.

hancocks half hour season 4

Customer Rating:

The Genius of Hancock is bought to life in this boxset as the Hancock team are well into their stide by now. hancock's best shows are evident here such as The school reunion the bolshoi ballet and the thirteenth of the series. Hancock's blend of timing and Galton and Simpsons brilliant writing are complemented by sid James Bill Kerr and the regular team. Hancock has blended truth and fiction and this collection takes you on a vivid journey to the world of tony Hancock which is locked away firmly in the more innocent 1950's, The scripts and performances still however stand true today as they did then more than 50 years ago.Utter genius that will bring tears of joy and sadness to your eyes in equal measures as you laugh at the masters work while trying not to remember that there will never be another new hancock's Half Hour.