Dinner for One (TV 2003)

A half-hour introduction to one of the world's most-loved televised sketches, Freddie Frinton's "Dinner for One".

Directors:

Helen Atty, Torsten Rosendahl,

Writers:

Paul Anthony Sørensen (idea), Martin Turner (idea)

Stars:

Nora Harding, Audrey Maye, Len Howe

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Nora Harding	...	Herself - Freddie Frinton's Widow
Audrey Maye	...	Herself - Actress, May Warden's Daughter
Len Howe	...	Himself - Actor
Stefan Mayr	...	Himself - Author
Stephen Frinton	...	Himself - Freddie Frinton's Son
Sonja Göth	...	Herself - Fmr. Production Assistant at NDR
Admiral von Schneider	...	Themselves - Band
Max Ernst	...	Himself - Fmr. Head of Entertainment at SF-DRS
Ronny Olovsson	...	Himself - Journalist
Lasse Boberg	...	Himself - Fmr. Head of Entertainment at SVT
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Peter Frankenfeld	...	Himself (archive footage)
Freddie Frinton	...	Himself / James (archive footage)
May Warden	...	Miss Sophie (archive footage)

Storyline

This documentary examines the phenomenon that is "Dinner for One", a sketch starring Freddie Frinton and May Warden which since its television premiere on German TV in 1963 has conquered a place as part of annual New Year traditions in several countries around the world. The documentary visits England, Germany, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Greenland, South Africa and Australia to rediscover the history of the sketch and the reasons for its lasting success.

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Plot Keywords:

television history | sketch comedy

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

Denmark

Language:

Danish English German Norwegian Swedish

Release Date:

31 December 2003 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Rundt om 90 års fødselsdagen

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metronome Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

29 min

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Features 80 års fødselsdagen (2000)

User Reviews

An old European Classic that gives the audience cramps from laughter!

In my opinion, this is one of the best cabaret/variety acts ever performed. I don't think many Americans know it, but it has been a hit on European TV since the late 1950's and in Variety Theaters all over Europe since 1920. It has been performed by at least two generations since that time. The most well known couple was Freddie Frinton (1911 – 1968) and May Warden (1891 – 1978). I saw the same act performed by a younger couple at the well known Hansa-Theater in Hamburg, Germany, in the 1970's. Why is it so funny (the audience is always "dying from laughter" - many get cramps)? Because of the repeating gags and the hilarious body language of Mr. Frenton! And of course thanks to the super climax ("The same procedure as last year, Madam?"), that refers to the fact that the Butler must go to bed with the Countess once every year, which is after this dinner for her former lovers. All the old Countess' former lovers - long dead - are "invited" to her 90th birthday dinner and the poor Butler has to play the roles of all of them! No wonder he gets so drunk! The movie is shown on TV every New Year's Eve in Germany, Denmark, Switzerland and Sweden, to name a few - and it gets funnier for each and every year!

This old European classic is of course sad, very sad, as all good comedies are. Don't miss it - it's a collector's item - an important piece of European variety culture.