Frankie Howerd was a comedian who had his ups and downs but had suprisong longevity.
I remember watching his ITV show as a kid in the early 1980s and my older brother saying straight afterwards that was dire.
By the end of the 80s he was hip with the university student crowd. I think one of his tours was labelled, 'Get your titters out!'This television movie reminds you that the same happened to Howerd in the early 1960s. When he fell in with the emerging comedy crowd such as Peter Cook.
This drama is more about Frankie Howerd (David Walliams) and his secret relationship with long term lover and later manager Dennis Heymer (Rafe Spall.)
They had a discreet relationship at a time when homosexuality was illegal. Even when it was legal Howerd gave an impression that he had a female companion. Then there were those sitcoms such as Up Pompeii where he had a a lecherous eye for the ladies.
Here Howerd is guilty and embarrassed about his homosexuality. Yet he picks up casual young men for sex. Only after he died stories emerged of his predatory behaviour with young men, like wanting massages and getting naked in front of them.
Although sad and melancholy. It was more about Heymer than Howerd when the latter was the star. The other problem was that Walliams is not a strong enough actor to do Howerd justice.
When this drama was made in 2008, Walliams was a big television star. Here he just did not feel like Frankie Howerd to me.
I remember watching his ITV show as a kid in the early 1980s and my older brother saying straight afterwards that was dire.
By the end of the 80s he was hip with the university student crowd. I think one of his tours was labelled, 'Get your titters out!'This television movie reminds you that the same happened to Howerd in the early 1960s. When he fell in with the emerging comedy crowd such as Peter Cook.
This drama is more about Frankie Howerd (David Walliams) and his secret relationship with long term lover and later manager Dennis Heymer (Rafe Spall.)
They had a discreet relationship at a time when homosexuality was illegal. Even when it was legal Howerd gave an impression that he had a female companion. Then there were those sitcoms such as Up Pompeii where he had a a lecherous eye for the ladies.
Here Howerd is guilty and embarrassed about his homosexuality. Yet he picks up casual young men for sex. Only after he died stories emerged of his predatory behaviour with young men, like wanting massages and getting naked in front of them.
Although sad and melancholy. It was more about Heymer than Howerd when the latter was the star. The other problem was that Walliams is not a strong enough actor to do Howerd justice.
When this drama was made in 2008, Walliams was a big television star. Here he just did not feel like Frankie Howerd to me.