True genius! Had the pleasure of seeing them live in Australia reckon early 70's think it may have been at the Chevron. Have been a fan ever since and often quote some of their best pieces. Pity about most of today's stuff - really crook compared to these guys.
Sir Arthur had permanent tenure as an academic.As you can deduce from this interview, his stellar career was not in any way shape or form, the result of nepotism or the much maligned, I think unfairly, stratified class system in the U.K. TTFN.
I grew up listening to this on tape and this is the first time ive ever seen it! Apparently the BBC erased and rerecorded over many years of the classic shows so much of these are lost forever! They kept the Queens speech from every year though which is kind of funny since its almost the same every year! lol ( I'm not saying that they should've erased the Queens speech btw< just that its so sad that they erased so many of these incredible comedies just to save on tape)
These were two awsome actors and Dudley also a superb jazzman. I browsed for one of their good ones "Figs, Farts and Fortunetellers" but it appears that it's not in the YouTube... yet?
@Peremptor If you've not seen it, get hold of a copy of the film "Bedazzled" (NOT the Liz Hurley remake). A 1960s film but the DVD re-release is superb quality and some of the scenes are based on "Not Only" sketches. I guarantee you'll love it. It also stars Eleanor Bron, Racquel Welch and Barry Humpreys.
@Stanleymoonful Thanks for the heads up. I have seen it of course and I never bothered with the remake that from all indirect (as they relate to me) indications is but a farce relative to the original.
British humour has a long tradition of absurdity. Milligan, Tommy Cooper, Monty Python and even early Billy Connolly. American humour (in general) seems so mundane in comparison.
@TheTimLG Yeah especially when you compare the great Brit... I mean Scotsman Billy Connolly to those commonplace American comics like The Three Stooges, Woody Allen, Larry David and Zach Galifinakis.
@ashburnhouse Don't much about the three stooges but Woody Allen is a complete asshole if you're even trying to compare him to Cook or many of the other top people. His style is so overdone it becomes annoying quickly and I do like that style whatever it might be called. Larry David, also nowhere close, though I love Seinfeld.
@ashburnhouse Are you saying Seinfeld is comparable to Cook? And Woody got old fast with his delivery, Groucho Marx is much better and infact I think so was John Turturro in the movie Brian Donors. Way funnier than what Woody could hope to be. Actually if Turturro did more movies like that he might even be my fave American comedian. I'd then put him up with the Brit greats anyday.
Woody is essential. Marx are magnificent. But I'm impressed somebody mentioned John Turturro in Brain Donors. Holy shit. It's rare, but he's also impressive in SEARCH FOR ONE-EYE JIMMY.
Very true, very true. However I doubt that anyone in that audience had ever seen "Teaching Ravens to Fly" before that evening. I was commenting on the singular genius of the absurd as viewed through a postmodern lens. Call it nostalgia if you will. It's hard for me to imagine that there were none new to seeing Cook and Moore that for the first time that night. Surely you can agree with me that these are nights that change lives.
However, I agree with you and will forever tread lightly.
I think not only is this routine absolutely stellar, but look at the audience in the last micro second of this film.
We look upon this comedy and understand its genius, having a long line of absurdest sketches to comment on and rank against. But these people truly have no idea what's going on, only that what they're hearing is funny. And it appears as though they are genuinely laughing. I think it's amazing.
i don't know that we can say the audience don't know what's going on. for starters, we can't see much of them to ascertain anything. and, secondly, and more importantly, there is a long history of absurdism in british comedy. for instance, the goons and spike milligan in particular preceded pete and dud and would have no doubt influenced them. the goons were immensely popular in britain throughout the 1950s and 1960s are still are today.
"well it's always very difficult to say what prompt anybody to do anything let alone getting underwater and teaching ravens to fly" LOL
fostertruth 1 month ago
As to why ravens need to fly underwater, it's a mystery best left to the angels.
MsPandaRosa 2 months ago
True genius! Had the pleasure of seeing them live in Australia reckon early 70's think it may have been at the Chevron. Have been a fan ever since and often quote some of their best pieces. Pity about most of today's stuff - really crook compared to these guys.
70banksia 3 months ago
Sir Arthur had permanent tenure as an academic.As you can deduce from this interview, his stellar career was not in any way shape or form, the result of nepotism or the much maligned, I think unfairly, stratified class system in the U.K. TTFN.
LimitedNewsCorp 5 months ago
I think the word "brilliant" is an awfully good one here....
teetomthomas 7 months ago
British humour at its best. Utterly absurd, wittily inteligent and creatively masterful. Sort of sums up these two comic geniuses perfectly.
mediumal57 9 months ago
Is this from Beyond the Fringe, or was this just Peter Cook and Dudley Moore?
Veggieman87 11 months ago
I grew up listening to this on tape and this is the first time ive ever seen it! Apparently the BBC erased and rerecorded over many years of the classic shows so much of these are lost forever! They kept the Queens speech from every year though which is kind of funny since its almost the same every year! lol ( I'm not saying that they should've erased the Queens speech btw< just that its so sad that they erased so many of these incredible comedies just to save on tape)
bermudaclassics 1 year ago
Absolutely ridiculous! Loved it. :)
OzzieJohnFerguson 1 year ago
Sir Arthur Streeb-Greebling, didn't he have that restaurant called the Frog and Peach?:)
schizoidboy 1 year ago
@schizoidboy
That was Sir Arthur Greeb-Streeling - totally different person.
mikeyroke 1 year ago
@mikeyroke Okay but do suppose they might be related:)
schizoidboy 1 year ago
These were two awsome actors and Dudley also a superb jazzman. I browsed for one of their good ones "Figs, Farts and Fortunetellers" but it appears that it's not in the YouTube... yet?
Hey, is there anyone out there who'd upload it?
argie1940 1 year ago
Classic. Had been a while since I've seen it.
Too think not much is left of NOT ONLY... BUT ALSO... what a shame.
Well at least we got some and that we can cherish forever.
Peremptor 1 year ago
@Peremptor If you've not seen it, get hold of a copy of the film "Bedazzled" (NOT the Liz Hurley remake). A 1960s film but the DVD re-release is superb quality and some of the scenes are based on "Not Only" sketches. I guarantee you'll love it. It also stars Eleanor Bron, Racquel Welch and Barry Humpreys.
Stanleymoonful 1 year ago
@Stanleymoonful Thanks for the heads up. I have seen it of course and I never bothered with the remake that from all indirect (as they relate to me) indications is but a farce relative to the original.
Peremptor 1 year ago
Brilliant
franklymike 1 year ago
Bless you Peter,Milligan and the Pythons.
PeterCookful 1 year ago
HIlarious!
deb6sbcglobal 2 years ago
genius
floodbox 2 years ago
Cook was the greatest
clarkieundies 2 years ago 4
Shame about the Raven venture - wish him well with the old F and P. Thank you very much for posting this.
beanshapedhorror 2 years ago 5
Aaaaah, the Frog and Peach! Thanks for reminding me! As Dud would say, "Fuuuuuuhny" :-)
JudyBFree 2 years ago 3
Amazing! AMAZING!
Superman4ever 2 years ago
Brilliant!
British humour has a long tradition of absurdity. Milligan, Tommy Cooper, Monty Python and even early Billy Connolly. American humour (in general) seems so mundane in comparison.
TheTimLG 2 years ago 22
@TheTimLG Woody Allen?
ashburnhouse 1 year ago
@TheTimLG
A brilliant comment, so charming and sophisticated!
wbaranful 1 year ago
@TheTimLG Yeah especially when you compare the great Brit... I mean Scotsman Billy Connolly to those commonplace American comics like The Three Stooges, Woody Allen, Larry David and Zach Galifinakis.
ashburnhouse 5 months ago
@ashburnhouse Don't much about the three stooges but Woody Allen is a complete asshole if you're even trying to compare him to Cook or many of the other top people. His style is so overdone it becomes annoying quickly and I do like that style whatever it might be called. Larry David, also nowhere close, though I love Seinfeld.
ColtraneTaylor 5 months ago
@ColtraneTaylor You're drunk, sir!
ashburnhouse 5 months ago
@ashburnhouse Are you saying Seinfeld is comparable to Cook? And Woody got old fast with his delivery, Groucho Marx is much better and infact I think so was John Turturro in the movie Brian Donors. Way funnier than what Woody could hope to be. Actually if Turturro did more movies like that he might even be my fave American comedian. I'd then put him up with the Brit greats anyday.
ColtraneTaylor 5 months ago
Woody is essential. Marx are magnificent. But I'm impressed somebody mentioned John Turturro in Brain Donors. Holy shit. It's rare, but he's also impressive in SEARCH FOR ONE-EYE JIMMY.
theodoremarvel 3 months ago
@theodoremarvel Thanks, I'll look for it!
ColtraneTaylor 3 months ago
@TheTimLG Benny Hill? Lenny Bruce?
sfshinz 4 months ago 2
@sfshinz Benny Hill was British, and his humour in The Benny Hill Show was sexist, and would not be allowed today.
ludvan67 4 months ago
"She said Arthur, if you don't get underwater, and start teaching ravens to fly, i'll smash your stupid face off."
Classic. XD
evolegnartsrd 2 years ago 17
Very true, very true. However I doubt that anyone in that audience had ever seen "Teaching Ravens to Fly" before that evening. I was commenting on the singular genius of the absurd as viewed through a postmodern lens. Call it nostalgia if you will. It's hard for me to imagine that there were none new to seeing Cook and Moore that for the first time that night. Surely you can agree with me that these are nights that change lives.
However, I agree with you and will forever tread lightly.
HPeckinpah 2 years ago
I think not only is this routine absolutely stellar, but look at the audience in the last micro second of this film.
We look upon this comedy and understand its genius, having a long line of absurdest sketches to comment on and rank against. But these people truly have no idea what's going on, only that what they're hearing is funny. And it appears as though they are genuinely laughing. I think it's amazing.
HPeckinpah 2 years ago
i don't know that we can say the audience don't know what's going on. for starters, we can't see much of them to ascertain anything. and, secondly, and more importantly, there is a long history of absurdism in british comedy. for instance, the goons and spike milligan in particular preceded pete and dud and would have no doubt influenced them. the goons were immensely popular in britain throughout the 1950s and 1960s are still are today.
samtronda 2 years ago 3
Amazing.
YOUGOTLOLLED 3 years ago 2
Hilarious!
07luce04 3 years ago 3