Comedians (Play for Today: 1979) Pt. 1

Richard Eyre/Trevor Griffiths. Cast: Bill Fraser (Eddie Waters); Jonathan Pryce (Gethin Price); David Burke (Mick Connor); Linal Haft (Sammy Samuels); Derrick O'Connor (George McBrain)

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Comedians
• Play
• for
• Today
• 1979
• Richard
• Eyre
• Trevor
• Griffiths

[StonefieldJim4]

Dave Spikey (of Phoenix Nights and 8 out of 10 Cats fame) got in touch with me re: getting hold of a copy of this, having been considered for the role of Eddie Waters in a new stage production of the play. He turned the part down, deciding the play was very much of its time, comedians having new problems to address. It was nice to help him make the decision, though.

[StonefieldJim4]

:-)

[StonefieldJim4]

P.S. What with YouTube's new 'widescreen' look - not to mention finally checking out my upload for more than a minute or two - the picture quality's not bad, eh?

[StonefieldJim4]

So chuffed to hear that, Colm! If you're UK-based, let me know and I'll see if I can burn you a copy. Otherwise, I might try and upload it as a torrent file. My DVD drive has been playing up of late, but I can always try. It seems rude not to share.

[StonefieldJim4]

My pleasure! I was disappointed there'd been no responses so far, but glad to help!

[broom2000]

Am39 years old now, can remember seeing this late one night on BBC2 in my teens!

[AshLuvsJonnyStew]

Don't think I've ever seen Pryce so young! Excellent performances all around! Thanks so much for posting this!

[bradshawvincent]

this is a masterpiece! profound , thought provoking and funny.

[Herpitor]

Can't thank you enough for this. I've been looking for it on video or DVD for about 10 years and had given up. Only a last-ditch search on Google unearthed this YouTube upload. Thanks!

[nobovrilformethanks]

@StonefieldJim4

if you take away the fact that they're comedians, the theme of selling out versus sticking to your guns still holds up today, in any context.

your mate shoulda took the part!

[greekyboy123]

Thanks for posting this - I had no idea it had been on TV

I saw the play at the West End back in the 70's. Despite a surprisingly good performance by Jimmy Jewel as Waters(surprising to those of us who only knew him from 'Nearest and Dearest') Jonathan Pryce walked away with the play, and was the main subject of discussion afterwards.

[ShutUpYouMong]

@StonefieldJim4 "comedians having new problems to address"

Such as; 'Shall I do a really shit version of Bullseye or not?'

Great up. Thank you.

[yugsnave1]

Thanks for this StonefieldJim4. Remember it from wen i was a wee nipper. i'm doing Gethin's truth speech on Sat for audition! I don't think it's out of date. If it was the Hamlet's out of date too. It's not about comedians or the comedy circuit in 1979 but about conformity, belief, selling out, prejudice, and wanting better. Priceless!

[Runrome]

thanks you so much so much for posting just finshed watching it and it blew my mind the best drama Ive seen in a long time was alas made a long time ago a time when TV drama was something worthwile and would have feelt not hard done by to pay a licence fee in the seventies the amount of qualtiy was about I watched this last night and thank god for this day and age otherwise I would have had to sit through five days or some other over hyped crap fuck you BBC for the shit you put out now

[SapphireM]

I saw this with a certain Mgann and I have never stopped thinking about it