James Gilbert Movies
- 1984
In his last regular TV series, British comic actor Norman Rossington starred as Norman Tripper, the harried manager of Supafare, a suburban London supermarket. The six half-hour episodes focused upon Tripper's tipplings with his inept coworkers and his contentious customers. Debuting September 24, 1984, Tripper's Day was seen on ITV's Thames Television service until October 29 of the same year. A second season of episodes was planned, but the death of Norman Rossington necessitated a cast change and a new title, Slinger's Day. Created by Brian Cooke, the series served as the basis for the Canadian-American sitcom Check It Out, which starred Don Adams. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
British "Goon Show" stalwart Harry Secombe is afforded top billing in the Australian comedy Sunstruck. Secombe plays a teacher who heads Down Under after an unsuccessful romance. Yearning for the good old days when he was a choral director in his British home town, Secombe organizes his Aussie students into a children's choir. Along the way, Secombe finds lasting happiness with down-to-earth local woman Maggie Fitzgibbon. Nothing special here, but it's pleasant to see the bombastic Harry Secombe in a gentler characterization. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
Porcine British character comedian Ronnie Barker starred in this BBC2 sitcom, which initially aired on March 25, 1973. The series consisted of seven half-hour comedy pilots, all starring Barker. Three of the episodes graduated to weekly series status. Of these, only "Prisoner and Escort" (retitled "Porridge" for its series run) would star Barker; the others were "Open All Hours" and "My Old Man." The remaining episodes included "Another Fine Mess," "I'll Fly You for a Quid," and "One Man's Meat," the last-named property written by Barker under the pseudonym Jack Goetz. Seven of One was last seen on May 6, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
The surprise British TV hit of 1965, The Likely Lads was a sitcom built around the misadventures of two Northerners, Terry Collier (James Bolam) and Bob Ferris (Rodney Bewes). Flying in the face of rumors that the two stars despised each other, Bolam and Bewes were reteamed eight years later for a sequel, imaginatively titled Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? Returning home after a stint in the army, Terry hoped to renew his carefree relationship with Bob, who was on the verge of marrying a likely lass named Thelma Chambers (Brigit Forsyth). Despite Terry's well-intentioned but annoying interference, Bob and Thelma were wed -- but old friendships died hard, and it looked as if Thelma would have to put up with Terry if she wanted her union with Bob to endure. Written by the same team responsible for the originally Likely Lads, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? aired from January 9, 1973 to April 9, 1974, lasting two seasons and 27 episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Bolam, Rodney Bewes, (more)
- 1972
Written by Irish dramatist Hugh Leonard, the British anthology series Tales From the Lazy Acre consisted of seven half-hour comedy playlets, each one based on a different Irish myth and/or urban legend. The first episode, telecast over BBC1 on April 10, 1972, was "The Pick-Pocketer." This was followed in rapid succession by "Judgment Day," "Stone Cold Sober," "The Bitter Pill," "The Last Great Pint-Drinking Tournament," and "The Culchie" -- all of which, like the opening episode, starred Milo O'Shea, with David Kelly as the Narrator (known only as "Dead Man"). Tales From the Lazy Acre ended its run on May 22, 1972 with "The Travelling Woman," a Hibernian spin on the old "Vanishing Hitchhiker" legend. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1961
Another TV showcase for mustachioed British comedian Jimmy Edwards, The Seven Faces of Jim began its BBC run in 1961. Per its title, the series consisted of seven half-hour playlets, featuring Edwards in a different comic characterization each week. In 1962, the property resurfaced in a slightly abbreviated format (six episodes) as The Six Faces of Jim. Finally in 1963, Edwards struck again with Six More Faces of Jim, making 19 faces in all. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
