Benny Hill. Comedy genius or dodgy auld fella?

[Gmart]

A great physical comedian. A naive, innocent man who failed to understand the prevailing wind of political correctness which tars him even now. Still loved by many in Europe where his programmes are still aired (though not in the UK).

It's a sad indictment of the society we have created that such a man should be vilified for his innocent humour. But gone are the days where we give people the benefit of the doubt or believe the best.

Rest In Peace

 

[souljacker]

As a young child, I used to enjoy watching scantily clad ladies running about in nurses uniforms, but I don't think I ever found it funny.

He's great in the Italian Job though. "She's big, biiiiiiiiig!"

 

[Azrael23]

Benny Hill was a load of bullocks....

 

[Dubversion]

A great physical comedian. A naive, innocent man who failed to understand the prevailing wind of political correctness which tars him even now. Still loved by many in Europe where his programmes are still aired (though not in the UK).

It's a sad indictment of the society we have created that such a man should be vilified for his innocent humour. But gone are the days where we give people the benefit of the doubt or believe the best.

Rest In Peace

oh, what a load of reactionary toss.

 

[Part 2]

Even as a yoof I could never see the humour, or the sexiness.

Ice T is a big fan.

 

[Gmart]

oh, what a load of reactionary toss.

How is it reactionary? It is my view, you may take it how you wish.

 

[gentlegreen]

you may take it how you wish.

fnaar fnaar

.

 

[Major Tom]

there probably was a core of talent in there once - but this was never evident in his long-running tv show.

It was embarrassing shite.

 

[tommers]

there probably was a core of talent in there once - but this was never evident in his long-running tv show.

It was embarrassing shite.

so.. his "long running tv show" was "embarrassing shite."

fair enough, but somebody must have liked it.

never really got it myself tho, must say.

he was great in the italian job tho, as others have mentioned. "is she big? I like em big"

 

[Major Tom]

so.. his "long running tv show" was "embarrassing shite."

fair enough, but somebody must have liked it.

For sure - I don;t deny - my Dad for one.

But popularity was never a good way of judging quality.

 

[tommers]

For sure - I don;t deny - my Dad for one.

But popularity was never a good way of judging quality.

yeah, true. look at "two pints of lager..." for god's sake. to be honest the only thing I can remember is the chasing women around in speeded up time thing he did. can't really remember anything else.

 

[Sunray]

He wasn't funny at any time in his career.

His greatest achievement was to give hope to shit comedians.

 

[Maggot]

i found him funny as a kid - like the way i thought monkey-magic made sense.

watched him as an adult and he's shit.

I found him funny as a kid too. I haven't seen any of his stuff recently, but I doubt I would find it funny now.

 

[Maggot]

Mind you, could we put on the Benny Hill theme tune at Offline some time and run around the place all speeded up? I'll let my skirt fall off if someone brings a little bald guy to slap around

I'm sure it was played at PRoD a while back.

Hollis' head was quite sore afterwards.

 

[phildwyer]

One of the great radıcal femınısts. Presented an unflınchıng crıtıque of male sexualıty as the rıdıculous, destructıve curse ıt ıs.

 

[poului]

Well, I really liked that "No F..T, no comment" sketch when I was a kid, so I can't be too harsh.

One of the great radıcal femınısts. Presented an unflınchıng crıtıque of male sexualıty as the rıdıculous, destructıve curse ıt ıs.

LMFAO, didn't see that one coming!

 

[spanglechick]

What's urban's verdict on Benny Hill?

Was he a thigh-slapping comedy genius or a leering leech?

Fact! He died alone and wasn't found for some time.
Fact! Charlie Chaplin and Michael Jackson were big fans of Hill's work

we never watched itv when i was a kid - Mum hated it and i suspect this typifies why.

But from what i've seen, it isn't the letchy stuff that grates so much as the stupid face-pulling bollocks above. Rather like Les Dawson in that respect - and i don't care how much talent it takes to play the piano that badly, he can still fuck off.

 

[Orang Utan]

we never watched itv when i was a kid - Mum hated it and i suspect this typifies why.

I wasn't allowed to watch it!

Rather like Les Dawson in that respect - and i don't care how much talent it takes to play the piano that badly, he can still fuck off.

Now now now, you cannae compare the two - our Les was a comic genius (and a fine Shakespearean actor by all accounts).

 

[spanglechick]

I wasn't allowed to watch it!

Now now now, you cannae compare the two - our Les was a comic genius (and a fine Shakespearean actor by all accounts).

what accounts?!!!

 

[Orang Utan]

what accounts?!!!

He played Malvolio in Twelfth Night (IIRC) for the RSC

 

[Groucho]

I have yet to read the thread and I have no doubt that Benny has his knockers ,but personally I voted boing, pertaing etc for obvious reasons.

When I was a little kiddling I loved Benny Hill and Ernie was the most heart renching love story that brought tears to my eyes. I don't understand why an adult would like Benny Hill, though.

Comic genius or dodgy auld fella? Well a bit of both but he was of his time, his time has past and he doesn't really have a place in the 21stC.

 

[sojourner]

Dodgy auld fella. But I watched him all the time as a kid.

Spanglechick! How very dare you compare him to Les Dawson??!! Leagues apart!!

 

[maximilian ping]

i liked the bits where you saw women's tits and bums

 

[spanglechick]

He played Malvolio in Twelfth Night (IIRC) for the RSC

ok - but OU said he was a fine shakespearean actor.

bloody keanu reeves played don john in Much ado, but he's no more a fine shakespearean actor than I am queen of england.

 

[Orang Utan]

bloody keanu reeves played don john in Much ado, but he's no more a fine shakespearean actor than I am queen of england.

Neither of us saw him play Malvolio but comics often make great actors, so I'm prepared to believe what the critics said about him.
Incidentally Benny Hill appeared in an ITV adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream but I don't know what the critics thought of his Bottom. They probably hailed it as a fine piece of work.
Doddy also played Malvolio and I can't quite remember who, but either Doddy or Dawson claimed that they loved treading the boards, but it didn't pay enough.

 

[spanglechick]

Neither of us saw him play Malvolio but comics often make great actors, so I'm prepared to believe what the critics said about him.
Incidentally Benny Hill appeared in an ITV adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream but I don't know what the critics thought of his Bottom. They probably hailed it as a fine piece of work.
Doddy also played Malvolio and I can't quite remember who, but either Doddy or Dawson claimed that they loved treading the boards, but it didn't pay enough.

hmm - if he could act, that makes it all the more galling that he was so fucking unfunny on tv.

I couldn't even bear him as a kid - when one's critical faculties are supposed to be unfussy

 

[Skim]

I wish I could get that image of the marigolds and the Chanel out of my head. Damn you, Orang Utan

 

[Orang Utan]

I wish I could get that image of the marigolds and the Chanel out of my head. Damn you, Orang Utan

Little Richard once paid Francis Rossi of Status Quo to shit on a glass coffee table whils Dicky was lying underneath it.


Did that shift it for you?

 

[Skim]

Little Richard once paid Francis Rossi of Status Quo to shit on a glass coffee table whils Dicky was lying underneath it.


Did that shift it for you?

Yes

 

[skunkboy69]

Kenny Everett done the same kind of half naked girl routine thoughout his career and no one batted an eyelid