Description
The Punch and Judy Man (U)
Director: Jeremy Summers
Starring: Tony Hancock, Sylvia Sims, Ronald Fraser, John Le Mesurier
Comedy | UK | 1962
1 hr 36 mins
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the release of Tony Hancock’s second film in a starring role, and it is fitting to be shown in Swanage, where he went to school and within sight of Bournemouth, where he grew up. The story focuses on Hancock’s character, Wally Pinner, who is happy to perform his Punch and Judy shows on the beach in the fictional seaside town of Piltdown, working with his assistant (Hugh Lloyd) who also makes and repairs the puppets. Their work is frowned upon by the mayor (Ronald Fraser) and council, who consider it a social blight. Wally fights back against snobbery, but his cause isn’t helped by his wife Delia (Sylvia Syms), who runs a seaside shop below their flat but has ambitions to climb the social ladder. The film is seen as being underrated, largely because it isn’t a laugh out loud comedy, but is being reappraised as it celebrates its 60th anniversary. That’s the way to do it!
 | Introduction and Q&A with Tom Dommett, Tony Hancock Appreciation Society Tom Dommett became a Hancock fan after buying a biography of Hancock in a second-hand bookshop in Brighton in the late 1980’s. A longtime member of the Tony Hancock Appreciation Society, Tom became editor of the Society Magazine in 2015 and published about 30 issues plus numerous special editions before stepping down in 2022 to take up the post of Tony Hancock Appreciation Society researcher. |
Sunday 22 Oct. 7.30 pm
The Mowlem Theatre BH19 1DD
Introduction & Q&A with Tom Dommett (Tony Hancock Appreciation Society)
£9.50: £6.50 (students and under 25s)
