You don't have to find him funny to watch a biopic about him though.
I never watched Tommy Cooper - I was only 17 when he died, and my parents had never watched him on TV, so I only knew of him what I saw impressionists do. That said, I don't think I'd have enjoyed his comedy, but that doesn't mean I don't want to watch this because I find biographies (and, by extension, biopics) fascinating. You don't have to like someone to find their life interesting/fascinating, and often the life behind the headlines is very different to the public face anyway.
I also wasn't watching TV the night he died live on air, and until now have always avoided watching it on youtube because he died the way my grandmother did, literally dropping dead, and I was always told it was painless, but didn't want to think about the possibility that people were just saying that to be kind. But, last night, I finally bit the bullet and watched the clip on youtube, and it's such a strange thing to watch. However, in some ways, it was kind of cathartic - distressing though it is in some ways, it's clear Cooper is unconscious, and not in pain, before he hits the floor and isn't aware of his body's last attempts to circulate oxygen to his brain after his heart stops. And so it must have been for my gran, and it was a sort of comfort to know that this is what it was like for her, and that she didn't suffer. I won't ever watch the Cooper clip again, I don't know how people could watch it more than once, but (and I know I must sound really odd in everything I'm saying in this paragraph) I'm pleased I did.
Sorry, that's a bit OT in terms of this biopic. I won't be rushing to see archive footage of Cooper's act - I still don't find it funny - but I don't regret tuning in to this so far as clearly there was a lot behind the public face that drove him.
David Threlfall is excellent.
But for whatever reason this programme isn't doing it for me.
It's okay I suppose, probably thanks to a large part on David Threlfall's great performance.
All these biopics of British TV legends feel a bit samey to me. It's as though they've adopted a standard formula of doing them. So they all end up feeling the same. The same way of stitching scenes together, the same rhythm, the same feel. Even though they're supposed to be about different and very distinctive people.
The only one which really stood out for me and felt different was the recent Doctor Who one, An Adventure in Space and Time, which was about William Hartnell and Verity Lambert. That was excellent, and one which I'll remember for a very long time.
But David Threlfall, incredible performance. Can see him being nominated for a BAFTA for this.
David Threlfall is actually pretty damn good as Tommy, and his voice is spot on too. That is how Tommy spoke and was himself very difficult to understand quite often. And add me to the list of those who just didn't find him even remotely funny.
David Threlfall has done a good job & all I can say to those who need 'subtitles' is to get their ears syringe. If anything I found the actor playing Eric Sykes nothing like him.
What is it with the year 1984 and comedy geniuses having fatal heart attacks?
-Tommy Cooper
-Eric Morecambe
-Leonard Rossiter
...add to that the death of Andy Kaufman as well - at the age of 35 - and I can't help but feel that a major chapter of comedy history ended that year.
....and what adds insult to injury is that Police Academy (1984) was released that year and we all know how that series panned out :-(
...and what was the year George Orwell famously cast so much negativity upon....?
I never watched Tommy Cooper - I was only 17 when he died, and my parents had never watched him on TV, so I only knew of him what I saw impressionists do. That said, I don't think I'd have enjoyed his comedy, but that doesn't mean I don't want to watch this because I find biographies (and, by extension, biopics) fascinating. You don't have to like someone to find their life interesting/fascinating, and often the life behind the headlines is very different to the public face anyway.
I also wasn't watching TV the night he died live on air, and until now have always avoided watching it on youtube because he died the way my grandmother did, literally dropping dead, and I was always told it was painless, but didn't want to think about the possibility that people were just saying that to be kind. But, last night, I finally bit the bullet and watched the clip on youtube, and it's such a strange thing to watch. However, in some ways, it was kind of cathartic - distressing though it is in some ways, it's clear Cooper is unconscious, and not in pain, before he hits the floor and isn't aware of his body's last attempts to circulate oxygen to his brain after his heart stops. And so it must have been for my gran, and it was a sort of comfort to know that this is what it was like for her, and that she didn't suffer. I won't ever watch the Cooper clip again, I don't know how people could watch it more than once, but (and I know I must sound really odd in everything I'm saying in this paragraph) I'm pleased I did.
Sorry, that's a bit OT in terms of this biopic. I won't be rushing to see archive footage of Cooper's act - I still don't find it funny - but I don't regret tuning in to this so far as clearly there was a lot behind the public face that drove him.
I made the mistake of watching the Youtube clip of his death and found it deeply distressing. I assumed he literally dropped dead but it seemed slow and very nasty - I was shocked he didn't die immediately. It's good that it gave you some comfort though which I can understand.
I'm really enjoying this. I always loved Tommy Cooper as it was always on at home when my parents watched it. I wonder how true to life it is, it doesn't paint a pretty picture of him at all, or his wife for that matter! brawling in the street
Looks like he was drunk most the time and on stage looked like he was drunk but maybe wasnt. Great performance by David. Not much of a story really. Had an affair and thats it!
Tommy was 100% funny ...he had funny bones. Some or most of todays comics leave me cold. The whole family could watch him and absolutely fall about with belly laughs. Who does that nowadays?
This drama however is getting a bit dull. No story really
Well its been a better watch than Jamaica Inn, going off the thread for that.
This last bits like watching the end of Titanic>:( most of us knows the ending.
Tommy was 100% funny ...he had funny bones. Some or most of todays comics leave me cold. The whole family could watch him and absolutely fall about with belly laughs. Who does that nowadays?
This drama however is getting a bit dull. No story really
Ant & Dec probably fit into that family friendly category.
Tommy was 100% funny ...he had funny bones. Some or most of todays comics leave me cold. The whole family could watch him and absolutely fall about with belly laughs. Who does that nowadays?
This drama however is getting a bit dull. No story really
David Threlfall is doing a fantastic job as Tommy Cooper here I have to say. He's a brilliant actor. I only switched over about fifteen minutes ago, I didn't intend watching it at all. I may switch off again soon as I'm feeling sick at the thought of them re-creating the death on stage - I remember watching it when it happened, I would have been about 12 I think - wondering what on earth was going on and hearing the audience laughing thinking it was part of the routine <shudders>.
I made the mistake of watching the Youtube clip of his death and found it deeply distressing. I assumed he literally dropped dead but it seemed slow and very nasty - I was shocked he didn't die immediately. It's good that it gave you some comfort though which I can understand.
I've seen the clip myself and it's obvious he went from conscious to unconscious in a split second, and by my reckoning can't have suffered at all.
David Threlfall is doing a fantastic job as Tommy Cooper here I have to say. He's a brilliant actor. I only switched over about fifteen minutes ago, I didn't intend watching it at all. I may switch off again soon as I'm feeling sick at the thought of them re-creating the death on stage - I remember watching it when it happened, I would have been about 12 I think - wondering what on earth was going on and hearing the audience laughing thinking it was part of the routine <shudders>.
No surprise the audience laughed : you just don't expect someone to drop dead on stage in front of you.
No surprise the audience laughed : you just don't expect someone to drop dead on stage in front of you.
I think it was just that his routines tended to be so random that everyone thought it was just part of the act. It didn't look like someone dropping dead on stage - or well not to twelve year old me anyway. Nor my parents I seem to remember.
Comments
I never watched Tommy Cooper - I was only 17 when he died, and my parents had never watched him on TV, so I only knew of him what I saw impressionists do. That said, I don't think I'd have enjoyed his comedy, but that doesn't mean I don't want to watch this because I find biographies (and, by extension, biopics) fascinating. You don't have to like someone to find their life interesting/fascinating, and often the life behind the headlines is very different to the public face anyway.
I also wasn't watching TV the night he died live on air, and until now have always avoided watching it on youtube because he died the way my grandmother did, literally dropping dead, and I was always told it was painless, but didn't want to think about the possibility that people were just saying that to be kind. But, last night, I finally bit the bullet and watched the clip on youtube, and it's such a strange thing to watch. However, in some ways, it was kind of cathartic - distressing though it is in some ways, it's clear Cooper is unconscious, and not in pain, before he hits the floor and isn't aware of his body's last attempts to circulate oxygen to his brain after his heart stops. And so it must have been for my gran, and it was a sort of comfort to know that this is what it was like for her, and that she didn't suffer. I won't ever watch the Cooper clip again, I don't know how people could watch it more than once, but (and I know I must sound really odd in everything I'm saying in this paragraph) I'm pleased I did.
Sorry, that's a bit OT in terms of this biopic. I won't be rushing to see archive footage of Cooper's act - I still don't find it funny - but I don't regret tuning in to this so far as clearly there was a lot behind the public face that drove him.
Just like that?
No, like this ;-)
But for whatever reason this programme isn't doing it for me.
It's okay I suppose, probably thanks to a large part on David Threlfall's great performance.
All these biopics of British TV legends feel a bit samey to me. It's as though they've adopted a standard formula of doing them. So they all end up feeling the same. The same way of stitching scenes together, the same rhythm, the same feel. Even though they're supposed to be about different and very distinctive people.
The only one which really stood out for me and felt different was the recent Doctor Who one, An Adventure in Space and Time, which was about William Hartnell and Verity Lambert. That was excellent, and one which I'll remember for a very long time.
But David Threlfall, incredible performance. Can see him being nominated for a BAFTA for this.
David Threlfall has done a good job & all I can say to those who need 'subtitles' is to get their ears syringe. If anything I found the actor playing Eric Sykes nothing like him.
-Tommy Cooper
-Eric Morecambe
-Leonard Rossiter
...add to that the death of Andy Kaufman as well - at the age of 35 - and I can't help but feel that a major chapter of comedy history ended that year.
....and what adds insult to injury is that Police Academy (1984) was released that year and we all know how that series panned out :-(
...and what was the year George Orwell famously cast so much negativity upon....?
I made the mistake of watching the Youtube clip of his death and found it deeply distressing. I assumed he literally dropped dead but it seemed slow and very nasty - I was shocked he didn't die immediately. It's good that it gave you some comfort though which I can understand.
I did find Tommy Cooper funny, but sometimes he fell flat.
Decent enough drama, I think the reason why its a bit annoying to watch is because he was by the looks of it a drunken pain in the arse.
This drama however is getting a bit dull. No story really
This last bits like watching the end of Titanic>:( most of us knows the ending.
Ant & Dec probably fit into that family friendly category.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USPu91jUNkU
I've seen the clip myself and it's obvious he went from conscious to unconscious in a split second, and by my reckoning can't have suffered at all.
No surprise the audience laughed : you just don't expect someone to drop dead on stage in front of you.
I think it was just that his routines tended to be so random that everyone thought it was just part of the act. It didn't look like someone dropping dead on stage - or well not to twelve year old me anyway. Nor my parents I seem to remember.