Review: ‘Futtocks End & Other Short Stories
Blu-ray, DVD & Digital: Futtock’s End & Other Short Stories
I remember watching Futtock’s End with my Dad many years ago and finding the slapstick comedy very funny indeed. All these years later it didn’t raise as many laughs, but still made me smile a lot, with some of it naturally due to the nostalgia factor.
Joined by other ‘silent’ sound effect comedies, A Home of Your Own, San Ferry Ann and Vive Le Sport (though I wouldn’t class Vive Le Sport as a comedy…or even as entertaining if truth be told), this is a journey back through time when being politically correct was just something that members of parliament were expected to be and had no other meaning.
Full of leering at barely concealed boobs, prat falls, ridiculous situations and even more ridiculous sound effects, this collection of short films showcases a plethora of actors who I grew up with making me laugh: Ronnie Barker, Richard O’Sullivan, Wilfred Brambell, Barbara Windsor, Rodney Bewes, Warren Mitchell and many more.
Viewed through the lens of todays ever changing society there are many cringe inducing (and no doubt to some, rage inducing) moments, but these were made when the world was a different place…in more ways than one.
A great trip down memory lane for people of ‘a certain age’, and a time capsule of comedy for everyone…except for Vive Le Sport…that one really didn’t appeal to me and didn’t fit in with the rest of the short films!
SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Brand-new 2021 interviews with Annie Kellett and cinematographer Billy Williams
- Archive commentary on Futtocks End with producer/director Bob Kellett
- 8mm cutdown version of Futtocks End
- Limited edition booklet written by Melanie Williams
Review by Dave from a disc kindly supplied by Network via Blue Dolphin PR.
