Description
The Complete Frank Randle
Paperback Book
PLUS Music Hall & Variety Act Memories
Vol 2 3-DVD Set
NEW BOOK! HOT OFF THE PRESS!
The Complete Frank Randle
PAPERBACK BOOK by Philip Martin Williams & David L. Williams. 276 pages, fully illustrated. Book measures: 15.5cm x 23.5cm x 1.5cm
This book delves into the life of the renowned North Country comedian and music hall performer, revealing his unwavering determination and ambition, despite the obstacles he faced to establish himself as one of Britain’s finest comedians. Special features include a foreword by comedy historian Robert Ross and additional forewords from Sir Ken Dodd OBE and Carry On star Jack Douglas, plus an afterword by Sir Ian McKellen CH CBE.
Randle was not a conventional stand-up comedian, although he had tried-and-tested jokes in his repertoire. He had several catchphrases, including: “I’ve supped some ale to ’neet,” “Gerroff mi foot,” “I’ll fettle thee,” and “she’s a hot ’un.” He was well known for characterisations such as ‘The Boatman’, ‘Grandpa’, and the classic ‘Old Hiker’. At the peak of his career, Frank Randle was one of the country’s top comedy character actors. His variety show, ‘Randle’s Scandals’, attracted packed audiences, established him as a household name. Randle gained a significant number of fans through starring roles in ten feature films, including the 1947 film When You Come Home, which is featured in the Music Hall and Variety box set on the opposite page. Directed by John Baxter, Randle plays a music hall odd job man, recounting his life with flashbacks to earlier days.
MUSIC HALL & VARIETY ACT MEMORIES VOLUME 2
3-DVD Set with OPTIONAL SUBTITLES
Over ten hours of 13 films and shorts in this superb 3-DVD Box Set with films previously considered ‘lost’ on DVD for the first time.
Disc One:
A NIGHT IN A MUSIC HALL (1939) A musical short directed by Arthur Dreifuss, starring: Pinky Tomlin, Betty Atkinson, Nell Kelly, Estelle Preston, Ben Black & His Hollywood Orchestra.
THE WINDMILL GIRLS (AND BOYS!) Exclusive documentary on the artistes of the Windmill Theatre.
MURDER AT THE WINDMILL (1949) British crime film directed by Val Guest, stars: Garry Marsh, Jack Livesey, Peter Butterworth, Jon Pertwee & Jimmy Edwards.
THE KENTUCKY MINSTRELS (1934) British music hall film directed by John Baxter, starring Harry Scott & Eddie Whaley.
MUSIC HALL GREATS – TELL ME ANOTHER (1976) Dick Hills interviews variety greats Arthur Askey, Roy Hudd, Roy Castle, Dickie Henderson, Tommy Trinder, Charlie Drake, Norman Wisdom, Billy Dainty, Max Wall and Reg Varney with anecdotes and insights into working the ‘halls’.
Disc 2:
TOP OF THE BILL (1971) Once ‘lost’ documentary about the great days of variety, introduced by Ben Warriss, President of the society of entertainers ‘The Water Rats’. He is joined by Charlie Chester and Wee Georgie Wood, who set the scenefor artistes from comedians to singers to acrobats, including Davy Kaye, Sally Barnes and others brought to life by gifted imitators Peter Cavanagh and Ken Goodwin.
SPRINGTIME (1946) Director: Montgomery Tully. Stars: Peter Graves, Carol Raye & Lawrence O’Madden. When Captain Winster gave a brooch to a lady in 1911 his father turned him out of the house. The subsequent history of the brooch is explained by the present day Mrs Ware, with its significance for her mother and Tony’s relatives. Carol Raye is charming in the dual lead role and excels in both the modern (1946) musical numbers as well as those of the late Edwardian period in which most of the film is set.
THE GREAT GABBO (1929) Director: James Cruze. Early musical with big production numbers. Stars: Erich von Stroheim, Betty Compson, Donald Douglas, Marjorie Kane, George Grandee, John F. Hamilton and Harry Ross.
HIGHLIGHTS OF VARIETY (1938) comedy musical short from the Bell & Howell Music Hall featuring Ernest Shannon and Sam Browne.
Disc 3:
STARS FROM THE SCREEN Clips from four British musical films of 1934. The Camels are Coming with Jack Hulbert; Aunt Sally with Cicely Courtneidge; Evergreen with Jessie Matthews OBE and Road House with Music Hall star Violet Loraine.
HARMONY LANE (1954) Directed by Lewis Gilbert, a musical comedy starring Max Bygraves, The Beverley Sisters, Dora Bryan and Jack Billings.
WHEN YOU COME HOME (1947) British comedy film directed by John Baxter starring Frank Randle. As Grandad Randle he recounts his life as a music hall odd job man, with flashbacks to his younger days.
YOU WILL REMEMBER (1941) Robert Morley stars in this musical biography of Leslie Stuart, in the British music halls. Cast: Emlyn Williams, Dorothy Hyson, Nicholas Phipps, Tom E. Finglass, Gertrude Musgrove, with an early appearance by Roddy McDowall.
