Wednesday 23 January 2008

TONY HANCOCK – HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BLOOD DONOR (PYE)


TONY HANCOCK – HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BLOOD DONOR (PYE)

Tony Hancock is one of my heroes.  His blind faith in himself is not bumbling, it is courageous, it’s the device he used to overcome his flaws and win at life.  Of course where Hancock the character ended and Hancock the man began is a real grey area.  History has shown us as an individual he was incredibly insecure within himself as his great talent came coupled with visceral flaws.

The Blood Donor is probably what he is best known for.  It certainly is home to some of his most memorable lines and most oafish behaviour.  The pomposity attached to Hancock’s delivery is impossible to dislike and find offence in.  He is a harmless fool.

This is an interesting seven inch that breaks the episode into four scenes/sections beginning with his exchange with a young June Whitfield.  Their interaction is incredible as Hancock responds in the worst and wittiest manner imaginable as Whitfield the nurse takes his misguided details.  The themes are timeless and thus fifty years later the work still feels fresh.

Now accepted for giving blood he moves onto a class comparing conversation with Frank Thornton as he soughts congratulation.  As ever for Hancock though it blows up in his face as he finds himself exchanging blows with a person that effortlessly emerges as a superior.

As the record turns over so does Hancock as he briefly hesitates his decision to give blood before engaging with the Scottish doctor.  With this comes one of his greatest misunderstandings and greatest passages culminating in the famous line “a pint, well that’s very nearly an armful”.  The bit still packs a fantastic punch.

Hancock finally wins as he discovers he possesses a very special blood type from an exclusive blood group.  The petty glee that he expresses is the sort of small victory that will often happen to us all.  This is the fabric that made him such a champion for the average man.

Finally the episode ends with Hancock back at how retaining his miniscule pomposity by checking the eventual destination of his blood.  It is really that important to him that he knows.  Then coming full circle he has an accident (a domestic knife wound) and winds receiving his own blood via transfusion.  It is a conclusion you would not find out of place in Curb Your Enthusiasm.

What a gift.

Thesaurus moment: sovereign.

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