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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