It's a Square World was a unique show, using film with live TV. I remember Bentine doing a presentation about transport. There was a board next to him, with pictures of people, cars, etc, on different lines, that became animated as he talks to camera. Another sketch saw him talking to camera, and being interrupted by a cartoon bloke in overall and cloth cap, who came onto the screen and butted in. I loved the model sets, supposedly re-enacting events like, gunfight at the ok coral. Using what was supposed to be ants, replete with gunfire, horses hoofs, and voices probably sourced by Bentine himself.
I haven't heard of the show influencing python, only of Spike Milligan accusing python of ripping off his material.
I loved both Michael Bentine and Spike Milligan shows equally, but feel Bentine is a sadly neglected comedy genius, especially relating to comedy innovation. Bentine never gets mentioned at all, while python apparently "continues to inspire everyone with its originality"
It's a Square World was my favourite TV program when it was screened, I was an adolescent and the only one in our family that liked it. When the last episode ever was screened, I barely got the chance to watch it. I had to argue with my dad to be able to view it. We'd got our TV when the only TV channel was BBC, and hadn't changed it when ITV came out, as dad couldn't afford it. So even though we had no chance of changing channel, my dad would rather switch the TV off than watch it. I got to watch it as I couldn't bare not to, I could scarcely miss the last episode of my favourite TV show.
It was interesting reading another review, as I don't remember the one 1977 episode, and I've never seen the ITV series. There will never be any DVDs of this show, this has nothing to do with the shows being in monochrome. When Square World was made BBC comedies were live, the Beeb preferred to broadcast their shows on the cheap from a studio rather than from an outside broadcast. I got the feeling that Bentine deliberately made the last sketch in each show, one that had to be done outside the studio, to get back at Auntie Beeb. As well as ending an episode by having the BBC broadcasting house under attack. This was done outside the front of the building itself, with characters abseiling up the wall. I'd heard the Beeb pulled the plug on the show because it was too expensive to produce. The last episode ends with the Chinese junk bombarding Westminster. I'd heard Bentine wanted to use a flotilla of junks, but had to settle for just one.
The show was broadcast years before even VHS tape let alone DVD, and the only way to record TV programs was on cine film. The BBC rarely taped any program, many that were had the tapes wiped, so they could be reused. A typical excuse being that the process was too expensive. People had to ensure they watched their favourite TV program when it was broadcast. As that was the only chance of watching it.
Michael Bentine had two TV kids programs, The Bumblies and Potty Time.
It's a Square World was my favourite TV program when it was screened, I was an adolescent and the only one in our family that liked it. When the last episode ever was screened, I barely got the chance to watch it. I had to argue with my dad to be able to view it. We'd got our TV when the only TV channel was BBC, and hadn't changed it when ITV came out, as dad couldn't afford it. So even though we had no chance of changing channel, my dad would rather switch the TV off than watch it. I got to watch it as I couldn't bare not to, I could scarcely miss the last episode of my favourite TV show.
It was interesting reading another review, as I don't remember the one 1977 episode, and I've never seen the ITV series. There will never be any DVDs of this show, this has nothing to do with the shows being in monochrome. When Square World was made BBC comedies were live, the Beeb preferred to broadcast their shows on the cheap from a studio rather than from an outside broadcast. I got the feeling that Bentine deliberately made the last sketch in each show, one that had to be done outside the studio, to get back at Auntie Beeb. As well as ending an episode by having the BBC broadcasting house under attack. This was done outside the front of the building itself, with characters abseiling up the wall. I'd heard the Beeb pulled the plug on the show because it was too expensive to produce. The last episode ends with the Chinese junk bombarding Westminster. I'd heard Bentine wanted to use a flotilla of junks, but had to settle for just one.
The show was broadcast years before even VHS tape let alone DVD, and the only way to record TV programs was on cine film. The BBC rarely taped any program, many that were had the tapes wiped, so they could be reused. A typical excuse being that the process was too expensive. People had to ensure they watched their favourite TV program when it was broadcast. As that was the only chance of watching it.
Michael Bentine had two TV kids programs, The Bumblies and Potty Time.