Legendary Scottish comedian Stanley Baxter made five lavish comedy spectaculars for L.W.T. in the '70's, of which this was the third.
It begins with Baxter's radio announcer - 'Julie Hawn' - introducing several spoof commercials ( including clever parodies of the Milk Tray and P.G. Tips 'Mr.Shifter' ads ). Then we move onto classic sketches such as 'Towering Quake 75', a Party Political Broadcast on behalf of The Mafia, 'Police 3 And A Half' ( with Baxter impersonating Shaw Taylor ), and 'Los Paranoics', a Latin-American singing group whose membership has mysteriously expanded to include the Scottish broadcaster Fyffe Robertson.
Some items go on a bit too long, most notably 'Faith To Faith', but there's no denying the fact that Baxter is a brilliant impersonator and every penny of the budget is up on screen. The obligatory Hollywood musical pastiche here is 'Born To Bitch', with Baxter as 'Vicki Lustre' ( based on 'Vicki Lester' - the Judy Garland character from 'A Star Is Born' )'. The music, choreography and sets are spot on. Even if you do not like old musicals ( and I don't ) you will be impressed.
On the down side, there are a number of racist jokes no-one would dare make now, and the scene where Baxter ( in drag ) moves to attack Denise Coffey's pigtailed little girl with a bread knife is surprisingly graphic for a comedy show.
Even so, a tremendous piece of entertainment.
It begins with Baxter's radio announcer - 'Julie Hawn' - introducing several spoof commercials ( including clever parodies of the Milk Tray and P.G. Tips 'Mr.Shifter' ads ). Then we move onto classic sketches such as 'Towering Quake 75', a Party Political Broadcast on behalf of The Mafia, 'Police 3 And A Half' ( with Baxter impersonating Shaw Taylor ), and 'Los Paranoics', a Latin-American singing group whose membership has mysteriously expanded to include the Scottish broadcaster Fyffe Robertson.
Some items go on a bit too long, most notably 'Faith To Faith', but there's no denying the fact that Baxter is a brilliant impersonator and every penny of the budget is up on screen. The obligatory Hollywood musical pastiche here is 'Born To Bitch', with Baxter as 'Vicki Lustre' ( based on 'Vicki Lester' - the Judy Garland character from 'A Star Is Born' )'. The music, choreography and sets are spot on. Even if you do not like old musicals ( and I don't ) you will be impressed.
On the down side, there are a number of racist jokes no-one would dare make now, and the scene where Baxter ( in drag ) moves to attack Denise Coffey's pigtailed little girl with a bread knife is surprisingly graphic for a comedy show.
Even so, a tremendous piece of entertainment.
