The Death of Tony Hancock

AlanHilter Says:

Nov 9, 2008 - Bloody brilliant, end of. Anybody disagreeing should expect a rant off me. If there is a heaven (and I've never been sure either way) then I hope that Tone is up there now and knows just how much happiness he brings to people born decades after his death.

spangle69 Says:

Dec 3, 2008 - V good indeed. Just finishing John Fisher's TH biography. Probably the saddest book I have ever read. BTW...the Bees' soundtrack to this film works really well.

Gruntol5 Says:

Dec 9, 2008 - I don't think this extract does justice to Tony Hancock's comedy genius at all. It presents him just as an alcoholic, manic depressive. He was much more than that. Hancock's Half Hour is still very funny 40 odd years later. I can completely understand the way he felt going from gloomy, but familiar England to sunny but alien Sydney, and being stuck in a hotel 11,000 miles from home. The culture shock when arriving in Australia, particularly then, must have been overwhelming.

tazzarman Says:

Dec 10, 2008 - I watched an old film of his recently for the first time involving an horrible statue,it was so funny,even the best get lonely,did he die through alchol

Krzyszczynski Says:

Jan 12, 2009 - Hearing about Tony's death came as no surprise at all, even though I was a very young 18 at the time, with next to no experience of the world and its darker by-ways. Hard to know which was the more horrifying - the news itself, or the realisation that I'd more or less been expecting it. Incidentally, he'd had a severe emotional blow a few days earlier, on learning that his second wife, Freddie (that's her picture on the wall behind him in the opening shot), had been granted a divorce.

mashamorgan Says:

Mar 24, 2009 - Its so sad that someone who brought so much laughter to the world had to endure so much sadness. Luv ya Tone !

stillavril Says:

Apr 1, 2009 - I say this as a fan and someone who grew up listening to Hancock, and listen still. I think he suffered from great insecurity which exacerbated his need of alcohol, which in turn impared his ability to perform, which made him resort to the bottle even more. He was very very good within a limited range. Would never have gone on to be a good 'serious' actor, and seemed to have no idea where to turn after Galton & Simpson. It's like there was no real Tony, only 'Hancock' the character.

Harvey030547 Says:

Apr 2, 2009 - A very sad loss to all. Still missed.

numpty1972 Says:

Apr 29, 2009 - Do you know where I can get the music used?

itkapatanka Says:

Jul 12, 2009 - thanks. brilliant comic brilliant documentary...perhaps you can include their names?

Cardiff67235 Says:

Jul 28, 2009 - RIP TONY HANCOCK...Just purchased the box set :))))))))))))

rgadave Says:

Sep 2, 2009 - Like so many talented very funny people their lives are plagued with demons. R.I.P.

dacotv Says:

Sep 28, 2009 - I love Tony Hancock. The very first radio episode I heard was the 'School Reunion'. Brilliant. What a sad end to a terrific comedy actor. God bless 'im.

grai Says:

Oct 31, 2009 - I always loved the rhythm in the line "it may be just a smear to you mate but its life and death to some poor wretch" And also Hancock's suicide note:"things go wrong too often"

mrscravatte1 Says:

Nov 13, 2009 - Love him, love him, love him. Met Alan Simpson a couple of months back, what a charming, humble gentleman. Rest in peace, Tony x

cotterj99 Says:

Dec 21, 2009 - Very sad. A true great. I thought the Sid James bit was poignant.

amarone1956 Says:

Dec 24, 2009 - I can't imagine going from the height of fame to a solitary death in a flat in Australia.

amarone1956 Says:

Dec 24, 2009 - The audiotapes or DVDs? I have the videotape box set that I purchased years ago.

Stereolabdream Says:

Jan 16, 2010 - @amarone1956 Why not? No disrespect intended, but why not? He was a complex man as we know. And certainly, the culture of celebrity has taught us that "the height of fame" is no guarantee of happiness. None at all. They are just people.

Perter43 Says:

Jan 27, 2010 - It should serve as an important lesson that celebrities need the protection their fans can offer. Fans can create a space for those they worship. It is this lack of space that creates the demons which plague celebrities.

redredreds100 Says:

Feb 6, 2010 - @Perter43 what an absolute lot of bollocks, it's so obvious that hancock suffered from depression, way before we understood or knew much about the disease.

Cardiff67235 Says:

Feb 18, 2010 - The dvd's tbh. Have The Blood Doner on vinyl though.

krakenwave Says:

Mar 1, 2010 - @grai "Things seem to go wrong too many times"

grai Says:

Mar 1, 2010 - which of us cannot relate to that!!

Sarahfreckle Says:

Mar 8, 2010 - Alcohol is a depressent and a poison to the body and brain. Was he being treated for depression? I know there was a great stigma in Britain about mental illness in those days. Today he could be treated more successfully but there are still self-destructive geniuses and there are more means of self-destruction than ever. All I know is he was very very funny.