Marty Feldman Comedy Machine episodes?

[Spiny Norman]

Does anyone perhaps have any episodes of the series, other than the "Montreux compilation"?

Now, first of all, to be honest, I don't know if Welles appeared in all of the episodes or just some. He is in the compilation, but that's the only episode that is available.

For some time, Network was planning a DVD of the whole series:



But it was delayed and now appears to have been cancelled, it's no longer on their website.

I have reason to believe a few episodes have been around on VHS, so I thought I'd try my luck.

[Roger Ryan]

According to IMDb, Welles appeared in three of the fourteen episodes produced.

I loved this show when it aired in the U.S. during the spring and summer of 1972 (I still fondly remember a sketch concerning a weight loss clinic that is more like a prison - the blackout gag had Feldman's protagonist gaining back all of the many pounds he shed by drinking a small glass of water). This would have been my first encounter with Terry Gilliam and the Python-school of comedy that I would fully embrace five years later and, come to think of it, probably my first encounter with Welles.

[Spiny Norman]

According to IMDb, Welles appeared in three of the fourteen episodes produced.

I loved this show when it aired in the U.S. during the spring and summer of 1972 (I still fondly remember a sketch concerning a weight loss clinic that is more like a prison - the blackout gag had Feldman's protagonist gaining back all of the many pounds he shed by drinking a small glass of water). This would have been my first encounter with Terry Gilliam and the Python-school of comedy that I would fully embrace five years later and, come to think of it, probably my first encounter with Welles.

OK, so not really much Welles in it, I see. The IMDB might be right. Although I wonder who filled out all those details on a show that's not been seen for decades.

The pythons wrote many sketches for Marty, so that's no coincidence. Half of them were together in "At last the 1948 show"... with Tim Brooke-Taylor, who again showed up in One-Man Band (a.k.a. Swinging London). And it's suspected that some of that aborted show was written by the Pythons or the Goodies. So there is definitely a link!

[DrG]

Hi,
i just saw this on YouTube, which is included in the compilation piece, but of different source of quality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4xvdWE5qSA

[Spiny Norman]

Hi,
i just saw this on YouTube, which is included in the compilation piece, but of different source of quality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4xvdWE5qSA

Well, it may still come from the same compilation - the last frames of the next sketch are the same.

[Spiny Norman]

One original episode seems to be around on vimeo and youtube. No idea of the source...



Since it contains Welles in two sketches, I'd though I'd post it here.

I wonder who the voice-over at the start is. Vincent Price? But in some moments it sounds different, but still very familiar...

[Le Chiffre]

Thanks Spiny Norman, good find. I like that skull soup!

[Spiny Norman]

No worries!
I said two, but he's in three or four sketches actually. Well, some very short as you noticed; but the British Aristocrats is a longer cut than in the compilation.

Great pity we can't see more. The animations by Terry Gilliam were a revelation for me.

[Wich2]

Another lover of that show here, from first - (American) - run.

Back when the US Nets picked up fun Brit stuff like THE AVENGERS, SECRET AGENT MAN, STRANGE REPORT, etc.

-Craig

[Spiny Norman]

Anyway, for anyone visiting central London, you can see most of the episodes there, on appointment at the BFI. (I went there in the past but I hadn't spotted these episodes then so I missed my chance.)