This Arena documentary was made just a few years before Frankie Howerd died. It was made at a time when he had one of his regular career revivals. This time with the university crowd who might had caught him in some of the Carry On movies or repeats of Up Pompeii.
It starts off with Howerd rehearsing for a gig in a field with cows. This is interspersed with Howerd talking about his life, he was born in York but grew up in London.
After the war he got his big break in radio and became a star in the 1950s before he encountered money problems. He was ripped off by his management then fall out of public favour.
Only to be picked up by the emerging satirists. The likes of Ned Sherrin and Peter Cook saw something in his ramblings. On live television that could lead to the edge of danger as he knew he could not be easily cut off. However it was all well rehearsed, there was nothing bumbling about him.
Sitcom success in Up Pompeii cemented his reputation and made him a big star in the 1970s only for it to wane by the end of that decade. Howerd who was unable to be spontaneous was being overtaken by new alternative comedians.
In reflection this was sanitised. I only found out Howerd was gay after he had died. Only Max Bygraves and Michael Winner hinted at the real Frankie Howerd.
Bygraves talked about Howerd's money troubles. After all he had no wife, kids, mortgage, no car but wa stuck for cash. Winner lumped with a lot of other comedians who would be morose a lot of the time. Un able to crack a joke at the drop of a hat like Jimmy Tarbuck.
Nothing more about his private life, his long term relationship with Dennis Heymer, who became his manager.
Howerd's reputation took a hit when it emerged after his death that he was a sex pest. Often stripping naked in front of young men such as runners in the television industry and wanting a massage for his bad back.
This was a documentary in Howerd's own terms. He probably knew he did not have long to live and just offered a glimpse into his life but the dirt was missing.
