Dinner for One

Miss Sophie (May Warden) believes that her birthdays should be celebrated even though she has outlived her dearest friends. So on her ninetieth the party becomes a fantasy and James the butler (Freddie Frinton) has to go along with the make-believe. With only two players, it is in my opinion one of the funniest short TV movies ever to hit the screen. I laugh even at the thought of it. Freddie Frinton does a superb job as the butler serving the three courses with the accompanying drinks. He not only impersonates each of the four imaginary guests (which he does in such admirable style that at the end we feel we know each of them so very well) but the arrangement is that he must quaff down all the drinks as well. His antics as the alcohol starts to take effect have to be seen to be believed. Miss Sophie, a lady of some standing(graciously played by May Warden although she doesn't look 90) seems to be totally unaware of her butler's inebriated condition. This contrast probably heightens the humour of the piece. She keeps insisting that the party should "proceed as usual". If by the end of the birthday party you have not fallen off your seat with uncontrollable laughter, then the very suggestive final punchline should do it. In short, a wonderful little movie and a lasting memorial to Freddie Frinton who died in 1968 just 5 years after the film was completed.

I have been trying to see this for some years as I saw Freddie Frinton perform it on stage c 1955 where it was a standard routine of his stage act. As a television program it probably seems very stagy and dated for UK tastes but it is great that a classic piece of comedy has been preserved. I still remembered the names of the guests - Admiral Von Schneider etc from when I was 9. Good to see it again. Frinton's drunk was always a classic and I think he appeared in a number of films in the background doing just that. I do not know if May Warden appeared with him on stage but she was a regular character actress in the 60's. It would be interesting to know how many TV airings it has had in Germany. I do not think it has ever been shown in the UK.

This short comedy is an unforgettable classic. A solid element in every new years eve celebrated in Denmark. One year, DR (national danish TV broadcast station) decided not to air it, but the next day, they were telestormed by viewers. DR hasn't skipped it once since, and unless the television is phased out, I can bet you that "Dinner for one" is here to stay for many years to come.

Even here in Australia one is not spared the ritual of "Dinner for One".

For many years SBS (the multi language public broadcaster here) has shown "Dinner for One" on New Year's Eve.

The version that is shown is the 1963 German TV version with English subtitles for the German introduction. (Although for some reason they have edited out the Heinz Piper's German explanation of the English dialogue!)

It remains a simple pleasure to be savoured each year!

It is to be wondered why the "Dinner For One" has never been a smash hit in the UK. It is a fact that it has been around for decades. Yet only two people have mastered this sketch in an unforgettable way: The artist Freddie Frinton and his graceful partner May Warden. During a visit to Blackpool, German entertainer Peter Frankenfeld and his colleague Heinz Dunkhase witnessed their great performance and managed, with some hardship, to persuade Frinton to come to Germany to film this most peculiar dinner. Frinton was not at all keen on Germany and its inhabitants and he would not perform in German either (This was perhaps a very wise decision). He also insisted on the tiger over which he stumbles more than once in 18 minutes. The ice bear, that has been organised by the producers had a bigger head than the tiger and this, according to Frinton would really have sent him flying. For eighteen years the Butler James had faithfully served Miss Sophie and her late guests. He would drink at least 4 pints of Sherry, Champagne and Port, always the same procedure as last year, and he would give his mistress a hand up when she decides to retire promising to do his very best. Frinton died five years after the filming just three weeks before the sketch was to be shot once more, in colour. (Sadly enough one of the German TV-stations attempted this once more a few years ago. With German actors and in German. Quite a disaster, if not downright sacrilegious in my opinion.) It is a pure joy to watch this sketch, same procedure as every year and I hope for many a repetition in the future.