Film & TV Database

VARIETY. Variety and comedy show with Frankie Howerd and guests. (00:31) ABC Television logo (00:37). People pass poster advertising the show "Howerds Hour" [sic], "Starring Frankie Howerd, Hattie Jacques, Patrick Wymark, Sandie Shaw, Scott Walker" (00:47). Applause, main title (00:49). Man knocks on dressing room door, cut to Howerd at dressing table who addresses camera. He jokes about variety shows, how he got on this particular show, mini skirts, meeting with ABC Television producer, the permissive society, the chorus girls, and his grand-father who was an actor who went to the Klondike, he reminiseses about his life (07:18) Actuality footage of `Klondike' (07:27). Scene opens in a saloon with Hattie Jacques as the owner. An acting troupe arrives, which includes Sandie Shaw and Scott Walker and Howerd as his grand-father. Howerd delivers a short comedy routine (09:00). Jacques introduces herself as Hot C. Kate and asks Howerd to begin the show and `bring on the girls'. After joking and banter Sandie Shaw is introduced, she is seated on stage (13:56). She sings in French - `Ne me quitte pas' (17:08) After a brief interlude when Howerd passes round `the hat' - the cue pole, Shaw sings again (17:24), singing `Today there is someting on my mind', she walks bare-foot around the stage and the saloon `audience' (19:30). End Of Part One (19:59); blank film, Part Two (21:00). Janet Mahoney (?) sings on a piano, joined by The Irving Davies Dancers and The Mike Sammes Singers, about her `Little Pianola' (23:45). Shaw introduces `Treasure Island' as performed by Howerd. He recites a comic poem (27:40). He is heckled from the saloon `audience' by Black Patch Harry - Patrick Wymark (28:53). Scott Walker is introduced and he sings `Jackie' (32:04). Shaw introduces `Cyrano de Bergerac', someone announces a gold strike and the audience leaves (32:28). Jacques locks up, Howerd enters and they teach eacthother poker, while both cheat. Jacques wins and Howerd leaves feigning suicide. He sneaks back and takes the money (42:33) End Of Part Two (43:02). Part Three (44:05). The Big Ben Banjo Band on stage perform a medly of songs (46:29). Howerd then introduces the play `He played her false'. The audience complain about the play and Patrick Wymark continues to heckle from the `audience'. Shaw and Walker perform in the play (57:08). Back in the dressing room, Howerd gets up and goes with the cue pole into the television audience (57:42). Credits, ABC Television logo (58:35).