Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1183 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-05-17
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1

DVD Description
This compilation pays tribute to a man who had such a talent for comedy that he was capable of entertaining an audience with appalling magic tricks, horrendous jokes and the stage presence of a clumsy giant. Born in 1922 in Caerphilly, Glamorganshire, Tommy Cooper was to become one of the best-loved British comedians of all time and his sudden death on stage in 1984 left the showbiz world mourning a great comedian and magician. His act began life whilst he was training in the army. Tommy’s humour lay in his ability to mess up magic tricks in the most remarkable way. His comic genius and talent for timing marked him out for success and once he had adopted his trade mark fez he was on his way to super-stardom. Cooper became a familiar face on British television through out the 60’s and 70’s. An all round entertainer, he excelled in the light entertainment genre, frequently appearing on variety shows and invariably succeeding in stealing the limelight every time.

This specially selected selection contains some extracts from Cooper at his best including his infamous appearances on Parkinson and The Bob Monkhouse Show which left the hosts in stitches.

Special Features

• Scene Selection
  
• Writers’ profiles

DVD Technical Information:

• Region Code: 2
  
• Running Time: 48 minutes approx.

Synopsis
Tommy Cooper, the fez-wearing legend of 1970s British variety entertainment, with his hilarious blend of gags and inept magic tricks, is celebrated here in this compilation of some of his finest moments. From his early appearances on TV's 'It's Magic' and innumerable variety shows, though his chat show turns with the likes of Michael Parkinson, to his very own show. Thirty years of Mr Cooper's career, cherry-picked for your enduring entertainment. Not like that! Like that!

Customer Reviews

Not the best
This is a rather short DVD of a selection of clips from the Parkinson interview and what seems like a few random ones added in. I was not satisfied with either its length or content, Tommy did a lot of better stuff that isn't on this DVD.

Disappointing
The title, 'The Best of Tommy Cooper" was far from accurate. There was little if any substance in the DVD and it was most disappointing.

"Just like that, heh, heh"
Comedy from a time when laughter, rather than shock, was the staple of the comedian. Too many of us delve into the history and psychological make-up of our best-loved comedians and, in the process diminish the comedy itself. I do not want to hear about a comedians private life, in the same way that I don't want to know how CGI effects were created in films. It ruins the spectacle. Tommy Cooper was hilarious on stage and anyone arrogant enough to analyse his private life to understand his humour has a serious problem. There has never been a comedian since Tommy who has so effectively turned fault, mistakes, screw-ups and confusion into such hilarity. The simplicity of his act as a useless magician, coupled with his facial expressions when things go wrong, his seemingly shy and frustrated murmurings, the odd fez harking back to Victorian times, his hilarious glances at the audience as if to say "What happened? That wasn't my fault!", and, indeed, the occasional successful trick (at which you feel like cheering!)makes Tommy a comic genius. This is good old-fashioned family fun. Watch this with your kids and laugh your arse off!