Mike of Mike’s Tunes and Michael’s Story has highly recommended this film about the British comic genius Tony Hancock, who suffered from serious alcohol problems. The film was shown on BBC4 in the UK and is available in six parts on YouTube. This is what the BBC had to say:
‘Starring Ken Stott (Rebus, Messiah) as troubled comic genius Tony Hancock and Maxine Peake (Cinderella, Shameless) as Joan, Hancock and Joan charts the final year of his life.
Only months after her marriage to Dad’s Army favourite John Le Mesurier, Joan Le Mesurier fell in love with his best friend, the godfather of British sitcom, Tony Hancock. Tony was fresh out of rehab and desperate to resurrect his career with the offer of a new series in Australia.
John stood by as Joan and Tony embarked on an obsessive and passionate love affair. Though clearly besotted with Joan, Tony was struggling with drink and violent depression.
After months of turmoil, Joan gave him a final ultimatum: if he made a go of Australia, if he kept off the booze for a year, she would leave John and marry him. Tony left for Australia determined to win Joan over. But tragically he never returned.
Based on Joan Le Mesurier’s autobiography Lady Don’t Fall Backwards and Edward Joffe’s Hancock’s Last Stand, this moving film tells the story of Hancock and Joan’s love affair and its tragic end.
Ben Stephenson, BBC Head of Drama Commissioning, says: “Hancock remains a much-loved national treasure and this is an extraordinary insight into the mind of a comic genius.”‘
Mike has told me that this film is well worth a watch and I’ll take a look as soon as I can. Ken Stott is an excellent actor.
You can find a list of feature length films focusing on recovery available on YouTube here.
