Secret Policeman's Ball: Peter Cook and Dudley Moore 'Frog and Peach'

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 26. 01. 2012
  • The Ball is back for 2012!
    Follow us at / secretpoliceman for exclusive comedy, behind the scenes gossip and prizes that money can't buy.
    Dudley Moore interviews Peter Cook as Sir Arthur Streeb-Greebling over his disastrous restaurant, the Frog and Peach.
  • Komedie

Komentáře • 183

  • @Dr.Quarex
    @Dr.Quarex Před 3 lety +235

    Going through my mother's stuff slowly after she died, and my father found a notebook where she had excitedly recorded seeing this sketch performed live in the 1960s. I had never seen it before, but as soon as he said "frog a la pesche" I started laughing, remembering the occasional time my mother would get annoyed that I did not want to eat anything and offer me "frog a la pesche or pesche a la frog" and I had no idea what she was talking about (but it made me laugh nonetheless). Miss you, Mom.

  • @commandert5
    @commandert5 Před 6 lety +92

    I love Dudley Moore's attempts to keep a straight face.

  • @fords_nothere_100
    @fords_nothere_100 Před 3 lety +53

    "I thought, at the time, rightly or wrongly, possibly both..." So many great lines here. These guys will always hold up.

  • @cathryncampbell8555
    @cathryncampbell8555 Před rokem +11

    "The 't' is silent as in 'fox.' " Perfection!

  • @bazcuda
    @bazcuda Před 3 lety +139

    Just for a few delightful minutes we can pretend they're both still with us.

    • @shabbysuzannah3702
      @shabbysuzannah3702 Před 2 lety +7

      Agreed

    • @billyhodges7194
      @billyhodges7194 Před 2 lety +6

      The best of the best

    • @thomaspatton3401
      @thomaspatton3401 Před 2 lety +6

      Amen

    • @Orphen42O
      @Orphen42O Před rokem +1

      Whenever I want to describe something that is "six of one, half a dozen of another" I often used the "frog a la pesche or pesche a la frog" analogy. Back in the late Sixties nobody understood what I meant until the "Secret Policeman's Ball" became more well-known. Now every Baby Boomer sees the humor of "frog a la pesche or pesche a la frog".

  • @BenVarkentine
    @BenVarkentine Před 2 lety +56

    More than 25 years since they first worked together, and Peter Cook was still trying to break Dudley Moore onstage.

  • @stooben1
    @stooben1 Před 12 lety +58

    I've learned from my mistakes and I'm sure I could repeat them exactly.

  • @groovygirl23
    @groovygirl23 Před 4 lety +29

    I once saw them do this live. Peter Cook was a comic genius.

  • @InshushaGroupie
    @InshushaGroupie Před 8 lety +81

    Some of the funniest comedy I've ever seen is Peter Cook trying to make Dudley Moore laugh.

  • @dinsy512
    @dinsy512 Před 3 lety +22

    This has always been one of my favourite pieces of sketch comedy, and it’s still an absolute cackfest! The writing, the comic timing, the corpsing! My tummy hurts from the laughing!

  • @jeanmyers1787
    @jeanmyers1787 Před 4 lety +31

    I think Dud’s first love was as a pianist. My heart goes out to him when he was unable to do that as his disease progressed

  • @Orphen42O
    @Orphen42O Před rokem +8

    I remember when this first came out. At the time, I had trouble explaining these sketches to friends because British comedy was not very popular at the time. The Monty Python Show is a now a classic.

  • @123barriejohn
    @123barriejohn Před 11 lety +50

    "I wrote a letter" - hahahahaha!!!!! In some ways, Peter Cook is unsurpassed. His Clive Anderson characterisations were also brilliant.

    • @jayselad
      @jayselad Před 4 lety

      Those interviews with Clive anderson have been pulled from you tube but I did have the pleasure if seeing them in the past. Brilliant Peter just morphed into character fantastic

    • @josh2Sides2
      @josh2Sides2 Před 4 lety

      He took those from his times ringing into Radio shows in different "characters"

    • @scottdittmer5597
      @scottdittmer5597 Před 2 lety +1

      "I felt strangely calm, but at the same time Horribly Terrified".... !!

    • @markschildberg1667
      @markschildberg1667 Před rokem +1

      Pete ad libbed after that line at one performance: “Dear Sir: Stop it.”

  • @irenemax3574
    @irenemax3574 Před 11 měsíci +4

    "Do you feel you have learned from your mistakes?"
    "Certainly. I have learned from my mistakes and I am sure I can repeat them exactly."

  • @123barriejohn
    @123barriejohn Před 11 lety +23

    Such incredible talent. I loved Peter Cook's appearance on the Clive Anderson show, when he portrayed three completely different, lunatic characters!

    • @GoteeDevotee
      @GoteeDevotee Před 5 lety +1

      Five, you must have missed the other two

    • @martm216
      @martm216 Před 4 lety +1

      Oh yes! The football manager was brilliant. 'Football! She's hard taskmaster and tough mistress. She's in me bloody. She's in me bones. She's in me shoulders . . . Well you see, I'm a Scunny man. And they don't like Scunny men in Hartlepool.'

  • @danmagoo
    @danmagoo Před 2 lety +6

    My hometown (and perhaps others) had an actual restaurant with this name, presumably a tribute to the comedy sketch, which you had to admire for the obscurity of the reference. The menu was pretty normal, though - in fact it was a classy place.

  • @tigerboy1966
    @tigerboy1966 Před 10 lety +62

    Dud is so easy to crack up and Pete takes full advantage.

  • @Kimdino1
    @Kimdino1 Před 3 lety +23

    Sir Arthur would make a good politician. Learning from his mistakes to the point where he is sure that he could repeat them exactly.

  • @rickrose5377
    @rickrose5377 Před 4 lety +7

    I have reservations for Friday.
    (And I feel sure I shall have those reservations always.)

  • @sylviavasquez9523
    @sylviavasquez9523 Před 2 lety +3

    I watch this at least once a month. Perfection.

  • @michaelhands2189
    @michaelhands2189 Před 6 lety +18

    "...rightly or wrongly, possibly both" X)

  • @steinwaygrande3971
    @steinwaygrande3971 Před 10 lety +14

    Two wondergul and highly talended men. Gone but no nevert forgotten

  • @shanewright2772
    @shanewright2772 Před 9 lety +83

    Peter Cook was the funniest man who ever drew breath.

    • @patavinity7673
      @patavinity7673 Před 8 lety +10

      Genius of the first order

    • @anthonybygrave889
      @anthonybygrave889 Před 6 lety +1

      Shane Wright he's my all time comedy hero

    • @whatshisname3304
      @whatshisname3304 Před 6 lety

      definitely

    • @ploppysonofploppy6066
      @ploppysonofploppy6066 Před 5 lety +1

      The way he used his age, his slowing reflexes, his growing confidence, to hone his comic timing - like a sportsman uses experience to slow their game down really! Masterful.

    • @fuzzballzz36
      @fuzzballzz36 Před 4 lety

      Yes he was!

  • @Grondiron
    @Grondiron Před 2 lety +10

    The writing and performance is outstanding. British comedy is the best in the world, no doubt about it.

  • @krisscanlon4051
    @krisscanlon4051 Před 4 lety +14

    Moore relished this straight man role! Cook a master of absurdity and language! Frog and peach 🍑 Seize it! Despite having issues these two could deliver the goods...Moore couldn't stop from laughing 😂 years later.

  • @derekpink
    @derekpink Před 2 lety +2

    0:50 even this bit and especially the groan get a big laugh. Comedic geniuses.

  • @JonnyRollin
    @JonnyRollin Před 6 lety +12

    Cook had a way with words like no other comedian.

  • @soeffingwhat
    @soeffingwhat Před 11 lety +12

    Thats correct from September 1989, I have it on CD.

    • @esmeephillips5888
      @esmeephillips5888 Před 3 lety +1

      After 'Arthur 2' there was little left for Dudley but to resume his role as Cook's stooge.

  • @nigeldepledge3790
    @nigeldepledge3790 Před 3 lety +4

    Pete & Dud at their absolute finest here!

  • @MaskedMan66
    @MaskedMan66 Před 3 lety +2

    "It is so... so, what's the word? Uh... It's down there, isn't it?" LOL

  • @soeffingwhat
    @soeffingwhat Před 11 lety +3

    I agree totally, especially the first Character. Comedy Genius.

  • @barryispuzzled
    @barryispuzzled Před 18 dny

    Great chemistry between these two.

  • @cathywilson3146
    @cathywilson3146 Před 2 lety +1

    Absolute brilliance.

  • @111oooo
    @111oooo Před 8 lety +16

    They did a comedy album called Good Evening, this was one of the sketches. The whole album is hilarious

  • @rolandomichel2070
    @rolandomichel2070 Před 5 lety +7

    Yup kids, that is Comedy, take note!

  • @wgb01001
    @wgb01001 Před 6 lety +10

    Seize it!

  • @anthonyvaughan6470
    @anthonyvaughan6470 Před 5 lety +3

    BRILLIANT !!!

  • @darylcumming7119
    @darylcumming7119 Před 3 měsíci +1

    Thank you for the upload. 😊

  • @louisethompson8579
    @louisethompson8579 Před 3 lety +1

    Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

  • @azapro911
    @azapro911 Před 2 lety +6

    Nearly twenty years apart and Peter can still get Dudley to corpse. 😂

  • @aryehfinklestein9041
    @aryehfinklestein9041 Před 6 lety +4

    Brilliant!!!

  • @macpdm
    @macpdm Před 4 lety +1

    Pure brilliance

  • @SneakyShark
    @SneakyShark Před 5 lety +33

    "The T is silent, as in 'Fox'" - such a daft line delivered in a perfectly deadpan way :)

    • @andersonsmith979
      @andersonsmith979 Před 5 lety +2

      Excuse me, the 'T' is silent as in 'Ftox.'

    • @ColtraneTaylor
      @ColtraneTaylor Před 4 lety

      Still don't get it. Even by absurd standards isn't that silly? Having a T in a word that has no T. Would have sounded better imo if it was a word that resembled Streeb Greebling.

    • @rickrose5377
      @rickrose5377 Před 4 lety +3

      @@ColtraneTaylor
      Excuse me, but there are few Ts so silent as the one in 'fox'.

    • @jonathanwhalley8471
      @jonathanwhalley8471 Před 3 lety +4

      @@rickrose5377 ....or the P is silent as in swimming!

    • @ColtraneTaylor
      @ColtraneTaylor Před 2 lety

      @George Leech It's kind of aggravating because I enjoy almost anything absurd but this one just escapes my grasp. Looks like I have a logical streak.

  • @boosh90
    @boosh90 Před 10 lety +58

    yes well I wrote a letter

    • @RobJazzful
      @RobJazzful Před 5 lety

      Connor Hutcheon but, it took so long to get there...

    • @RobJazzful
      @RobJazzful Před 5 lety +1

      Connor Hutcheon Dear sirs, STOP IT!!

  • @TheMorbius1
    @TheMorbius1 Před 11 lety +2

    You are most correct!!

  • @Gamble661
    @Gamble661 Před 3 lety +5

    This may very well be a Mandela Effect thing but I distinctly recall seeing this sketch many years ago and Peter Cook talks about lowering his wife into a well to catch the frogs. Something like; his wife hates doing it....and the frogs don't care for it much either. I recall that as the funniest line in the sketch!

    • @thezealouscellist1966
      @thezealouscellist1966 Před 3 lety +2

      Yes, this line appeared in a version of the script I uncovered. About 15 years ago, the private school one of my music students went to announced that they were putting together an evening of British comedy and I signed up to perform in this sketch. Sadly, I was unable to reconcile the rehearsal schedule with the rest of my busy life and had to drop it before rehearsals had even begun. I considered it the opportunity of a lifetime sorely missed.

    • @martinclark8162
      @martinclark8162 Před 3 lety +3

      Kevdude you're right, for sure his name was Greeb Streebling before they turned CERN on - world's gone nuts.

    • @BlookbugIV
      @BlookbugIV Před 2 lety

      I’ve got a version with the wife down the well on my iPod, doesn’t have a live audience.

    • @BlookbugIV
      @BlookbugIV Před 2 lety +2

      Here’s a live version includes the wife down the well czcams.com/video/_I1osNiqcbI/video.html
      Smaller venue.

    • @Elitist20
      @Elitist20 Před 2 měsíci

      'Of course, she's not a well woman.'
      'No?'
      'Not a well woman at all, so she very much resents having to go down the well every morning.'

  • @jameseddison5356
    @jameseddison5356 Před 3 lety +3

    Old school hilarious.

  • @123barriejohn
    @123barriejohn Před 11 lety +6

    I have a feeling that this is from "The Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball" in 1989, when the show returned to its comedic roots, and the two definitely appeared together, but I'm not sure!

    • @BlookbugIV
      @BlookbugIV Před 2 lety +1

      Yes that’s correct. The Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball in 89. They did their One Leg Too Few sketch for it too.

  • @Teddy-vs5rw
    @Teddy-vs5rw Před 2 lety +1

    I've learnt from my mistakes and I'm sure I could repeat them exactly.

  • @exclusivemaintenancecompan8015

    Your mum sounds a great character and I will be using “frog a la peshe” and vice versa going forward

  • @scottrooney8954
    @scottrooney8954 Před 2 lety

    Brilliant 🤩

  • @duncanpearce7499
    @duncanpearce7499 Před 2 lety +1

    the funniest thing ive ever seen

  • @mrjw6701
    @mrjw6701 Před 2 lety +4

    Brilliant double act in someways they were way ahead of their time. Looking at this it’s hard to believe that Dudley was nearly 2 years older than Peter.

    • @vangroover1903
      @vangroover1903 Před 2 lety +1

      Yes, Peter Cook doesn't look a day under 75 there.

  • @trackdaybob
    @trackdaybob Před 5 lety +4

    Genius.

  • @aldershot5100
    @aldershot5100 Před 10 lety +3

    great they got back together after their rift

  • @lycian123
    @lycian123 Před 2 lety +3

    I can’t quite believe Cook. No one can be that funny. He seems genuinely very funny but to me it’s impossible. How can a man have that ability?

  • @ruiseartalcorn
    @ruiseartalcorn Před 5 lety +2

    Geniuses! :)

  • @isammolina4842
    @isammolina4842 Před 6 lety +4

    Que lindo verlo a Dudley
    .Esta emocionado por los aplausos. Y por reencontrarse con Cook. 😆😃

  • @soeffingwhat
    @soeffingwhat Před 11 lety +1

    I agree, thats a hilarious bit. Norman House (kidnapped by Aliens) is my fave also.

  • @charbelbader1
    @charbelbader1 Před 5 lety +4

    the waiter ??! very often yes

  • @voraciousreader3341
    @voraciousreader3341 Před 2 lety

    Gosh....Cook was only 52 here, but he looks 15 years older. His voice sounds that way, too, from smoking so much for so long. He died only 6 years later than this benefit, which puts his health in a better perspective for dying so young.

  • @stephaniehand503
    @stephaniehand503 Před 2 lety

    great

  • @argelbargel7680
    @argelbargel7680 Před 2 lety +1

    The good old F & P.

  • @123barriejohn
    @123barriejohn Před 11 lety +19

    "Capital punishment's been abolished for some time now."
    "Yes it has, Except in my neck of the woods."
    "Who better to take the law into their own hands than a judge?"
    I'm still laughing!

  • @reded1905
    @reded1905 Před 2 měsíci

    There's brilliance, and then there's this. Abbott and Costello's Who's On First and Andy Griffiths What It Was Was Football are it's only competition.

  • @bbmcrae
    @bbmcrae Před 11 lety +5

    LOVE this sketch. What year is it from?

  • @patrikwright2658
    @patrikwright2658 Před 2 lety

    Classic

  • @pldinfobox
    @pldinfobox Před 8 měsíci

    Why.... Why do we lose the ones we love...

  • @billmilligan1705
    @billmilligan1705 Před 4 lety +3

    There is an actual restaurant in the states called the frog and peach.

  • @billmilligan1705
    @billmilligan1705 Před 4 lety +6

    There is an actual restaurant in New Jersey called the frog and peach.

  • @AC-ih7jc
    @AC-ih7jc Před 2 lety

    IIRC, there used to be a pub in the Smithtown, NY area called "The Frog and Peach" back in the 1980s or so. I don't know if it had any connection to this routine.
    Can any Long Islanders back me up on this?

  • @darkelectric2024
    @darkelectric2024 Před 2 lety

    Guess you had to be there !

  • @alexfletcher5192
    @alexfletcher5192 Před 5 měsíci

    I forget who it was who said Cook had 'funniness' like some people have 'beauty' and it's enough to make Dudley Moore - at this point even a Hollywood attraction - crack up.

  • @FishinChickin
    @FishinChickin Před 8 dny

    Frog and Peach are friends.

  • @deborahgonzalezknight168

    Dudley was gorgeous.

  • @raspel31
    @raspel31 Před 3 lety +3

    Peter Cook the greatest comic mind of all time- but a sad reminder of how alcohol killed him. Not his best. So sad.

  • @Thursdaym2
    @Thursdaym2 Před 6 lety +7

    Yesteryear...sheer talent. These days....rubbish.

  • @steenthorse8579
    @steenthorse8579 Před 3 lety

    When is this from

  • @writeract2
    @writeract2 Před 2 lety

    what year is this?

  • @LJY08
    @LJY08 Před 7 lety +3

    Fuck these two are funny. It's that beautiful British tradition of not wanting to offend anyone, even if they are a complete tool box.

  • @TheAutisticCat
    @TheAutisticCat Před 3 lety +2

    In what year was this filmed please Sir?

  • @jimmyd.
    @jimmyd. Před 2 lety +1

    “Yes well, I wrote a letter”...

  • @NJTDover
    @NJTDover Před rokem +3

    True and clean comedy unlike today's rubbish.

    • @philiptaylor7902
      @philiptaylor7902 Před 26 dny

      You never heard Derek & Clive then! Not that I suggest you do - it's only suitable for those with a strong stomach.

  • @dandanz7877
    @dandanz7877 Před rokem

    Ethal the frog and super mario peach

  • @terryperring104
    @terryperring104 Před 5 lety +1

    When WAS this??

    • @HughTerry69
      @HughTerry69 Před 5 lety +1

      1989 - the 'Biggest Ball' I think.

  • @UserName-sj8fg
    @UserName-sj8fg Před 2 lety

    Can't control the sound volume!

  • @landrightsforgaywhales5766

    The body language here is telling - why is Moore leaning away from Cook in that manner?

    • @jamespfitz
      @jamespfitz Před 2 lety +2

      If it's telling, why are you asking?

  • @ozzie-sk9dh
    @ozzie-sk9dh Před 2 lety

    Well I wrote a letter!

  • @elicohen6348
    @elicohen6348 Před 6 lety +1

    No he wasn’t.
    Stewart Lee told me that

  • @MrClingclong
    @MrClingclong Před 2 lety +7

    Does anyone think we will be watching videos of Nish Kumar, Josh Widdecombe and Sarah Millican in thirty years time?
    Me neither.

  • @douglashartley4552
    @douglashartley4552 Před 2 lety

  • @RockinAtheist
    @RockinAtheist Před 5 lety +1

    A frog with a peach in its mouth - yummy!

  • @hugohackenbush1554
    @hugohackenbush1554 Před 2 lety

    "Pêche a la frog."

  • @thumbsgherkin8742
    @thumbsgherkin8742 Před 2 lety

    At the speed of thought it isn’t minder

  • @frankmurphyburr3598
    @frankmurphyburr3598 Před rokem

    ...well i wrote a letter

  • @simmo5071
    @simmo5071 Před 2 lety

    Just a thought frog and peach, yuk, now toad and peach, yummy

  • @UltimaThule1968
    @UltimaThule1968 Před 3 lety +2

    Did you hear about the well woman? She wouldn't go down the well. She wasn't very well. Well, she wouldn't be, would she? Not being a well woman.

  • @helipeek2736
    @helipeek2736 Před 2 lety

    Yorkshire moors? I can see your problem, the original was on Dartmoor, much better for passing trade.

  • @RJ-ql6ff
    @RJ-ql6ff Před 9 měsíci

    It never dates

  • @theseeker3771
    @theseeker3771 Před měsícem

    Dudley Moore is amazingly funny.... he never was a straight-man, he just didn't have to speak as much to be funny.