Critics have over the years claimed that, whilst the 1962 John Schlesinger movie 'Billy Liar' was an unalloyed classic, the same could not be said of the 1973 - 74 L.W.T. spin-off. I do not agree; they were written by the same people. Tom Courtenay would have been old to reprise the role in 1973; besides, Jeff Rawle was a first-rate 'Billy Fisher'. I much prefer George A.Cooper as the father to Wilfred Pickles.
'Billy Liar' was not only to be seen ( briefly ) on Christmas Day in 1973's 'All-Star Comedy Carnival', but an amusing edition of the regular show also had a Christmas theme. Billy wishes to give his family ( and girlfriend Barbara ) presents without doing anything drastic such as spending money, so he steals various items from Shadrach's funeral parlour, such as an urn, vases, and a coffin plate, and gives them away as gifts ( not telling them what they actually are, of course ). His grandmother is content to receive humbugs, so Billy steals a jar from her room ( she has the habit of hoarding them ) and gives her that. The deception might have worked had not Mr.Shadrach turned up unexpectedly at the Fisher house on Christmas Day, whereupon he identified the 'gifts' as stolen property.
Funniest moment - Billy imagining Grandma putting humbugs in the wardrobe whilst dressed as a squirrel. Top marks to May Warden for being brave enough to wear the costume.
'Billy Liar' was not only to be seen ( briefly ) on Christmas Day in 1973's 'All-Star Comedy Carnival', but an amusing edition of the regular show also had a Christmas theme. Billy wishes to give his family ( and girlfriend Barbara ) presents without doing anything drastic such as spending money, so he steals various items from Shadrach's funeral parlour, such as an urn, vases, and a coffin plate, and gives them away as gifts ( not telling them what they actually are, of course ). His grandmother is content to receive humbugs, so Billy steals a jar from her room ( she has the habit of hoarding them ) and gives her that. The deception might have worked had not Mr.Shadrach turned up unexpectedly at the Fisher house on Christmas Day, whereupon he identified the 'gifts' as stolen property.
Funniest moment - Billy imagining Grandma putting humbugs in the wardrobe whilst dressed as a squirrel. Top marks to May Warden for being brave enough to wear the costume.
