Review of Tommy Cooper: The Missing Pieces

Introduction

This DVD brings together clips from various shows that Tommy Cooper was involved in. Although it describes some of the footage as rarely seen, this certainly doesn`t apply to all of it, since I`ve seen quite a few of the clips before. ITV repeated some of his series in the years after his death, just to remind us all of what we were missing. There have also been a number of documentaries and clips compilations, and also a few Tommy Cooper nights on various TV channels. He was an impressionist`s dream, as he was so easy to take off, and the Fez became an instant trade mark. And then there was the catchphrase "just like that...."

Video

A full frame transfer of archive TV material, a mixture of black and white and colour footage. Whilst it`s all fairly presentable and watchable it seems that little or no clean-up work has occurred. As those nice chaps at the self-titled Doctor Who Restoration Team have shown, you can produce some very nice results when you clean up old material - a shame that no-one bothered here, as it doesn`t give you too much over a VHS equivalent. Perhaps we`ve just been spoiled by those companies that have gone that extra mile with their old TV shows.

Audio

A DD2.0 stereo soundtrack, which is the original mono replayed over both channels. This is very much like the picture, in that it`s all pretty much ok, but a bit of work could have improved it. Cooper can sound muffled (although this was sometimes on purpose of course), and one or two sections could have been improved. The editing between the sequences is also a little unsubtle, as you go from massive applause to almost silence in an instant at times...

Features

Only a very brief text biography. Even the chapter selection menu is a bit rubbish as it doesn`t allow you to select sketches by name, just by number. Lots of them are grouped into one chapter too. And the "Cast & Credits extra" just replays the end credits of the main feature!

Conclusion

Like it or lump it, Tommy Cooper was a comic genius and a fantastic magician to boot. He died live on stage on the 15th of April 1994, a feat only he and a few others could pull off. When he complained of pains and slumped onto the floor during his act, everyone thought it was part of the act. But he slumped gracefully, and if there was one thing that Tommy Cooper wasn`t, it was graceful. Although it was a sad end for a great comedian, he`s probably still up there somewhere laughing about it with Eric Morecambe to this day. We lost Eric Morecambe just 6 weeks after Tommy Cooper, and he also died on stage.

Cooper was always inventing false ailments, and clutching himself in mock pain during his act. When you watch this DVD, you`ll see countless examples of it, as well as his bumbling, his magic tricks, and his utterly faultless comic timing. Tommy Cooper can have you in fits of laughter without the need for vulgarity and obscenity. Simple jokes and perfect timing combine for timeless comedy.

A reasonable collection for fans, and at a reasonable price. A funny man, a funny DVD.