Der 90. Geburtstag oder Dinner for One

It is to be wondered why the "Dinner For One" has never been a smash hit in the UK. It is a fact that it has been around for decades. Yet only two people have mastered this sketch in an unforgettable way: The artist Freddie Frinton and his graceful partner May Warden. During a visit to Blackpool, German entertainer Peter Frankenfeld and his colleague Heinz Dunkhase witnessed their great performance and managed, with some hardship, to persuade Frinton to come to Germany to film this most peculiar dinner. Frinton was not at all keen on Germany and its inhabitants and he would not perform in German either (This was perhaps a very wise decision). He also insisted on the tiger over which he stumbles more than once in 18 minutes. The ice bear, that has been organised by the producers had a bigger head than the tiger and this, according to Frinton would really have sent him flying. For eighteen years the Butler James had faithfully served Miss Sophie and her late guests. He would drink at least 4 pints of Sherry, Champagne and Port, always the same procedure as last year, and he would give his mistress a hand up when she decides to retire promising to do his very best. Frinton died five years after the filming just three weeks before the sketch was to be shot once more, in colour. (Sadly enough one of the German TV-stations attempted this once more a few years ago. With German actors and in German. Quite a disaster, if not downright sacrilegious in my opinion.) It is a pure joy to watch this sketch, same procedure as every year and I hope for many a repetition in the future.

This little short comedy is an annual tradition in my family. Every year on new year's eve, it's shown on Danish television. I don't think there's been a new year's eve in my life where I haven't seen it. Even though I've seen it so many times, and my family must have seen it far more times, we've never gotten tired of it. The laughs fill the room, and everyone is sitting in anticipation and with the laughs just below the surface for the whole thing... except when we're roaring with laughter, which is most of the duration. I don't believe there is anything that has a greater or even equal ratio of laughs to seconds passed than this little sketch. Here in Denmark, it's only 14 minutes long, and I don't think there is ever more than just 5 seconds in a row without a laugh or two. The comedy is universal... I don't know anyone who doesn't find it funny. Plot, pacing, acting and characters are all top-notch. I doubt there will ever be a new year's eve where I don't see this. I look forward to seeing it more so than the actual celebration of new year's. I can't really say anything more... words don't do it justice. If you have a chance, see it. Chances are you'll enjoy it. I have yet to meet one single person who doesn't. 10/10

This title is relatively unknown in Australia, but as someone who has studied comedy for 40 years and taught gifted students about it as a form of expression, communication and development of the comic conventions and constructs used in various forms of 'standard' literature, I consider that this film can be considered as one that stands out in its own field as a latter-day 'standard' of classic comic form and execution.

In some ways it falls into the same category as films from the great Silent Era in Hollywood (e.g. the works of Sennett and Chaplin), the W C Fields' "The Great Chase" and Eric Syke's "The Plank" - but it also equates in some ways with Oscar Wilde's comedy (e.g. "The Importance of Being Ernest") - all are great examples of mixing visual activity, remarkable energy, the innuendo and the written and/or spoken word.

when i was 2 and a half, my family moved to dusseldorf in germany while my dad worked in immigration. we moved back to england when i was six. i'm now nearly 15 and, thanks to satellite, watch 'dinner for one' every year. last year we watched it four times on four different german channels!

if (that's a big 'if') we miss it, we have a video of it that we watch later on. the sheer genius involved in this sketch is unrivalled even by the great monty python team. i talk about it all the time to me ill-educated friends, and my entire family joke about it all the time. i admit that the rest of britain has probably never even heard of 'dinner for one', but i must say that this is their loss. i am even considering writing to the BBC (british broadcasting corporation) and persuading them to air it on new years eve this year.

without a doubt i will be showing this to my family when i grow up, and i am certain that they will find it as entertaining as i do.

long live miss sophie, james, mr pommeroy, admiral von schneider, sir toby and mr winterbottom. same procedure as last year, ma'am?

Even here in Australia one is not spared the ritual of "Dinner for One".

For many years SBS (the multi language public broadcaster here) has shown "Dinner for One" on New Year's Eve.

The version that is shown is the 1963 German TV version with English subtitles for the German introduction. (Although for some reason they have edited out the Heinz Piper's German explanation of the English dialogue!)

It remains a simple pleasure to be savoured each year!