The Punch and Judy Man

1963
1h 36m

IMDb RATING

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Dark comedy about a seaside Punch and Judy man driven to distraction by his social climbing wife and his hatred for the snobbery of local government. He is persuaded to go to the Mayor's gal... Read allDark comedy about a seaside Punch and Judy man driven to distraction by his social climbing wife and his hatred for the snobbery of local government. He is persuaded to go to the Mayor's gala evening but it's all too much for him.Dark comedy about a seaside Punch and Judy man driven to distraction by his social climbing wife and his hatred for the snobbery of local government. He is persuaded to go to the Mayor's gala evening but it's all too much for him.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.2/10

493

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Trivia
The filming of "The Punch and Judy Man" was beset by problems and tensions. Hancock's first marriage was falling apart and he and his wife had blazing arguments on the set. According to co-writer Philip Oakes, Hancock's drinking was becoming out of control and the comedian was terrified of the Punch puppet.

Goofs
Dudley House Bed & Breakfast has a Bognor Regis, rather than Piltdown, phone number, so revealing the genuine location used.

Crazy credits
The Piltdown civic dignitaries portrayed in this film are, like all other characters and events in the film, wholly fictitious and any similarity to any persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Alternate versions
The version of the film issued in 2006 as a DVD double with The Rebel (1961) by Optimum Releasing is edited, removing four minutes of footage (at around the nine minutes mark). This loses Wally leaving the house after breakfast - after inserting some flowers into the pig ornament on his way out - to visit Edward mending the puppet crocodile in his garage, then encountering the Mayor on the road. The beginning of the following scene in the Town Hall is also clipped.

Connections
Featured in London: The Modern Babylon (2012)

Soundtracks
In Party Mood
(uncredited)
Music by Jack Strachey

User reviews26

Featured review

8/10

Gentle Comedy

This gentle comedy features Tony Hancock as Wally Pinner, the eponymous entertainer, with Hugh Lloyd helping him run the show. His wife (Sylvia Syms) dreams of social advancement among her 'betters' who Pinner can't stand. Naturally, with Hancock involved, it all goes wrong. There are several of those British actors who were in everything but never starred such as Mario Fabrizi, Norman Bird, Michael Ripper and Eddie Byrne (the ice cream man in the brilliant 'Piltdown Glory' sketch) plus John Le Mesurier (and a brief appearance from his wife at the time, Hattie Jacques). It is paired on the DVD with The Rebel, Hancock's better-known film performance. The Punch & Judy Man is not quite up to the same standard but nevertheless is a very pleasant and nostalgic way to spend an hour and a half.