Directed by Jeremy Summers and written by Phillip Oakes and leading actor Tony Hancock, 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. Also starring: Sylvia Syms, Ronald Fraser, Barbara Murray, John Le Mesurier, Hugh Lloyd, Mario Fabrizi and Pauline Jameson.
Grumpy old men getting into mischief is a staple of classic cinema and it’s Tony Hancock’s turn in The Punch and Judy Man as children’s performer with a chip on his shoulder. Wally (Hancock) is all frowns and frustrations until he lets out his petty side, taking his pleasure in causing the discomfort and embarrassment of the more fortunate. Once that sense of humour and playfulness comes out, he’s a lot of fun to watch but it feels like they maybe spent too much time establishing his curmudgeon side to make the most of it.
Although in also typical classic film fashion, it does tend to draw out its gags a bit too far. Your enjoyment of The Punch and Judy Man is definitely going to depend on how much you go in for that physical, silly sense of humour. It’s almost Norman Wisdom but more dialogue, less falling. Wally’s surprisingly relatable though, he’s fed up with the rigamarole of everyday life and of a classist society that looks down on the working man. He has no patience for society life, forever sniping at its vanity, elitism and lack of empathy. As well as trying to nudge his wife in the right direction to realise that the grass isn’t always greener, when she desires to be one of the in-crowd.
It’s an interesting mix but the pacing and progression don’t entirely do it justice, it’s slow to begin then throwing a lot in towards the end, at times quite literally. It’s the cast that keep you glued in with Hancock leading the way. He creates this down to earth character that has a bit too much pride but at times is also simply a big kid. There are some really great moments between him and John Le Mesurier’s Charles, they have a good chemistry and mutual appreciation. Although arguably the strongest chemistry Hancock has is with the young Peter, played by Nicholas Webb, who relentlessly pesters him. It’s a surprisingly sweet and wholesome connection.
The Punch and Judy Man is an afternoon adventure by the seaside, which in very British fashion is not glamorous or excessive, it’s everyday and full of grudges and resentment. It’s slow to get going but once Wally finds his sense of humour below his levels of angst and grump, Tony Hancock has a lot of fun with this role. It’s an unusual mix of society politics and childish humour but the two work pretty well together. If you have a fondness for that classic 1960s style of comedy, you’ll find plenty to enjoy.
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