Secret Policeman's Ball: Peter Cook and Dudley Moore 'Frog and Peach'

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  • Опубліковано 26 січ 2012
  • The Ball is back for 2012!
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    Dudley Moore interviews Peter Cook as Sir Arthur Streeb-Greebling over his disastrous restaurant, the Frog and Peach.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 185

  • @Dr.Quarex
    @Dr.Quarex 3 роки тому +237

    Going through my mother's stuff slowly after she died, and my father found a notebook where she had excitedly recorded seeing this sketch performed live in the 1960s. I had never seen it before, but as soon as he said "frog a la pesche" I started laughing, remembering the occasional time my mother would get annoyed that I did not want to eat anything and offer me "frog a la pesche or pesche a la frog" and I had no idea what she was talking about (but it made me laugh nonetheless). Miss you, Mom.

  • @commandert5
    @commandert5 6 років тому +92

    I love Dudley Moore's attempts to keep a straight face.

  • @cathryncampbell8555
    @cathryncampbell8555 Рік тому +12

    "The 't' is silent as in 'fox.' " Perfection!

  • @bazcuda
    @bazcuda 3 роки тому +142

    Just for a few delightful minutes we can pretend they're both still with us.

    • @shabbysuzannah3702
      @shabbysuzannah3702 2 роки тому +7

      Agreed

    • @billyhodges7194
      @billyhodges7194 2 роки тому +6

      The best of the best

    • @thomaspatton3401
      @thomaspatton3401 2 роки тому +6

      Amen

    • @Orphen42O
      @Orphen42O Рік тому +1

      Whenever I want to describe something that is "six of one, half a dozen of another" I often used the "frog a la pesche or pesche a la frog" analogy. Back in the late Sixties nobody understood what I meant until the "Secret Policeman's Ball" became more well-known. Now every Baby Boomer sees the humor of "frog a la pesche or pesche a la frog".

  • @fords_nothere_100
    @fords_nothere_100 3 роки тому +54

    "I thought, at the time, rightly or wrongly, possibly both..." So many great lines here. These guys will always hold up.

  • @BenVarkentine
    @BenVarkentine 2 роки тому +56

    More than 25 years since they first worked together, and Peter Cook was still trying to break Dudley Moore onstage.

  • @stooben1
    @stooben1 12 років тому +59

    I've learned from my mistakes and I'm sure I could repeat them exactly.

  • @InshushaGroupie
    @InshushaGroupie 8 років тому +82

    Some of the funniest comedy I've ever seen is Peter Cook trying to make Dudley Moore laugh.

  • @groovygirl23
    @groovygirl23 4 роки тому +29

    I once saw them do this live. Peter Cook was a comic genius.

  • @jeanmyers1787
    @jeanmyers1787 4 роки тому +31

    I think Dud’s first love was as a pianist. My heart goes out to him when he was unable to do that as his disease progressed

  • @dinsy512
    @dinsy512 3 роки тому +22

    This has always been one of my favourite pieces of sketch comedy, and it’s still an absolute cackfest! The writing, the comic timing, the corpsing! My tummy hurts from the laughing!

  • @Orphen42O
    @Orphen42O Рік тому +8

    I remember when this first came out. At the time, I had trouble explaining these sketches to friends because British comedy was not very popular at the time. The Monty Python Show is a now a classic.

  • @danmagoo
    @danmagoo 2 роки тому +6

    My hometown (and perhaps others) had an actual restaurant with this name, presumably a tribute to the comedy sketch, which you had to admire for the obscurity of the reference. The menu was pretty normal, though - in fact it was a classy place.

  • @irenemax3574
    @irenemax3574 11 місяців тому +4

    "Do you feel you have learned from your mistakes?"
    "Certainly. I have learned from my mistakes and I am sure I can repeat them exactly."

  • @123barriejohn
    @123barriejohn 11 років тому +50

    "I wrote a letter" - hahahahaha!!!!! In some ways, Peter Cook is unsurpassed. His Clive Anderson characterisations were also brilliant.

    • @jayselad
      @jayselad 4 роки тому

      Those interviews with Clive anderson have been pulled from you tube but I did have the pleasure if seeing them in the past. Brilliant Peter just morphed into character fantastic

    • @josh2Sides2
      @josh2Sides2 4 роки тому

      He took those from his times ringing into Radio shows in different "characters"

    • @scottdittmer5597
      @scottdittmer5597 2 роки тому +1

      "I felt strangely calm, but at the same time Horribly Terrified".... !!

    • @markschildberg1667
      @markschildberg1667 Рік тому +1

      Pete ad libbed after that line at one performance: “Dear Sir: Stop it.”

  • @tigerboy1966
    @tigerboy1966 10 років тому +62

    Dud is so easy to crack up and Pete takes full advantage.

  • @rickrose5377
    @rickrose5377 4 роки тому +8

    I have reservations for Friday.
    (And I feel sure I shall have those reservations always.)

  • @123barriejohn
    @123barriejohn 11 років тому +23

    Such incredible talent. I loved Peter Cook's appearance on the Clive Anderson show, when he portrayed three completely different, lunatic characters!

    • @GoteeDevotee
      @GoteeDevotee 5 років тому +1

      Five, you must have missed the other two

    • @martm216
      @martm216 4 роки тому +1

      Oh yes! The football manager was brilliant. 'Football! She's hard taskmaster and tough mistress. She's in me bloody. She's in me bones. She's in me shoulders . . . Well you see, I'm a Scunny man. And they don't like Scunny men in Hartlepool.'

  • @Kimdino1
    @Kimdino1 3 роки тому +23

    Sir Arthur would make a good politician. Learning from his mistakes to the point where he is sure that he could repeat them exactly.

  • @michaelhands2189
    @michaelhands2189 6 років тому +18

    "...rightly or wrongly, possibly both" X)

  • @sylviavasquez9523
    @sylviavasquez9523 2 роки тому +3

    I watch this at least once a month. Perfection.

  • @Grondiron
    @Grondiron 2 роки тому +10

    The writing and performance is outstanding. British comedy is the best in the world, no doubt about it.

  • @krisscanlon4051
    @krisscanlon4051 4 роки тому +14

    Moore relished this straight man role! Cook a master of absurdity and language! Frog and peach 🍑 Seize it! Despite having issues these two could deliver the goods...Moore couldn't stop from laughing 😂 years later.

    • @krisscanlon4051
      @krisscanlon4051 18 днів тому

      Still watching it😂😅 Moore corpsing😂

  • @shanewright2772
    @shanewright2772 9 років тому +83

    Peter Cook was the funniest man who ever drew breath.

    • @patavinity7673
      @patavinity7673 8 років тому +11

      Genius of the first order

    • @anthonybygrave889
      @anthonybygrave889 6 років тому +2

      Shane Wright he's my all time comedy hero

    • @whatshisname3304
      @whatshisname3304 6 років тому

      definitely

    • @ploppysonofploppy6066
      @ploppysonofploppy6066 5 років тому +2

      The way he used his age, his slowing reflexes, his growing confidence, to hone his comic timing - like a sportsman uses experience to slow their game down really! Masterful.

    • @fuzzballzz36
      @fuzzballzz36 4 роки тому

      Yes he was!

  • @derekpink
    @derekpink 2 роки тому +2

    0:50 even this bit and especially the groan get a big laugh. Comedic geniuses.

  • @steinwaygrande3971
    @steinwaygrande3971 10 років тому +14

    Two wondergul and highly talended men. Gone but no nevert forgotten

  • @JonnyRollin
    @JonnyRollin 6 років тому +12

    Cook had a way with words like no other comedian.

  • @MaskedMan66
    @MaskedMan66 3 роки тому +2

    "It is so... so, what's the word? Uh... It's down there, isn't it?" LOL

  • @soeffingwhat
    @soeffingwhat 11 років тому +12

    Thats correct from September 1989, I have it on CD.

    • @esmeephillips5888
      @esmeephillips5888 3 роки тому +1

      After 'Arthur 2' there was little left for Dudley but to resume his role as Cook's stooge.

  • @111oooo
    @111oooo 8 років тому +16

    They did a comedy album called Good Evening, this was one of the sketches. The whole album is hilarious

  • @nigeldepledge3790
    @nigeldepledge3790 3 роки тому +4

    Pete & Dud at their absolute finest here!

  • @soeffingwhat
    @soeffingwhat 11 років тому +3

    I agree totally, especially the first Character. Comedy Genius.

  • @cathywilson3146
    @cathywilson3146 2 роки тому +1

    Absolute brilliance.

  • @darylcumming7119
    @darylcumming7119 3 місяці тому +1

    Thank you for the upload. 😊

  • @rolandomichel2070
    @rolandomichel2070 5 років тому +7

    Yup kids, that is Comedy, take note!

  • @azapro911
    @azapro911 2 роки тому +6

    Nearly twenty years apart and Peter can still get Dudley to corpse. 😂

  • @SneakyShark
    @SneakyShark 5 років тому +33

    "The T is silent, as in 'Fox'" - such a daft line delivered in a perfectly deadpan way :)

    • @andersonsmith979
      @andersonsmith979 5 років тому +2

      Excuse me, the 'T' is silent as in 'Ftox.'

    • @ColtraneTaylor
      @ColtraneTaylor 4 роки тому

      Still don't get it. Even by absurd standards isn't that silly? Having a T in a word that has no T. Would have sounded better imo if it was a word that resembled Streeb Greebling.

    • @rickrose5377
      @rickrose5377 4 роки тому +3

      @@ColtraneTaylor
      Excuse me, but there are few Ts so silent as the one in 'fox'.

    • @jonathanwhalley8471
      @jonathanwhalley8471 3 роки тому +4

      @@rickrose5377 ....or the P is silent as in swimming!

    • @ColtraneTaylor
      @ColtraneTaylor 2 роки тому

      @George Leech It's kind of aggravating because I enjoy almost anything absurd but this one just escapes my grasp. Looks like I have a logical streak.

  • @boosh90
    @boosh90 10 років тому +58

    yes well I wrote a letter

    • @RobJazzful
      @RobJazzful 5 років тому

      Connor Hutcheon but, it took so long to get there...

    • @RobJazzful
      @RobJazzful 5 років тому +1

      Connor Hutcheon Dear sirs, STOP IT!!

  • @Gamble661
    @Gamble661 3 роки тому +5

    This may very well be a Mandela Effect thing but I distinctly recall seeing this sketch many years ago and Peter Cook talks about lowering his wife into a well to catch the frogs. Something like; his wife hates doing it....and the frogs don't care for it much either. I recall that as the funniest line in the sketch!

    • @thezealouscellist1966
      @thezealouscellist1966 3 роки тому +2

      Yes, this line appeared in a version of the script I uncovered. About 15 years ago, the private school one of my music students went to announced that they were putting together an evening of British comedy and I signed up to perform in this sketch. Sadly, I was unable to reconcile the rehearsal schedule with the rest of my busy life and had to drop it before rehearsals had even begun. I considered it the opportunity of a lifetime sorely missed.

    • @martinclark8162
      @martinclark8162 3 роки тому +3

      Kevdude you're right, for sure his name was Greeb Streebling before they turned CERN on - world's gone nuts.

    • @BlookbugIV
      @BlookbugIV 2 роки тому

      I’ve got a version with the wife down the well on my iPod, doesn’t have a live audience.

    • @BlookbugIV
      @BlookbugIV 2 роки тому +2

      Here’s a live version includes the wife down the well ua-cam.com/video/_I1osNiqcbI/v-deo.html
      Smaller venue.

    • @Elitist20
      @Elitist20 3 місяці тому

      'Of course, she's not a well woman.'
      'No?'
      'Not a well woman at all, so she very much resents having to go down the well every morning.'

  • @wgb01001
    @wgb01001 6 років тому +10

    Seize it!

  • @anthonyvaughan6470
    @anthonyvaughan6470 5 років тому +3

    BRILLIANT !!!

  • @louisethompson8579
    @louisethompson8579 3 роки тому +1

    Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

  • @exclusivemaintenancecompan8015

    Your mum sounds a great character and I will be using “frog a la peshe” and vice versa going forward

  • @mrjw6701
    @mrjw6701 2 роки тому +4

    Brilliant double act in someways they were way ahead of their time. Looking at this it’s hard to believe that Dudley was nearly 2 years older than Peter.

    • @vangroover1903
      @vangroover1903 2 роки тому +1

      Yes, Peter Cook doesn't look a day under 75 there.

  • @barryispuzzled
    @barryispuzzled Місяць тому

    Great chemistry between these two.

  • @aryehfinklestein9041
    @aryehfinklestein9041 6 років тому +4

    Brilliant!!!

  • @123barriejohn
    @123barriejohn 11 років тому +6

    I have a feeling that this is from "The Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball" in 1989, when the show returned to its comedic roots, and the two definitely appeared together, but I'm not sure!

    • @BlookbugIV
      @BlookbugIV 2 роки тому +1

      Yes that’s correct. The Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball in 89. They did their One Leg Too Few sketch for it too.

  • @Teddy-vs5rw
    @Teddy-vs5rw 2 роки тому +1

    I've learnt from my mistakes and I'm sure I could repeat them exactly.

  • @macpdm
    @macpdm 4 роки тому +1

    Pure brilliance

  • @TheMorbius1
    @TheMorbius1 11 років тому +2

    You are most correct!!

  • @HugoHackenbush-jq7hl
    @HugoHackenbush-jq7hl 13 днів тому

    I was there. Got hold of 4 tickets from the box office in person, for the grand old price of £20 (that's a mighty £5 a ticket) Myself, girlfriend and kid brother. Sold the spare outside face value, 5 quid, to a long haired bloke into The Who, because he'd heard,
    "Pete Townshend was gonna be there." Great night. Never bettered.

  • @aldershot5100
    @aldershot5100 10 років тому +3

    great they got back together after their rift

  • @duncanpearce7499
    @duncanpearce7499 2 роки тому +1

    the funniest thing ive ever seen

  • @scottrooney8954
    @scottrooney8954 2 роки тому

    Brilliant 🤩

  • @jameseddison5356
    @jameseddison5356 3 роки тому +3

    Old school hilarious.

  • @trackdaybob
    @trackdaybob 5 років тому +4

    Genius.

  • @user-dg3we5qn6e
    @user-dg3we5qn6e День тому

    Ello Dud, Ello Pete class above comedy!😂

  • @lycian123
    @lycian123 2 роки тому +3

    I can’t quite believe Cook. No one can be that funny. He seems genuinely very funny but to me it’s impossible. How can a man have that ability?

  • @isammolina4842
    @isammolina4842 6 років тому +4

    Que lindo verlo a Dudley
    .Esta emocionado por los aplausos. Y por reencontrarse con Cook. 😆😃

  • @soeffingwhat
    @soeffingwhat 11 років тому +2

    I agree, thats a hilarious bit. Norman House (kidnapped by Aliens) is my fave also.

  • @123barriejohn
    @123barriejohn 11 років тому +19

    "Capital punishment's been abolished for some time now."
    "Yes it has, Except in my neck of the woods."
    "Who better to take the law into their own hands than a judge?"
    I'm still laughing!

  • @ruiseartalcorn
    @ruiseartalcorn 5 років тому +2

    Geniuses! :)

  • @voraciousreader3341
    @voraciousreader3341 2 роки тому

    Gosh....Cook was only 52 here, but he looks 15 years older. His voice sounds that way, too, from smoking so much for so long. He died only 6 years later than this benefit, which puts his health in a better perspective for dying so young.

  • @billmilligan1705
    @billmilligan1705 4 роки тому +3

    There is an actual restaurant in the states called the frog and peach.

  • @argelbargel7680
    @argelbargel7680 2 роки тому +1

    The good old F & P.

  • @stephaniehand503
    @stephaniehand503 2 роки тому

    great

  • @charbelbader1
    @charbelbader1 5 років тому +4

    the waiter ??! very often yes

  • @billmilligan1705
    @billmilligan1705 4 роки тому +6

    There is an actual restaurant in New Jersey called the frog and peach.

  • @bbmcrae
    @bbmcrae 12 років тому +5

    LOVE this sketch. What year is it from?

  • @reded1905
    @reded1905 2 місяці тому

    There's brilliance, and then there's this. Abbott and Costello's Who's On First and Andy Griffiths What It Was Was Football are it's only competition.

  • @AC-ih7jc
    @AC-ih7jc 2 роки тому

    IIRC, there used to be a pub in the Smithtown, NY area called "The Frog and Peach" back in the 1980s or so. I don't know if it had any connection to this routine.
    Can any Long Islanders back me up on this?

  • @pldinfobox
    @pldinfobox 8 місяців тому

    Why.... Why do we lose the ones we love...

  • @patrikwright2658
    @patrikwright2658 2 роки тому

    Classic

  • @TheAutisticCat
    @TheAutisticCat 3 роки тому +2

    In what year was this filmed please Sir?

  • @darkelectric2024
    @darkelectric2024 2 роки тому

    Guess you had to be there !

  • @alexfletcher5192
    @alexfletcher5192 5 місяців тому

    I forget who it was who said Cook had 'funniness' like some people have 'beauty' and it's enough to make Dudley Moore - at this point even a Hollywood attraction - crack up.

  • @steenthorse8579
    @steenthorse8579 3 роки тому

    When is this from

  • @writeract2
    @writeract2 2 роки тому

    what year is this?

  • @FishinChickin
    @FishinChickin 22 дні тому

    Frog and Peach are friends.

  • @jimmyd.
    @jimmyd. 2 роки тому +1

    “Yes well, I wrote a letter”...

  • @dandanz7877
    @dandanz7877 Рік тому

    Ethal the frog and super mario peach

  • @LJY08
    @LJY08 7 років тому +3

    Fuck these two are funny. It's that beautiful British tradition of not wanting to offend anyone, even if they are a complete tool box.

  • @terryperring104
    @terryperring104 5 років тому +1

    When WAS this??

    • @HughTerry69
      @HughTerry69 5 років тому +1

      1989 - the 'Biggest Ball' I think.

  • @deborahgonzalezknight168
    @deborahgonzalezknight168 18 днів тому

    Dudley was gorgeous.

  • @UserName-sj8fg
    @UserName-sj8fg 2 роки тому

    Can't control the sound volume!

  • @raspel31
    @raspel31 3 роки тому +3

    Peter Cook the greatest comic mind of all time- but a sad reminder of how alcohol killed him. Not his best. So sad.

  • @ozzie-sk9dh
    @ozzie-sk9dh 2 роки тому

    Well I wrote a letter!

  • @landrightsforgaywhales5766
    @landrightsforgaywhales5766 3 роки тому +2

    The body language here is telling - why is Moore leaning away from Cook in that manner?

    • @jamespfitz
      @jamespfitz 2 роки тому +2

      If it's telling, why are you asking?

  • @Thursdaym2
    @Thursdaym2 6 років тому +7

    Yesteryear...sheer talent. These days....rubbish.

  • @hugohackenbush1554
    @hugohackenbush1554 2 роки тому

    "Pêche a la frog."

  • @NJTDover
    @NJTDover Рік тому +3

    True and clean comedy unlike today's rubbish.

    • @philiptaylor7902
      @philiptaylor7902 Місяць тому

      You never heard Derek & Clive then! Not that I suggest you do - it's only suitable for those with a strong stomach.

  • @douglashartley4552
    @douglashartley4552 2 роки тому

  • @RockinAtheist
    @RockinAtheist 5 років тому +1

    A frog with a peach in its mouth - yummy!

  • @elicohen6348
    @elicohen6348 6 років тому +1

    No he wasn’t.
    Stewart Lee told me that

  • @simmo5071
    @simmo5071 2 роки тому

    Just a thought frog and peach, yuk, now toad and peach, yummy

  • @thumbsgherkin8742
    @thumbsgherkin8742 2 роки тому

    At the speed of thought it isn’t minder

  • @MrClingclong
    @MrClingclong 3 роки тому +7

    Does anyone think we will be watching videos of Nish Kumar, Josh Widdecombe and Sarah Millican in thirty years time?
    Me neither.

  • @frankmurphyburr3598
    @frankmurphyburr3598 Рік тому

    ...well i wrote a letter

  • @helipeek2736
    @helipeek2736 2 роки тому

    Yorkshire moors? I can see your problem, the original was on Dartmoor, much better for passing trade.

  • @UltimaThule1968
    @UltimaThule1968 3 роки тому +2

    Did you hear about the well woman? She wouldn't go down the well. She wasn't very well. Well, she wouldn't be, would she? Not being a well woman.