Benny Hill

Actor

January 21, 1924 (68 years)

† April 20, 1992

Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK

Biography

Alfred Hawthorne "Benny" Hill (21 January 1924 – 20 April 1992) was an English comedian, actor and scriptwriter. He's best remembered for his TV program, The Benny Hill Show, a comedy-variety show whose amalgam of slapstick, burlesque, double entendre and innuendo in a format that included both live and filmed segments, featured Hill himself at the focus of almost every segment.

Filmography

7.3

The Benny Hill Show

The Benny Hill Show is a British comedy television show that starred Benny Hill and aired in various incarnations between 15 January 1955 and 30 May 1991 in over 140 countries. The show focused on sketches that were full of slapstick, mime, parody, and double-entendre. Thames Television cancelled production of the show in 1989 due to declining ratings and large production costs at £450,000 per show.

6.8

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Toymaker

A hapless inventor finally finds success with a flying car, which a dictator from a foreign government sets out to take for himself.

6.9

The Italian Job

Professor Simon Peach

Charlie's got a 'job' to do. Having just left prison he finds one of his friends has attempted a high-risk job in Torino, Italy, right under the nose of the mafia. Charlie's friend doesn't get very far, so Charlie takes over the 'job'. Using three Mini Coopers, a couple of Jaguars, and a bus, he hopes to bring Torino to a standstill, steal a fortune in gold and escape in the chaos.

8.5

Benny Hill Show

No description available

6.8

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes

Fire Chief Perkins

In order to boost circulation of his newspaper, Lord Rawnsley announces an air race and offers £10,000 to the first person who can fly across the English Channel. But one of the participants, Percy, plots to sabotage his competitor's planes. Will Percy triumph?

6.9

The Filth and the Fury

Self (archive footage)

Julien Temple's second documentary profiling punk rock pioneers the Sex Pistols is an enlightening, entertaining trip back to a time when the punk movement was just discovering itself. Featuring archival footage, never-before-seen performances, rehearsals, and recording sessions as well as interviews with group members who lived to tell the tale--including the one and only John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten).

7.6

Benny Hill

No description available

5.5

Who Done It?

Hugo Dill

This movie debut for saucy British TV comic Benny Hill has Benny leaving his job as a sweeper after winning some money. He becomes a private detective and investigates a plot to assassinate British scientists.

6.0

Light Up the Sky!

Syd McCaffey

Chaos ensues when a bunch of misfits man a British searchlight battery during World War II.

7.0

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Bottom

Theseus, Duke of Athens, is going to marry Hyppolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Demetrius is engaged with Hermia, but Hermia loves Lysander. Helena loves Demetrius. Oberon and Titania, of the kingdom of fairies have a slight quarrel about whether or not the boy Titania is raising will join Titania's band or Oberon's, so Oberon tries to get him from her by using some magic. But they're not alone in that forest. Lysander and Hermina have there a rendezvous, Helena and Demetrius are there, too as well as some actors, who are practicing a play for the ongoing wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. Due to some misunderstandings by Puck, the whole thing becomes a little bit confused...

N/A

Just Like That!

Self

Just Like That! is a celebration of the comic genius of Tommy Cooper - just like that! But nobody could do it just like that apart from the unique Mr Cooper himself, and despite his claim never to have used those words. Was Tommy really Henry Coper's brother? Can Tommy's performance as Hamlet, clown prince, compare with the greats? Was Tommy a ventriloquist at heart? Rare and classic routines and contributions from famous fans help solve the mystery. The friends and fans who take part (many of them confirming that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery) include Adrian Edmondson, Lenny Henry, Henry Cooper, former Goons Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan, writer Dick Hills, Tommy's brother David Cooper (who has himself sadly since died), alternative comedian Steve Murray, The Wow Show and magician Paul Scott. A title montage sequence features further impersonations of the great man from Alexei Sayle, Bob Todd, Patricia Hayes, and Jess Conrad.

5.3

Benny Hill Down Under

Host / Various

A one-off special starring Benny Hill, filmed entirely in Australia. Includes a sketch about "Benny Kelly," son of infamous Australian outlaw Ned Kelly; "Hold Back the Wind" (a Tennessee Williams parody); "Archie's Angels" (a spoof of Charlie's Angels); and "Lady Godiva." Also: a vagabond dreams of moving up to the high life; an interview with Chow Mein; a dance routine set to the themes from The Avengers, M*A*S*H and Hawaii Five-O; and closing hijinks around the beach.

N/A

Is Benny Hill Still Funny?

Self (Archival)

A documentary looking at the life of Benny Hill and with the use of an audience reaction test finding out if he is still funny to contemporary audiences.

7.0

The Best of Benny Hill

Himself

The Best of Benny Hill is a 1974 film version of material from the television comedy series, The Benny Hill Show. This movie features sketches from the early Thames Television years, from 1969 to 1973.

N/A

A Tribute to Tommy Cooper

Self

A retrospective of the comedy genius of Tommy Cooper, with tributes from the likes of Eamonn Andrews, Ronnie Barker, Max Bygraves, Cannon & Ball, Jim Davidson, Benny Hill, Eric Sykes and Mike Yarwood

6.7

Benny Hill: The World's Favorite Clown

Himself

Loved by millions across the World, Benny Hill was an instantly recognisable character. His unique brand of humour ensured that he would forever be remembered as The World's Favourite Clown. Yet whilst everybody loved Benny Hill, very few really knew the man behind the mask. In this remarkable programme Benny, for the first time on-screen, speaks in-depth about himself, his career and the art of comedy. Going right back to his childhood and early days in the theatre, it's a remarkable insight into the legend that was Benny Hill. Packed with many of his most famous sketches, the programme is illuminated from start to finish by Benny's infectious sense of humour. It's a testimony to his universal appeal that the programme includes revealing interviews from such famous fans as Michael Caine, Mickey Rooney and Burt Reynolds.

8.0

Eddie in August

Eddie

In this one-off half-hour silent film, Benny stars as the title character, a "born loser" who is unlucky in everything - especially love. He fancies a pretty nurse who walks by the park, but ends up with a plainer girl.

9.0

Benny Hill: The Lost Years - Benny and the Jests

Various

Part 2 of 3, featuring sketches never broadcast in America, this hilarious medley contains vintage material from Benny when his cheeky humor established him as one of England's funniest - and naughtiest - comedians. Filled with riotous musical send-ups, fractured fairy tales, wacky commercial spoofs and pitch-perfect impressions, this collection captures the vast range of one of England's most inspired comics!

9.0

Benny Hill: The Lost Years - Bennies from Heaven

Various

Part 1 of 3, featuring sketches never broadcast in America, this hilarious medley contains vintage material from Benny when his cheeky humor established him as one of England's funniest - and naughtiest - comedians. Filled with riotous musical send-ups, fractured fairy tales, wacky commercial spoofs and pitch-perfect impressions, this collection captures the vast range of one of England's most inspired comics!

6.0

Le Meilleur de Benny Hill - L'intégrale

Benny Hill

No description available