Filmed in homage to his original TV series, this factual drama follows Dave Allen from childhood to becoming one of the Ireland's comedy greats, with just a whiskey, a cigarette and nine-and... Read allFilmed in homage to his original TV series, this factual drama follows Dave Allen from childhood to becoming one of the Ireland's comedy greats, with just a whiskey, a cigarette and nine-and-a-half fingers. Dave Allen is played by Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones).Filmed in homage to his original TV series, this factual drama follows Dave Allen from childhood to becoming one of the Ireland's comedy greats, with just a whiskey, a cigarette and nine-and-a-half fingers. Dave Allen is played by Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones).
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Featured reviews
This dramatisation helped to give a little back story, perhaps explain the motivation in some of his humour, and provide plenty of laughs with the sketches. Very well acted, Aiden Gillen was genuinely superb as the legendary comic, doing great justice.
At times it was a little disjointed, and didn't perhaps flow as has been the usual with these biopic dramas, when you think of ones for Frankie Howerd, Hattie Jacques and Barbara Windsor, each had a beginning, middle and end, this one was a little clunky in terms of flow. It didn't seem to matter though as it was interesting and funny, like the great man himself.
Whimsical rather then informative. A fun watch.
Dave Allen was 'alternative' before the phrase was even coined. His target was the Catholic church. Just imagine if he was alive today what he would have made of the revelations of the church's misdeeds in Ireland over the past decades.
Well this drama reflected it on it. Young Dave being whacked by the nuns. It seems Dave had a comfortable lifestyle (bar going to a church school) in Ireland thanks to his father who worked in newspapers but then he died.
Dave with the help of his older brother got into comedy in Butlins. While his older brother became an alcoholic, Dave hit it big on the BBC.
Yet this was a curious drama, it recreated some sketches, you saw a bit of his stand up or should it be sit down comedy.
You see a reflection of his childhood and a tender moment between the adult Dave and his brother as he once again tries to recover from his alcoholism.
I still walked away knowing very little about Dave Allen. Apart from why he picked on Catholicism, we never even find out how he lost his finger!
Did you know
- TriviaAidan Gillen and Ferdia Walsh-Peelo play Dave Allen at different ages. They previously played a father and son, Robert and Conor Lawlor, in Sing Street (2016).
- GoofsThe set for Dave Allen's 1990 series is completely wrong. It looks more like the Dave Allen At Large series.
- Quotes
[Dave is talking to his dad just after the accident in which he lost the end of his finger]
Gerard Tynan-O'Mahony: Stop your moaning. It's barely the fingernail.
John Tynan-O'Mahony: It's the whole end.
Gerard Tynan-O'Mahony: And do you need to scratch your arse and pick your nose at the same time?
[Dave chuckles]
Gerard Tynan-O'Mahony: Mark my word, it'll be a great friend to you, that finger. A great friend.
John Tynan-O'Mahony: How?
Gerard Tynan-O'Mahony: Well, you'll never be stuck for a story, will you?
John Tynan-O'Mahony: Yeah, but...
Gerard Tynan-O'Mahony: Not the *real* one, dunderhead! The ones you make up. What kind of an idiot chooses the truth over a good story? You've done it already: Sister Mary, with arms like hams, knocked the end of it off with her cane for forgetting the Pope's birthday. Don't stop there. Have a different story every time someone asks you. And never tell the truth. Never. And if all else fails, it'll be great for scaring the girls away.
John Tynan-O'Mahony: Why would I need to do that?
Gerard Tynan-O'Mahony: You're a good-looking boy. You take after your daddy. With a face like that, you're going to need *something* to give you a bit of peace.
- ConnectionsReferences Dave Allen at Large (1971)
Details
- Runtime58 minutes