In a lot of ways I am surprised at the sheer simplicity of these old Bean TV shows, but that nativity scene was one of the funniest things I have ever seen in one of his shows. It reminds me of Chaplin's dance of the dinner rolls. It is so simple, but clearly a stroke of true genius. Recently I watched all of Chaplin's earliest comedies, and now as I watch these Bean episodes, it's clear to me that Bean is the closest thing that we have to the great silent comedy. He is essentially a silent slapstick artist like the old greats like Chaplin and Keaton and Fatty Arbuckler, but with his own personality. Bean definitely lives in his own little world!
I have to say that I was less than impressed with the turkey preparation scene, it's just a little too, ah, meaty for me. I love eating meat, but something about a gigantic raw turkey getting stuck on someone's head is a little off-putting to me. But the nativity scene, the Christmas stockings, and other things like the tainted clams scenes are definite classics!
I have to say that I was less than impressed with the turkey preparation scene, it's just a little too, ah, meaty for me. I love eating meat, but something about a gigantic raw turkey getting stuck on someone's head is a little off-putting to me. But the nativity scene, the Christmas stockings, and other things like the tainted clams scenes are definite classics!