The Student Prince

Hancock's Half Hour (Radio) Third Series - Programme 14

Hancock is lured to Moravia under the impression that he is playing in "The Student Prince"; in fact, he is impersonating the Crown Prince, who is in danger of assassination.

Cast
Tony Hancock
Bill Kerr
Sidney James
Kenneth Williams
Andrée Melly
Alan Simpson

Programme Guide

This half hour is concerned with the goings on in the tiny European principality of Moravia.

The Baron from Moravia goes to see Sid James and asks if Sid will do a special job for him, with no questions asked. He tells Sid that the Prince of Moravia is due to be crowned shortly. However, the people are against it and are trying to kill the Prince. So, the Baron (Kenneth Williams) wants Sid to find a 'stand-in' for the Prince.

Here's how Sid sells the idea to Hancock:

] Sid: "The Moravian government is holding a Grand Open-air Festival next Wednesday. It's unique, instead of an open-air theatre, they're using the whole town - no stage ... All the actors will be riding about in carriages and on horseback in full costume. There will literally be thousands of people in the streets."

Hancock: "Like the Coronation?"

Sid: "Yeah, something like that .... they want you to play the lead part: The Student Prince."

Hancock: "Yeah, I suppose so .... It's rather me .... I've always fancied the red tunic with the yellow twiddley bits .... the white tights showing the muscular thighs there .... the black four-foot-high Wellingtons, marvellous, yes that's me."

Sid: "I'd better warn you, it's a new production .... they're putting in a coronation scene and don't be surprised if at anytime in the play, blokes sort of crop up and start firing and slinging bombs at you."

Bill and Hancock pack for their journey and, after some difficulty at the airport with Customs Officer Snide, they eventually arrive in Moravia. Hancock takes the front car with the open top in his drive to the Royal Palace while Sid sits in the back one. Suddenly, there is an explosion.

Hancock: "That's strange, that bit of road blew up just behind us, very bad that, I wonder if Sid's alright."

The bomb has caught Sid's car in its blast and Sid is in a dazed condition. A little later there are sounds of machine gun shots and more explosions.

Hancock: "Sid's having trouble with his car again."

This is the running joke of the show, i.e. that all the bombs and bullets intended for Hancock end up on Sid's lap, and as the story progresses, Sid becomes more injured. Meanwhile, Hancock encounters the Prince's real-life wife, played by Andrée Melly.

Princess: "Kiss Me."

Hancock: "Hello, she's after me pension."

Princess: "Oh, you are different. Come, sit down, my darling, let me look at you. I haven't seen you for so long."

Hancock: "Well, that's your fault. I was at the Glasgow Empire last week, and the week before that the Finsbury Park Empire."

Princess: "Oh, how you must have travelled the empires of the world."

That last gag more or less sums up the show, which is a sort of merry romp around the Student Prince story, with one or two funny moments, but not exactly the greatest Hancock's Half Hour ever.