In this one off comedy Mr Pastry took acting lessons from a charlatan posing as an acting teacher. Mr Pastry was keen to learn the American method style of acting whilst the Professor was keen to make some easy money.
Intended as a series bringing together the legendary Buster Keaton with the well regarded UK slapsticker Richard Hearne in the form of his bumbling old man character Mr Pastry. Unfortunately Buster Keaton fell ill and returned back to the USA so the series never acheived fruition. Hearne was actually only in his mid thirties when he began playing the old man act.
production details
UK / ITV Network – ATV / 1×30 minute episode / Broadcast Saturday 21 June 1958 @ 6.00pm in black and white
Director: Ralph Smart
cast
RICHARD HEARNE as Mr Pastry
BUSTER KEATON as Professor
PEGGY MOUNT as Landlady
JOHN GATRELL as Stage Manager
RUDOLF OFFENBACH as Signor Frascatti
HAROLD BRYDE as Kid
LIZA LEE as Madame Lolla Borgia
IAN WALLACE as The Prisoner
