MovieChat Forums > One Foot in the Grave (1990) Discussion > Was John Cleese supposed to do a cameo?

Was John Cleese supposed to do a cameo?

posted 13 years ago by tremas-1
5 replies | jump to latest

Episode 6 of Season One ("The Return of the Speckled Band") has a long scene between Victor and "the electricity man," who has come to read the meter and loses his shoes in the process. I suspect the part of "the E.M." was written for John Cleese and that Cleese for some reason was unable to play it, because it is played by an actor (Clive Mantle) who is the spitting image of Cleese and delivers the lines with the same acidity as Basil Fawlty (Cleese).
Take another look at that segment and tell me if you agree with me. The similarity between Mantle and Cleese, in terms of physical appearance and delivery, is uncanny.

[–] mjn-seifer 13 years ago

I just ran through the entire scene in my mind, and with out even watching it, I would say I agree with you. It does seem like John would have been perfect for the scene.

My favorite Final Destination is the 4th – DEAL with it!

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] laurence01 13 years ago

Especially as Clive Mantle looks nothing like Cleese, and normally plays nothing like him either.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] laurence01 13 years ago

That's exactly what I meant, it is played very much like Cleese which is totally against Clive Mantle's normal playing style. This is after all the same person who played Simon Horton in "The Vicar of Dibley".