Frazers Shop

nunky · Frazers Shop

In the first episode Frazer says he runs a philatelists shop.

Anybody know why this was changed to an undertakers.

Is there more humour to be found in death and funerals than stamps.

I reckon there is.

canarytap

I think the reason Frazer became an Undertaker was because their was more humour in this as apposed to him being a Fisherman.

Calum79

Plus John Lauries' eyes!!

And as he is Scottish (like me!); he could play the dour, dreich pessimistic character one may associate with death or being an undertaker.

Also he had the 'face' of an undertaker; as noted by Mainwaring's brother in 'My Brother and I'.

Anyway, I think you answered your own Q; there was far more comedy..

Dave Homewood

Really this only arose as it was the first episode and was at a point where character development was in its infancy. There was an 8th meber of the platoon for example with a speaking role (Bracewell) so it's obvious that not all the planning of characterisations had been worked out.

Most pilots have things like this where characters later change (and actors). Several of the characers have changes through the series (the verger began as a caretaker) and people like Mrs Fox and Mr and Mrs Yeatman had several different first names.

The philatilist's shop was also simply a method of exploiting a laugh, with the tagline of s-h-o-p.

Frazer was actually originally meant to be a fisherman. I think they did well to develop his character from a minor one to a stand out star. And in context of the script he was a retired fisherman who had a small stamp shop. To make money he also buikt coffins in his workshop because he'd learned the skill in his youth. Later due o necessity - wartime requirements due to more deaths (?) and perhaps skilled townsfolk leaving to serve in the war - he took on the role of undertaker for the town. So it all makes sense. They never say he stoppe selling stamps but there were no longer any tourists thanks to the war so he'd need to make his money elsewhere.

I suspect Jimmy Perry had a lot to do with making the character more creepy because he'd adored Joh in such roles in previous movies, like The Ghost of St Michaels.