Animals Can't Laugh

aka The Younger Generation

Produced by Claude Whatham
Writer: Adrian Mitchell

First broadcast: 14 July 1961

  • Johnny Briggs . . . . . . . . . . Richard Tilehurst
    Gerald Cross . . . . . . . . . . Herbert Massing
    Trevor Danby . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Groombury
    Bill Douglas . . . . . . . . . . Mike Anson (as Forbes Douglas)
    Frank Finlay . . . . . . . . . . Ross Mayer
    Ronald Lacey . . . . . . . . . . Bruce Day
    Frank Lorden . . . . . . . . . . Publican
    Mary Miller . . . . . . . . . . Kate Collett
    Gillian Muir . . . . . . . . . . Mercy Hastings
    Neville Taylor . . . . . . . . . . Jim Byman

    A sense of humour can be a terrible handicap. So Bruce, a young man who wants to be taken seriously, discovers when he gatecrashes the London literary set. TV Times July 1961

    This episode features Ronald Lacey who is perhaps best remembered for his roles as Harris in Porridge and SD agent Sturmbannfuhrer Arnold Ernst Toht in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Frank and Ronald would appear on stage together in Sir Arnold Wesker's highly successful Chips With Everything (1962) at The Royal Court, London.







    • The Younger Generation

      Eleven-part mini-series featuring an ensemble cast of up-and-coming acting talent, in plays by young authors, each actor or actress taking the lead role in turn.

      Frank appeared in two episodes:

      Animals Can't Laugh (1961) Ross Mayer
      Josie (1961) George Tremaine