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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000718857-97-000017.txt : 19970329
<SEC-HEADER>0000718857-97-000017.hdr.sgml : 19970329
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000718857-97-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	SC 13G
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		19970328
SROS:			NYSE

SUBJECT COMPANY:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HANCOCK JOHN BANK & THRIFT OPPORTUNITY FUND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000925683
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	 []
		IRS NUMBER:				043241844
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		SC 13G
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	005-50707
		FILM NUMBER:		97566062

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 HUNTINGTON AVE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02199
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6173751700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 HUNTINGTON AVE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02199

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HANCOCK JOHN REGIONAL BANK & THRIFT FUND
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940620

FILED BY:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CRAMER ROSENTHAL MCGLYNN INC /ADV
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000718857
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	 []
		IRS NUMBER:				133156718
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		SC 13G

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		707 WESTCHESTER AVE
		CITY:			WHITE PLAINS
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10604
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9146814475

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		707 WESTCHESTER AVE
		CITY:			WHITE PLAINS
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10604

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CRAMER ROSENTHAL MCGLYNN INC                            /ADV
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19951130
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>SC 13G
<SEQUENCE>1
<DESCRIPTION>JOHN HANCOCK BANK AND THRIFT SC13G
<TEXT>








                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                 SCHEDULE 13G

                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                          (Amendment No.____________)*


                          JOHN HANCOCK BANK AND THRIFT
             -----------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                                  COMMON STOCK
             -----------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                   409735107
             -----------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)



Check the following box if a fee is  being paid with this statement [ ].
(A fee is not required only if the filing person:  (1) has a previous  statement
on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class of
securities  described  in Item 1;  and (2) has  filed  no  amendment  subsequent
thereto reporting  beneficial  ownership of five percent or less of such class.)
(See Rule 13d-7.)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on  this form with respect to the  subject class of securities,
and  for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information  required in the  remainder of  this cover page  shall not  be
deemed to be "filed" for  the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of
the  Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see
the Notes). 

<PAGE>

CUSIP No. 409735107                  13G                    Page _2 of 5_ Pages



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
       S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
       CRAMER ROSENTHAL MCGLYNN, INC.
       
       IRS ID# 133156718

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                             (a)  [  ]
                                                             (b)  [ X]


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   3   SEC USE ONLY




- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

       INCORPORATED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   NUMBER OF      5    SOLE VOTING POWER
     SHARES            
  BENEFICIALLY    --------------------------------------------------------------
    OWNED BY      6    SHARED VOTING POWER
      EACH             1588205
   REPORTING      --------------------------------------------------------------
     PERSON       7    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
      WITH        
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  8    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                       1588205

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

       1588205

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  10   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

       6.904%

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

       IA


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT

<PAGE>

                                                             Page _3of 5_ Pages





Item 1.     (a)   Name of Issuer:

                  JOHN HANCOCK BANK AND THRIFT
            (b)   Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
                  101 HUNTINGTON AVE
                  BOSTON, MA 02199-7603
Item 2.     (a)   Name of Person Filing:
                  CRAMER ROSENTHAL MCGLYNN, INC.
   
            (b)   Address of Principal Business Office:
                  707 WESTCHESTER AVENUE 
                  WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK 10604
            (c)   Citizenship:
                  INCORPORATED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK

            (d)   Title of Class of Securities:
                  COMMON STOCK

            (e)   CUSIP Number:

                  409735107
Item 3.     If this statement  is filed  pursuant to Rules  13d-1(b), or  
            13d-2(b), check whether the person filing is a:

            (a)   [ ]   Broker or Dealer  registered under Section  15 of  the
                        Act 

            (b)   [ ]   Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act

            (c)   [ ]   Insurance Company  as defined  in section  3(a)(19) of
                        the Act

            (d)   [X]   Investment Company registered under  section 8 of  the
                        Investment Company Act

            (e)   [ ]   Investment Adviser registered under section 203 of the
                        Investment Advisers Act of 1940

            (f)   [ ]   Employee Benefit Plan,  Pension Fund which is  subject
                        to the  provisions of  the Employee Retirement  Income
                        Security Act of  1974 or Endowment  Fund; see  Section
                        240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F)

            (g)   [ ]   Parent  Holding  Company, in  accordance  with Section
                        240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G)

            (h)   ( )   Group,   in   accordance    with   Section    240.13d-
                        1(b)(1)(ii)(H)


<PAGE>

                                                             Page 4_ of 5_ Pages



Item 4.     Ownership.

            1,588,205

Item 5.     Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

            6.904%

Item 6.     Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

            NOT APPLICABLE

Item 7.     Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired
            the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company.
            NOT APPLICABLE

Item 8.     Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
            NOT APPLICABLE

Item 9.     Notice of Dissolution of Group.
            NOT APPLICABLE

Item 10.    Certification.

            By signing  below we certify that, to the best of my knowledge
            and belief,  the securities  referred to above were acquired in the
            ordinary  course of business  and were not acquired for the purpose
            of and do not  have the  effect  of  changing  or  influencing  the
            control of the issuer of such  securities  and were not acquired in
            connection with or as a participant in any transaction  having such
            purpose or effect.


<PAGE>


                                  Signature.

                                  MICHAEL MARRONE
                                  VP - DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
                                  CRAMER ROSENTHAL MCGLYNN, INC.

            After  reasonable  inquiry  and to the  best  of my  knowledge  and
            belief,  I certify  that the  information  set  forth in this
            statement is true, complete and correct.


Date: 

By:  MICHAEL MARRONE
     VP - DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
     CRAMER ROSENTHAL MCGLYNN, INC.
   -------------------------------

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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