Aaryk Noctivagus

In light of the success of the 'American Pie' series... I cannot agree with you there, Moor.

Many fine movies and actors have been shunned by audiences and had their genius only appreciated afterwards.

marker

quite agree with you on this one arky lewis always seemed big headed to me something Norman never was.

Cheers Marker..... Black and White 405 Line TV Lives on

Moor Larkin

Quite so. As time goes by however those same 'Shunned' become deified and the popular stars of 'the day' become forgotten or even vilified. There does seem a danger of a re-writing of history by the critical elite.

[code]http://www.flickr.com/photos/29487363@N02/sets/72157606700675506/code]

NappieB

I generally agree with this analysis... as usual Aaryk has hit the nail on the head.

It seems to me, however, that (returning to the original post), Norman Wisdom appeals to the Victorian parochialism inherent in the British psyche (in a good way!!)

Jerry Lewis, however, is pure American slapstick.... it is certainly a mystery how and why the French embraced this erstwhile 50s icon!

Let me say right now that I enjoyed all of Jerry Lewis' films (even those that I wasn't dragged to by my mother in the early 1950s !) When Jerry Lewis broke the incredibly successful partnership with Dean Martin in the mid 50s (1955?) most pundits foresaw the "kiss of death" for Lewis - in reality it was Dean Martin who had to rescue his (Dean's) career. An impressive endorsement for Lewis in the heyday of competitive US TV ratings in-fighting, no matter how you view it!!

The Americans champion a "local-boy-made-good" - Norman was never that...he started and ended most of his films as a "regular guy" (US jargon) with no elevation in material wealth or social standing resulting from his filmatic adventure.

I never knew how to take his famous song (lost now, I'm sure): "Don't Laugh at Me Because I'm a Fool".

"It gets late early out here!" - Yogi Berra on a trip to the country

stevie boy

When I was a small lad, my Dad took me to see a double bill of The Bulldog Breed and the Sqare Peg. My old man laughed so much that the whole cinema looked at him rather than the screen for a couple of minutes.

Fast forward 35 years my two children were watching dear old Norman in the one where he gets nearly throttled in the phone booth by Jerry Desmond they were in absolute stitches and I have that particular memory on video.

The story is that good humour is timeless.

Harleybloke

I like 'em both as well Merton!

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

Aaryk Noctivagus

I like Paul Merton