ChristineCB

Wilfrid Brambell (1912 - 1985)

Any stories or tales about the man?

His IMDB credits start in 1935 and he appears to have been working for the rest of life, although his film credits start slowly - a 1935 uncredited role in THE THIRTY NINE STEPS, then two uncredited roles in 1947, a credited role in '48, then skipping some time before his credits mounted up from 1953 on, including the STEPTOE role from '62 to '74.

Has he achieved a deserved place in British comedy - whatever that might be?

DB7

There was a CH4 documentary called When Steptoe met Son on the relationship between Brambell and Corbett, and life behind the scenes on Steptoe and Son. I'm not sure how accurate the depiction was as many of these exposes of 60s and 70s stars (think Hancock, Benny Hill, Eric Morecambe etc) seems to focus more on the negative.
The tortured world of Steptoe and Son | | Guardian Unlimited Arts

ChristineCB

The above link's episodes, if true at all, answers the question about how some of his most biting and least-charming on-screen characters were created! Thanks.

wearysloth

But he was very clean, though...

Wilfrid Brambell

I recall the finale of Death and Transfiguration as being very hard to watch, and a frail Brambell was heartrending...

penfold

Absolutely superb as The White Rabbit in the Jonathon Miller version of Alice...

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

knobbykins

Outside of STEPTOE i can only recall him as a horse trader in WITCHFINDER GENERAL and as a lecherous old man after Butler's mum in HOLIDAY ON THE BUSES!
Somebody tell me a few more before i embarass myself.......too late.

When the king's off his arse nobody sleeps!

DB7

As I said I'm not sure how true that depiction of the duo was, and an interview on the culttv site with Galton and Simpson contradicts it somewhat. After working togther for so long a degree of mutual tedium would be understandable.

penfold

I do remember interviews with Bramble after Harry H. Corbett died....and he seemed inconsolable.

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Steptoes Son

Can't let this post go without making a comment, steptoe and son, were and still is my favourite comedy, the writing and the actors were spot on, just made for each other.
I'd recently dug out my recording of when steptoe met son and watched this again, sometimes I think its better not to watch theese shows, somewhat spoils the show, even if untrue.
I also loved Wilfred in A Hard Day's Night as Paul's Grandfather and in the On the Buses film.

fred kite

take a look at him in the disney film .in search of the castaways.....as bill gaye...he is superb .steptoe for me is also thee best comedy ever ......nothing touches wilfed and harry h corbets timing ..sheer gold

ChristineCB

My post about "if true" wasn't so much questioning fact or fiction, but more of a curiosity about his characters' development. I've only seen maybe 3 dozen STEPTOEs and all of them stand as comedy favorites. His HARD DAY'S NIGHT performance probably brought a lot more attention to him worldwide, but he seemed to log most of his career in England.

image45

<but he seemed to log most of his career in England.> Indeed his agent seemed to have agreed such strong fees for his UK work that to go over the channel ( In more ways than one) would have made this work result in a Nil Return.

Most people seem to have cover the other areas above.

"Seya next time!"

Marky B

I remember him an episode of Scotland Yard,or something of that ilk and era,where he appeared as,if I remember well,a forsensic expert. His accent was impeccable English,not the voice we remember him for from Steptoe & Son. Writers of sitcoms should study the Galton & Simpson scripts and perhaps gauge an insight of how comedy should be written,characters develope (and their relationships) and most of all bear in mind how make a comedy last for future generations to enjoy.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

D Cairns

He's enjoyable in his guest spot in WITCHFINDER GENERAL. I was slightly startled to hear that he spent his free time between jobs high-stepping it in the homosexual fleshpots of Hong Kong, but each to his own.

Carmel

What a great actor Wilfred Bramble was, and i dont think he gets the recocnition he deserves. He always played great roles even in the bit parts he did. Crooks in Cloisters, In search of the castaway's and many more.