Were sidekicks a happy lot?

[ChristineCB]

Were sidekicks happy with their continuing roles? Did they find satisfaction, or chomp at the bit to rid themselves of this 'secondary' role?



Nigel Bruce?



Harry H. Corbett? (We've been graced with some articles about him, both positive and negative, but in the end, I hope he was happy with his partnership in Steptoe & Son - it's an enduring piece and I hope everyone involved finds joy in that alone.)



Tonto (Jay Silverheels) seemed to always say the right things about his partnership in the American LONE RANGER series.



We've got BATMAN here, but he never lets Robin out to his dungeon (boy, I know what that's like! Feeding hubby occasionally, hosing him down... I've stopped trying to strap him back to the wheel - he seemed to almost enjoy that. I'll never get him down to the Steve Crook Degradation Level if I keep doing that...)



Do sidekicks and supporting actors find some peace and happiness in their career?



And perhaps a more important question - are sidekick/supporting actors a happier lot now than they were, say, in the pre-1980s?

[Wolfgang]

I always disliked those 80s/90s cop action films like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon where each white 'master' had his own black 'slave'. In Lethal Weapon they even had that black family cooking for Mel Gibson and doing his laundry. I am no woolly liberal but it did leave bad taste in your mouth.

[orpheum]

As George "Gabby" Hayes would say "You re durn tottin"

[Brett Sinclair]

name='Wolfgang']I always disliked those 80s/90s cop action films like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon where each white 'master' had his own black 'slave'. In Lethal Weapon they even had that black family cooking for Mel Gibson and doing his laundry. I am no woolly liberal but it did leave bad taste in your mouth.

This is when I sit up and smile



I have all of those films in my collection and I have never once, in over 50 viewings, had the impression of white supremacy. It has always been (in Lethal Weapon series) a case of the suicidal gung ho redneck being taken in and cared for by the more well adjusted, happy family unit that is Danny Glovers. I'm sorry Wolfgang but I think in too many instances we look for trouble when there really isn't any.

[batman]

Robin has never complained to me, in fact he's always been rather a happy little fella.

Apparently Nigel Bruce got the severe hump when Basil hung up his pipe .... he wanted to carry on so he was obviously a happy sidekick too.

Jay Silverheels worked with Clayton Moore for years doing conventions and the like after the series finished ... no grumbles there then.

Mr Corbett was allegedly very unhappy as young Steptoe and hated Mr Bramble's guts.

I read once that Mr Kuryakin and Mr Solo weren't the best of pals at U.N.C.L.E. and everyone (except Spock n McCoy) hated playing second fiddle to Kirk ... to boldy moan where no man has moaned before ...........



ps - I have never picked up on the master/slave analogy either

[christoph404]

name='Brett Sinclair']This is when I sit up and smile



I have all of those films in my collection and I have never once, in over 50 viewings, had the impression of white supremacy. It has always been (in Lethal Weapon series) a case of the suicidal gung ho redneck being taken in and cared for by the more well adjusted, happy family unit that is Danny Glovers. I'm sorry Wolfgang but I think in too many instances we look for trouble when there really isn't any.

I agree with Lord Brett on this,in Die Hard the black cop is portayed as a sensible and compassionate hero while those dumb FBI guys and the white police commander are portrayed as dumb sensless idiots!!, I also think that quite often the person in authority whom the maverick white cop(s) have to answer to is usually a cool black guy, Im thinking of the capatain Dalby in Starsky and Hutch, the TV series and the film, I have just never noticed that the black character is there to simply wash the underpants or fetch food for the white hero! What are you on about man, Wolfgang, I think you should go and have another look at those movies!!

[DB7]

name='batman']

Mr Corbett was allegedly very unhappy as young Steptoe and hated Mr Bramble's guts.

We covered this in a previous thread and it's a claim Galton and Simpson deny; stating their relationship was typical of two actors on a long-running show. I think Corbett was frustrated more that opportunities never opened up for him on the big screen.

[Brett Sinclair]

name='batman']Robin has never complained to me, in fact he's always been rather a happy little fella.

If you are secretly speaking on Adam West's behalf...I think you jest!

[batman]

Adam West .... that imposter !!!!!

[batman]

name='DB7']We covered this in a previous thread and it's a claim Galton and Simpson deny; stating their relationship was typical of two actors on a long-running show. I think Corbett was frustrated more that opportunities never opened up for him on the big screen.

i read that in a book and there was a TV prog about Harry H in which this story was told as well .... but Galton and Simpson were there and they should know the truth ... I stand corrected, thank you DB7

[Brett Sinclair]

name='batman']Adam West .... that imposter !!!!!

Ah..forgive me. You, like I, are the real McCoy

[DB7]

name='batman']i read that in a book and there was a TV prog about Harry H in which this story was told as well .... but Galton and Simpson were there and they should know the truth ... I stand corrected, thank you DB7

I've read the likes of his Wiki profile which sources the When Steptoe met Son documentary but the interview on the site below appears to contradict these claims.



The Galton & Simpson Interview - CulTV

George: I have recently seen the ‘When Steptoe met Son’ documentary on Channel 4. Was that a fair depiction? Did they ever get on?





Alan: All this stuff about Steptoe and Son hating each other… if it was true it certainly came after the television series. And after the two films.





Ray: There wasn’t much of a clash while we were working with them.





Alan: There were a few minor irritations, but you get that working on any show. They were two different people, but nothing dramatic.

[Harleybloke]

name='Brett Sinclair']This is when I sit up and smile



I have all of those films in my collection and I have never once, in over 50 viewings, had the impression of white supremacy. It has always been (in Lethal Weapon series) a case of the suicidal gung ho redneck being taken in and cared for by the more well adjusted, happy family unit that is Danny Glovers. I'm sorry Wolfgang but I think in too many instances we look for trouble when there really isn't any.

Bang on M'Lud!



I always took it as proof that black Americans could have 'normal' (as normal as any of us are..) family lives while Mel Gibson's character is fast going off the rails.

[Brett Sinclair]

HarleyBloke...just noticed this



...anti fat-bastard cream is there none!



Spat my early evening glass of Balvenie out LMAO

[Torquemada]

name='Wolfgang']I always disliked those 80s/90s cop action films like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon where each white 'master' had his own black 'slave'. In Lethal Weapon they even had that black family cooking for Mel Gibson and doing his laundry. I am no woolly liberal but it did leave bad taste in your mouth.

On the other hand you could say that the black family had it together and the white character was a screw up, who lived in a trailer and needed someone else to sort his life out for him.



And I really am going to have to start reading everyone else's posts before I submit mine...

[Torquemada]

name='Brett Sinclair']This is when I sit up and smile

It has always been (in Lethal Weapon series) a case of the suicidal gung ho redneck being taken in and cared for by the more well adjusted, happy family unit that is Danny Glovers.

Spot on.

[Wolfgang]

Even though this may be true their relationship still essentially has this master/servant dynamic to them. Danny Glover is still playing Tonto isn't he? It even feels one step back from 70s Blaxploitation because even though those films relied on cultural stereotypes they were still basically about empowerment. Those films suffered similar fates to British film in that they lost their distribution network to Hollywood cinema chains, and apart from Spike Lee no-one else is able to make those sorts of films now.

[Torquemada]

You see again, I didn't get that. I always took it that Glover was in charge and that Gibson was the naughty subordinate.

[kelp]

Danny Glover's playing Tonto!

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a Woman!

All just great fun matey, nothing about racist/slaves or anything else, just good escapist movies.

[kelp]

name='ChristineCB']Were sidekicks happy with their continuing roles? Did they find satisfaction, or chomp at the bit to rid themselves of this 'secondary' role?



Nigel Bruce?



Harry H. Corbett? (We've been graced with some articles about him, both positive and negative, but in the end, I hope he was happy with his partnership in Steptoe & Son - it's an enduring piece and I hope everyone involved finds joy in that alone.)



Tonto (Jay Silverheels) seemed to always say the right things about his partnership in the American LONE RANGER series.



We've got BATMAN here, but he never lets Robin out to his dungeon (boy, I know what that's like! Feeding hubby occasionally, hosing him down... I've stopped trying to strap him back to the wheel - he seemed to almost enjoy that. I'll never get him down to the Steve Crook Degradation Level if I keep doing that...)



Do sidekicks and supporting actors find some peace and happiness in their career?



And perhaps a more important question - are sidekick/supporting actors a happier lot now than they were, say, in the pre-1980s?

Chrissy, these avatars of you, why can't we see your head???

I happen to know you have rather a nice face, so why can't we see it.

(Mind you the legs photo is pretty nice too)

kelp