BBC4 comedy biopics - Page 3 - Britmovie

Windthrop · 12-03-2008, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Rattigan

They called it "The Curse of Steptoe"? Ugh. What a cliched title.

Ah well, at least they didn't call it "The Boy Who Grew up to Be Steptoe" or something.

I presume it will focus on Corbett's transition from 'serious' actor to comic personality. I would also guess that the title was inspired by the Vis piece on Dad's Army. S & S was a mixed blessing for the actor during his life but it is still remembered today. Arthur Lowe's son wrote a bio of ihs father trying to put the same argument that DA overshadowed all Lowe's other more 'prestigious' work. In a sense they are lucky some of their work has had such a life-span. In the case of Corbett he couldn't leave S & S alone - after leaving it he came back to do colour episodes and even after the series finished he was still recording radio episodes as late as '76/'77. A previous documentary implies that Corbett's involvement with S & S came to an end after a live show in Australia (where he fell out spectacularly with Brambell) but it didn't - the radio episodes were later. I suspect the docudrama will miss that point.

Windthrop · 12-03-2008, 09:08 AM

This series of docudramas does raise a question - who next ?

A troubling thought -

The Curse of Dusty Bin - The Ted Rogers Story

batman · 12-03-2008, 09:30 AM

The Curse Of The Golden Shot - The Bernie The Bolt Story

CaptainWaggett · 12-03-2008, 10:57 AM

There's an obvious Curse of Rainbow - Bungle's Revenge to be written what with Geoffrey ending up stacking shelves in Tescos and the X-rated shenanigans among Rod, Jane and Freddy.

Windthrop · 12-03-2008, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by batman

The Curse Of The Golden Shot - The Bernie The Bolt Story

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainWaggett

There's an obvious Curse of Rainbow - Bungle's Revenge to be written what with Geoffrey ending up stacking shelves in Tescos and the X-rated shenanigans among Rod, Jane and Freddy.

The Curse of Winner Takes All - Tarby is sidelined to charity golf tournaments and Geoffrey Wheeler vanishes completely. Joe Pasquale beware !

Windthrop · 12-03-2008, 04:12 PM

On a more serious note I think these films are part of trend that Alan Bennett once wrote about - that of the public wanting it's comedians tragic. He thought that the journalists tried to paint performers as tragic figures after their deaths to give them an intellectual dignity. In that sense these films are an extention of that idea. The article in next weeks RT calls Cobett and Brambell deeply tragic figures. Am not sure they quite fit that description. Certain figures have escaped this trend - Eric Morecambe (despite his sons increasingly bitter books about him) and Ronnie Barker. Les Dawson has come in for this treatment with his diaries recently.

CaptainWaggett · 12-03-2008, 04:24 PM

Having recently read both Eric Sykes autobiography and a biography of Hattie Jacques, I suspect there may be a less-than-sympathetic biography of him due in a few years time.

Though it's not always the case. Did anyone else see the Mark Lawson interview with Nicholas Parsons a couple of weeks ago? He seems to be someone who is well aware of his own image and how to ensure he comes over well, while remaining loyals to his associates (Arthur Haynes in particular seems to have treated him quite badly though you wouldn't know it from Parsons' championing of him).

batman · 12-03-2008, 04:33 PM

Nicholas Parsons was quite popular in this part of the world during his Sale of the Century days. I met him a few times and found him to be a really nice man. He tells a great story about how he was walking through Norwich with a young dolly bird on his arm. An old dear walked up to him and whacked him over the head saying "You ought to know better, she's old enough to be your daughter!", "But madam" he replied "She is my daughter."

Windthrop · 12-03-2008, 04:41 PM

He looks incredible for a man in his 85th year. Must be 40 yrs of Just a Minute thats his elixier of life.

rskershaw · 13-03-2008, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by batman

Alfred Molina was superb in a nearlier Hancock biopic.

Meanwhile, back at Tarby ....

Considering her resemblance to her father, why not use Lisa Tarbuck?

Dame Starry · 13-03-2008, 08:48 AM

The Curse Of Steptoe Looks really good - except I'll have to wait for it to be broadcast on proper TV; Phil Davis and Jason Isaacs are always a 'must-watch' at Dame Towers.
It's just a shame that Jason Isaacs has seemingly had to cover those gorgeous blue eyes with brown contact lenses though!

DS x.

willothewisp · 13-03-2008, 09:36 AM

I remember Phil Davis way back in the early 80's playing King John in Robin of Sherwood. He was brilliant in that way back then too.

Dame Starry · 13-03-2008, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willothewisp

I remember Phil Davis way back in the early 80's playing King John in Robin of Sherwood. He was brilliant in that way back then too.

I loved him in Truckers and Rose & Maloney (and everything else really!).

He is married to Eve Matheson who played the first Zoe Angell in May To December with Anton Rodgers.

DS x.

batman · 13-03-2008, 10:27 AM

I liked him in Grown Ups.

Windthrop · 13-03-2008, 11:04 AM

He was good in the cigar advert. Playing an upmarket character for once.

12-03-2008, 09:08 AM	#32
Windthrop has no status. Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Yorks Posts: 5,004 Country: iTrader: (0)	This series of docudramas does raise a question - who next ? A troubling thought - The Curse of Dusty Bin - The Ted Rogers Story __________________ That's the joke that killed the Music Hall

12-03-2008, 09:30 AM	#33
batman is nursing a very painful jaw Chief Member OBME Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Norwich Posts: 15,977 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (10)	The Curse Of The Golden Shot - The Bernie The Bolt Story __________________ Daddy, why did you tell that man in the other car to 'f--k off' .... what does 'f--k off' mean?

12-03-2008, 04:12 PM	#36
Windthrop has no status. Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Yorks Posts: 5,004 Country: iTrader: (0)	On a more serious note I think these films are part of trend that Alan Bennett once wrote about - that of the public wanting it's comedians tragic. He thought that the journalists tried to paint performers as tragic figures after their deaths to give them an intellectual dignity. In that sense these films are an extention of that idea. The article in next weeks RT calls Cobett and Brambell deeply tragic figures. Am not sure they quite fit that description. Certain figures have escaped this trend - Eric Morecambe (despite his sons increasingly bitter books about him) and Ronnie Barker. Les Dawson has come in for this treatment with his diaries recently. __________________ That's the joke that killed the Music Hall

12-03-2008, 04:33 PM	#38
batman is nursing a very painful jaw Chief Member OBME Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Norwich Posts: 15,977 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (10)	Nicholas Parsons was quite popular in this part of the world during his Sale of the Century days. I met him a few times and found him to be a really nice man. He tells a great story about how he was walking through Norwich with a young dolly bird on his arm. An old dear walked up to him and whacked him over the head saying "You ought to know better, she's old enough to be your daughter!", "But madam" he replied "She is my daughter." __________________ Daddy, why did you tell that man in the other car to 'f--k off' .... what does 'f--k off' mean?

12-03-2008, 04:41 PM	#39
Windthrop has no status. Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Yorks Posts: 5,004 Country: iTrader: (0)	He looks incredible for a man in his 85th year. Must be 40 yrs of Just a Minute thats his elixier of life. __________________ That's the joke that killed the Music Hall

12-03-2008, 10:57 AM	#34
CaptainWaggett is swimming in icy waters Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London Posts: 3,945 Country: iTrader: (0)	There's an obvious Curse of Rainbow - Bungle's Revenge to be written what with Geoffrey ending up stacking shelves in Tescos and the X-rated shenanigans among Rod, Jane and Freddy.

12-03-2008, 04:24 PM	#37
CaptainWaggett is swimming in icy waters Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London Posts: 3,945 Country: iTrader: (0)	Having recently read both Eric Sykes autobiography and a biography of Hattie Jacques, I suspect there may be a less-than-sympathetic biography of him due in a few years time. Though it's not always the case. Did anyone else see the Mark Lawson interview with Nicholas Parsons a couple of weeks ago? He seems to be someone who is well aware of his own image and how to ensure he comes over well, while remaining loyals to his associates (Arthur Haynes in particular seems to have treated him quite badly though you wouldn't know it from Parsons' championing of him).

13-03-2008, 08:48 AM	#41
Dame Starry has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Here Posts: 3,182 Country: iTrader: (0)	The Curse Of Steptoe Looks really good - except I'll have to wait for it to be broadcast on proper TV; Phil Davis and Jason Isaacs are always a 'must-watch' at Dame Towers. It's just a shame that Jason Isaacs has seemingly had to cover those gorgeous blue eyes with brown contact lenses though! DS x.

13-03-2008, 09:36 AM	#42
willothewisp has no status. Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 79 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (15)	I remember Phil Davis way back in the early 80's playing King John in Robin of Sherwood. He was brilliant in that way back then too.

13-03-2008, 10:27 AM	#44
batman is nursing a very painful jaw Chief Member OBME Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Norwich Posts: 15,977 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (10)	I liked him in Grown Ups. __________________ Daddy, why did you tell that man in the other car to 'f--k off' .... what does 'f--k off' mean?

13-03-2008, 11:04 AM	#45
Windthrop has no status. Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Yorks Posts: 5,004 Country: iTrader: (0)	He was good in the cigar advert. Playing an upmarket character for once. __________________ That's the joke that killed the Music Hall

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