The Curse of Steptoe

[Windthrop]

Originally Posted by CaptainWaggett I don't think the Aussie tour was actually the last thing they did together (though it's invariably portrayed as being) - weren't the radio recordings of Steptoe were after that?

They did a coffee commercial together as Harold and Albert in the early 80s so the partnership lasted nearly 20 years.

[CaptainWaggett]

I'd forgotten that but here it is. Corbett's hair-style is a lot more flattering than in the later Steptoes.

[David Challinor]

I thought this was the best piece of drama I've seen in a long long while on British TV. It left you wanting more, and I was surprised at its subtly - for instance I expected the often used captions at the end to say what happened on the fraught Australian tour and the two principle actors later. But no. For the record, the sad irony is that Harry H died BEFORE his rag-and-bone dad in 'real life'. My two films I liked Harry H in were the football fan's rattle one, and Carry on Screaming, and wow, what a performance by Wilfred in the Terrance Davies Trilogy just before he died.

[dylan]

Originally Posted by batman The label 'English Marlon Brando' wasn't invented for the film, it was stuck on him by the press in the 1950s. He was expected in theatrical circles to become one of our greatest theatre actors, but because he accepted the series (they were OK with him doing 'The Offer') he was accused of 'selling out'.

There was nothing in his pre-Steptoe film appearances to suggest he was in the same league as Finney, Harris or Bates. If it wasn't for Steptoe, I suspect his career would have followed the same path as fellow Theatre Workshop actor James Booth.

D.

[batman]

Originally Posted by dylan There was nothing in his pre-Steptoe film appearances to suggest he was in the same league as Finney, Harris or Bates. If it wasn't for Steptoe, I suspect his career would have followed the same path as fellow Theatre Workshop actor James Booth. D.

I agree, the MB tag was applied purely to his theatre appearances, for which he was very highly regarded.

I find his story similar to that of the Superman actor George Reeves. Both of them achieved a level of success that most actors can only dream about, but they wanted 'artistic cedibility' as well.

With regard to Booth, in the 70s he and Corbett both ended up guesting on TV and in tit 'n' bum pics so your parallel is very accurate.

[CaptainWaggett]

Wasn't the point of the play that Corbett believed he was a great classical actor - so it didn't really matter if others didn't share his conviction.

According to IMDB he did quite a few other tv series - anyone familiar with them?

[batman]

Originally Posted by CaptainWaggett Wasn't the point of the play that Corbett believed he was a great classical actor - so it didn't really matter if others didn't share his conviction. According to IMDB he did quite a few other tv series - anyone familiar with them?

I remember the Grundy series, it was OK, and some of his guests appearances in series and his early film roles. His voice was always Steptoe-ish so one coudn't help but think back to that role.

[Windthrop]

Originally Posted by CaptainWaggett Wasn't the point of the play that Corbett believed he was a great classical actor - so it didn't really matter if others didn't share his conviction. According to IMDB he did quite a few other tv series - anyone familiar with them?

There were attempts at other sit-coms during the Steptoe years but none really had legs. I did see his post-Steptoe sitcom Grundy, made a couple of years before he died. Sadly it was like alot of ITV sitcoms at the time - big names and a weak script. Corbett was on form as the moralistic corner shopkeeper but got no help from the script. He had a heart attack, I think, after it was made so that might have affected whether it was commisioned for a second series.

Arthur Lowe was similarly typecast as pompous little men but unlike Corbett did have, though he turned them down, offers from the RSC, The National and Hollywood and was very nearly George Smiley. Corbett appears to have been rather unlucky.

[Everett Sloane]

Do any episodes survive of Mr Aitch, the sitcom he made in 1967 when Steptoe was off the air? The writers' credits seem to include not only Galton and Simpson but also Clement and La Frenais and John Junkin, so I can't believe it was complete rubbish. 14 or 15 episodes were made apparently.

[Joenoir]

Harry H Corbett as Smithers, the Cockney trader in a television production of Eugene O’Neill’s Emperor Jones (30 March 1958)

While not dismissing the skill of Phil Davis’ portrayal of Wilfred Brambell, it is Jeremy Isaacs’ outstanding performance as Harry H Corbett that dominates this production. However, I’m not sure, despite the title of this piece, whether or not we are expected to buy into the notion that the Steptoe series robbed Corbett of a more illustrious acting career. There is a moment in the play where he walks along a corridor in the BBC, along the wall are pictures of a number of theatrical greats, Isaacs’ Corbett appears to indicate that, but for the sitcom, he should be up there with them. In fact Corbett was 37 when he took on the role of Harold Steptoe, the likes of Olivier, Gielgud and Richardson were well established by that age, and although he was a talented actor, Corbett’s range was limited, and there is no evidence that he would have achieved any more than he did. I think the parallels with Harold are interesting, the fictional character was constantly dreaming of attaining goals he was not equipped to reach, the actor, I would say, had the same problem.

[batman]

Originally Posted by Joenoir I think the parallels with Harold are interesting, the fictional character was constantly dreaming of attaining goals he was not equipped to reach, the actor, I would say, had the same problem.

I agree with that. Others may have believed he had the potential for stage 'greatness' but, from his TV and film appearances pre-Steptoe, there is nothing to indicate he would definitely have achieved this. For Corbett, the problem appeared to be that he believed he would have had such a career but for Steptoe. That is his personal tragedy and I expect Galton and Simpson were very aware of this and wrote it into the fictional character.

[Windthrop]

Originally Posted by batman I agree with that. Others may have believed he had the potential for stage 'greatness' but, from his TV and film appearances pre-Steptoe, there is nothing to indicate he would definitely have achieved this. For Corbett, the problem appeared to be that he believed he would have had such a career but for Steptoe. That is his personal tragedy and I expect Galton and Simpson were very aware of this and wrote it into the fictional character.

This is to some extent born out by the Freeman interview where Corbett comes across as rather pretentious and taking himself a little too seriously.

[Captain Casper]

Theres not a lot you can do about being characterised by one role.

Ask Tony "Baldrick" Robinson or Andrew "Manuel" Sachs.

[Moor Larkin]

Originally Posted by Joenoir I think the parallels with Harold are interesting, the fictional character was constantly dreaming of attaining goals he was not equipped to reach, the actor, I would say, had the same problem.

I didn't watch this prog., but had been reading the Thread and thinking exactly what you have remarked, especially the age thing.

Somewhere else on this forum I think I quoted an interview from the time where Harry H. actually declared himself, that his 'Harold' character was 75% just himself. So he seems to have known his own faults/virtues, like we all do.

I actually feel much more sorry for Wilfrid. I don't know much about the 'gay' thing, but he was evidently very fastidious about his personal hygiene and presentation. Imagine how awful that whenever he would be out and about people would shout, "You dirty old man!"............ or .......... "Where's yer shirt?"

[ProfMarcus]

Originally Posted by batman I am confused Prof by what it is you have a problem with. I immediately recognised his wife as being Sheila Steafel because I knew of her links to David Frost's programme and that she left him. Sheila herself contributed to the production so we must take her word for the accuracy of the portaryal of their marriage. Corbett and Bramble were not friends and this was portrayed accurately in the film .... and the last line in the film was a reference to the infamous debacle of the Australian tour.

Sorry to be so late getting back to you on this one, Bats.

Actually you've rather made my point for me: you recognised Sheila Steafel because you knew she'd been married to Harry C. So did I, but I'd forgotten it, and didn't remember until I saw her name on the end credits. No reflection on the actress who played her, but Sheila S is a very distinctive personality and she didn't come across at all. The truthfulness of her scenes I don't question.

I managed to deduce that the "Joan" character played by Claire Higgins was Joan Littlewood (though I didn't know Corbett had worked for her), but I wonder how many other members of the viewing audience would, or how many of them would have heard of her or what she stood for. That's my big problem. The play seemed to require a degree of background knowledge that most people wouldn't have. And for those who did, what did we get? Largely a rehash of facts already well known. I didn't feel I knew anything more about Corbett and Brambell (who still remained an enigma at the end) than I had before. I did have a feeling that a complex set of facts had been simplified.

On the other hand, I'm grateful to the production for the privilege of watching two magnificent actors giving powerhouse performances.

So who said the play didn't refer to the Oz tour (already)?