Harry H. Corbett: The Front Legs of the Cow

[DB7]

A new autobiography by his daughter.

Harry H. Corbett: The Front Legs of the Cow: Amazon.co.uk: Susannah Corbett: Books

[faginsgirl]

Suzannah Corbett has posted this on her blog.

When Steptoe and Son first rode onto our screens. They did so in ‘The Offer’, an episode of Galton and Simpson’s Comedy Playhouse, broadcast on January 5th 1962.


The show had been rehearsed the week before and was recorded on the 4th. During the rehearsal week Tom Sloan, Head of BBC Light Entertainment, had been so impressed he was already pushing for the Steptoes to have their own series. After it went out, the Public agreed with him and a few weeks later Harry and Wilfrid Brambell signed up for 5 further episode that, alongside a repeat of ‘The Offer’, made up the first series.


It was an instant hit and immediately repeated. By late summer, Harry and Wilf were household names and the Steptoes went on to top the ratings for the next 12 years.


2012 also sees another anniversary, in March it will be 30 years since Harry died.


If only I had got my act together in time and come up with some way of marking these occasions. “Well, (she brightly informs, smugly crossing to shiny oven) here’s one I prepared earlier…”


Having finished the first draft of Harry’s biography last spring, taken the summer to gird the loins and sent it out in the Autumn I can now report that the book what I wrote, Harry H. Corbett – The Front Legs of the Cow will be published by the History Press this March.

[Rowdon]

It's still not an autobiography, though, DB7.

[didi-5]

It's a biography and looking good from initial reports. Definitely buying this.

[CaptainWaggett]

I'm always a bit dubious about biographies written by relatives. They always seem a bit too close to the subject and uncritical. Plus, I don't really care about endless bland childhood anecdotes (the recent book by Arnold Ridley's son was particularly tedious). Perhaps this will be an exception - I'll be interested to see whether she thinks Corbett would have been a great actor if hadn't got stuck in comedy.

[faginsgirl]

I'm always a bit dubious about biographies written by relatives. They always seem a bit too close to the subject and uncritical. Plus, I don't really care about endless bland childhood anecdotes (the recent book by Arnold Ridley's son was particularly tedious). Perhaps this will be an exception - I'll be interested to see whether she thinks Corbett would have been a great actor if hadn't got stuck in comedy.

Whenever I read suzannah`s blog and she talks about her Dad she calls him Harry for her readers, and definately seems to take an objective stand in her writing. Also, she seems to realise that people are interested in the FACTS about the Steptoe comedy as a full production rather than just talking about her Dad within it. So, I think it will probably be a good book, but obviously can`t say 100% not having read it yet.

[Rowdon]

I'm always a bit dubious about biographies written by relatives. They always seem a bit too close to the subject and uncritical.

If memory serves, Peter Sellers and Bing Crosby might disagree.

[CaptainWaggett]

If memory serves, Peter Sellers and Bing Crosby might disagree.

See also Mommie Dearest. I take your point but those were autobiographies of the children rather than biographies of the stars weren't they? Though that was the problem with the Ridley one - the author seemed to think we were as interested in him as in his father

[didi-5]

Re the acting question, I know you don't like him much Captain but he did show potential in other roles, before, during and after Steptoe. He also turned in some over-earnest performances (Edgar Wallace Mysteries, Joey Boy) which didn't really work, but are still interesting to watch. But the 'English Marlon Brando' tag seems wide of the mark - but then without seeing his 1950s stage work and the Shakespeare roles he did during Steptoe it is hard to judge.

I'd be interested to see what his daughter makes of all this.