BBC4 Drama of tragic comedians

[Ace]

Yes, BBC4 was excellent last night, the adaptation of Steptoe and Son was excellent and the two leads were fucking uncanny.
Thoroughly enjoyed this programme, although I'll miss the Tony Hancock one next week, as I wasn't a fan, and thought Sid James was funnier than miserable Tony.
But I digress, back to Steptoe.................
Came across that whilst they were never friends, they didn't hate each other as was often portrayed, and even probably respected the other. What was spot on was Harry H Corbetts' mental toture of not fulfilling his potential as a thespian on the theatre stages after being typecast.
Its repeated on Monday next week, I believe, so check it out........brilliant viewing.

[steve56]

Harry H Corbett another actor who died quite young

[ATS]

Hope to catch it on demand or the re-run next week.
Am looking forward to the other shows

I read yesterday that the real problems set in during mid 70's
when they did a live tour of Oz and NZ. By then Brambell's drinking was
well out of control and that's when Harry H. really got the hump with him
This allied to Corbett's misery of being typecast

Re. Hancock if you read Kenneth Williams diaries you will find that Tony
saw himself as far superior to Kenny, Sid + Galton and Simpson

[Trumpton]

Wifred Bramell was caught "cottaging" in the early 70's - but it didn't hurt his career.

[Guilbert]

>Tony saw himself as far superior to Kenny, Sid + Galton and Simpson

Yes and where did it get him.

He gradually discarded the people around him like Kenneth Williams and Sid James, and most importantly, the writers.

He finished up on ITV where his shows were just not funny.

When Galton and Simpson were writing for him he kept complaining that his character was too poor and too negative, and he wanted to mix in better surroundings (almost like younger Steptoe as it happens) so he discarded them.

He also HATED the fact the Kenneth Williams got those huge laughs when he said things like "Stop messing about".

Hancock was a tragic comedy figure.

[Ace]

Trumpton wrote:

> Wifred Bramell was caught "cottaging" in the early 70's - but
> it didn't hurt his career.


That was also covered last night.
Funny scene was when he went to a gay bar recommended by his camp make up artist and as soon as he ordered a Gin & Tonic, some gay bloke looked him up and down and said ala Harold; 'You dirty old man'

[steve56]

Didnt he live with a bloke for years?Ace wrote:

> Trumpton wrote:
>
> > Wifred Bramell was caught "cottaging" in the early 70's - but
> > it didn't hurt his career.
>
>
> That was also covered last night.
> Funny scene was when he went to a gay bar recommended by his
> camp make up artist and as soon as he ordered a Gin & Tonic,
> some gay bloke looked him up and down and said ala Harold; 'You
> dirty old man'
>
>

[Guilbert]

>after being typecast.

It is strange how Harry H Corbett became so typecast, and yet other actors/comedians seem to avoid it.

Both Ronnie Barker and David Jason played major comedy roles, like Fletcher or Del Boy, but they also appeared in other parts, some serious like Frost, and they were never typecast.

Was it maybe that when Steptoe was on there were very few TV channels, and the viewing audience was so huge (20 million plus) that it was hard to move into another part or another series.

Why WAS he so typecast?

[Trumpton]

Later on in this series they've got Walliams portraying Frankie Howerd.

[Ace]

I think thats the last one, and by all accounts, its a fantastic episode highlighting Walliams acting