Norman Wisdom BBC Tribute

J

jennifer_dozer

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Norman Wisdom His Story
Friday 21:00 BBC

Not sure if it's really a tribute, couldn't think of a good thread title.
Someone remember to bump.
I missed the Ch4 program about him.

From street urchin to knight of the realm: the story of Norman Wisdom, who used to be one of the biggest film stars in the UK - portraying a man who rarely stepped out of character in public, and whose highly individual comic style hid the private tragedy of his early life.

The actor's life story is told through the people who knew him well: his son and daughter Nick and Jaqui Wisdom, and his daughter-in-law Kim, plus film director Stephen Frears, actors Ricky Tomlinson, Leslie Phillips and Honor Blackman and singer Dame Vera Lynn.
 
The C4 Heroes of Comedy programme was excellent but its a bit out of date now although both More4 and GOLD have shown it this year with GOLD chopping 5 minutes from it.
 
I'm no NW fan but I can understand the appeal of his early films to those that like that sort of thing, but if the BBC intend to show some of his films as a tribute they should not be showing 'Press For Time' which is from a later era and is absolutely dire.
 
I remarked previously on another NW thread that I thought his colour films were terribly unerrated. Press for Time features the lovely Angela Browne, who appeared in a number of TV series; she was so memorable in The Prisoner episode, 'A Change of Mind'. Sadly she died nearly 10 years ago. :cry:
 
Yes, the Heroes of Comedy edition from 1999 was very good, with some nice clips.

BBC Two's 2008 documentary portrayed him in his latter years and was uncomfortable viewing at times.

Last night's tribute effort was much better though.
 
I don't think the Channel 4 documentary did him any justice. It portrayed him as a senile old bat with oRABpring who couldn't wait to be rid of him.
I am looking forward to the BBC documentary on Friday. Thats the way he should be remembered.
 
Really? Thanks for the heaRAB up. His son seemed to have some misgivings about not being allowed to see their mother so perhaps this will shed some light.

'Saw' yesterday's documentary but hoping they'll repeat it as I was unable to give it my undivided attention.

Norman had done well for himself given his ugly start in life.:(
 
I'd not seen Pressed For Time before but just saw it on BBC2 and I enjoyed it enough to watch it in its entirety. It's not his best work admittedly but it's certainly far better than some reviewers would have you believe. I found myself laughing out loud on a number of occasions.
 
Norman and Ronnie Barker were considered for Some Mothers.. as well as Michael Crawford wouldnt have said it was Barker's type of thing though
 
To be honest far too many actors are allowed to pass without much of a proper tribute.
Showing one film in random slot doesn't do it for me.

Get in a film critic or presenter who knows something about the film business and the actors career.
Go through the actors career throw a load of cheap clips in to illustrate the points, polish it off with 3 notable films from the actors career.
Alternatively do the same thing and throw in some co-stars, directors, etc again polish off with at least 3 notable films.
 
Press for Time is dreadful. Though almost worth tuning in for one of the worst day-for-night scenes I've ever seen. Wisdom asks a policeman if there is anywhere he can sleep and the policeman says "not at this time of night" even though the scene was clearly shot at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon!
 
"What's Good for the Goose" was a dreadful attempt to bring Norman up to date but with the exception of a topless Sally Geeson (uncut version only ) the film had nothing going for it .
AKA Girltrouble . It's out on dvd.

The Early Bird was the start of a slippery slope



Unfortunately the opening sequence is the only good part of The Early Bird but if BBC2 really needed to show one film in colour it would have been a better option than Press For Time.
 
BBC Two has lined up a couple of programmes on Saturday 16th October:

'Hollywood Greats', an interview with Tony Curtis from 2002, at 6:45pm.

The movie 'Sweet Smell Of Success' at 11:30pm.
 
Well, I never thought I'd live to see someone other than myself complimenting Press for Time. As I said in my earlier post I felt his later films were underrated. I hadn't seen PFT for quite a few years and so watched it again today to see if I felt the same about it. And I did. It's a film I love. And you're right about those sequences - classic Norman, extremely well executed. Plus, as I said before, the late & adorable Angela Browne. Stanley Unwin was terrific.

The above post has now put me in the mood for watching What's Good for the Goose again, which I have somewhere(!) uncut on VHS from many years ago (the Sally Geeson scenes mentioned above are cut on the available DVD). The film features some excellent tracks from The Pretty Things.

It was sad watching the Wonderland documentary again at this time following his death. I enjoyed last night's documentary on BBC2. Norman & the Queen/Cheese stall!! :D :D :D
 
Is this a documentary I missed?

The one showing his kiRAB wanting rid of him was Wonderland which the BBC is repeating on saturday .

The only C4 one I know of is the Heroes of Comedy show which was excellent.

His 2 handed episode of Sunday Night at the London Palladium with Bruce Forsyth is out on dvd Nov 8th in a Palladium boxset
 
Re: Wonderland. There seemed to be a lot of criticism at the time leveled at NM's family for putting him in a home. I thought the daughter-in law especially had a real bond with Norman and it was quite touching.

Being in the same position myself, it is not an easy decision and you just want the best for your parent. Unfortunately this doesn't always match what they see as being in their best interest.

With Norman, there was the extra dimension that he was a celebrity. Once the trusted PA retired, there was a threat that whoever took on his care could take advantage of the situation and steal from him. I suppose the children got Power of Attorney when his memory got so poor and protected his, and their, interests.

Not an easy situation all round. I felt really sorry for NW when his family sold his cars. In that position I may have just had them immobilised so he still had them to look at and cherish.
 
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