ChatterBank15 mins ago
Steptoe & Son
26 Answers
Just watched the 'tribute' to Steptoe and Son - I am curious what Galton and Simpson who wrote it, and the originals, thought about it.
Like the others, it was filmed as a theatre play, and in this case, that was its undoing in my view.
Ed Coleman was far too theatrical in his delivery, which made it stilted through a TV screen. Jeff Rawle was far too big and bluff to convincingly play weedy conniving Harold, even though he bolted on a couple of the facial expressions, it was nowhere near enough.
The original Steptoe shows were like Pinter plays - often shot on one camera, which made them, in effect, theatre plays.
The lasting appeal lay in the wonderful silent expressions Wilfred Brambell could switch in a nano-second - from nasty to frightened to sad, all flitting over his face in agonising close-ups. Add to that the visceral rage and trapped feelings conveyed by Harry H. Corbett who offered pity, scorn, and acceptance all in one performance. The final link in the chain was the wonderful interplay between the two actors who were both masters of their craft, and their characters that they developed behind their lines.
Absolutely none of this came over in this 'tribute' - it was like a drama school workshop instead of a proper BBC production. The characters never gelled properly, and G & S's lines never came alive in the mouths of mis-cast actors.
I said before this project was aired that it would fail for exactly the reason it has, TV is of its time - recreation is pointless for everyone involved.
Like the others, it was filmed as a theatre play, and in this case, that was its undoing in my view.
Ed Coleman was far too theatrical in his delivery, which made it stilted through a TV screen. Jeff Rawle was far too big and bluff to convincingly play weedy conniving Harold, even though he bolted on a couple of the facial expressions, it was nowhere near enough.
The original Steptoe shows were like Pinter plays - often shot on one camera, which made them, in effect, theatre plays.
The lasting appeal lay in the wonderful silent expressions Wilfred Brambell could switch in a nano-second - from nasty to frightened to sad, all flitting over his face in agonising close-ups. Add to that the visceral rage and trapped feelings conveyed by Harry H. Corbett who offered pity, scorn, and acceptance all in one performance. The final link in the chain was the wonderful interplay between the two actors who were both masters of their craft, and their characters that they developed behind their lines.
Absolutely none of this came over in this 'tribute' - it was like a drama school workshop instead of a proper BBC production. The characters never gelled properly, and G & S's lines never came alive in the mouths of mis-cast actors.
I said before this project was aired that it would fail for exactly the reason it has, TV is of its time - recreation is pointless for everyone involved.
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