Norbert Smith - A Life
In 1990, fresh from the success of performing Loadsamoney and Stavros on Channel 4’s “Saturday Live”/”Friday Night Live”, Channel 4 commissioned an ambitious show from the writing, producing and performing team behind that success - a winning spoof biog of the eponymous veteran actor and idiot in “Norbert Smith - A Life”. Ostensibly a biog of the long career of Sir Norbert in the form of a South Bank Show-style retrospective (complete with the genuine Melvyn Bragg playing himself), the show was a brilliant vehicle for a long run of film spoofs through the ages, from the early days of silent cinema/Music Hall, the Will Hay war flick to glossy Technicolor 50s musicals, Carry On films (including some of the original cast) and Angry Young Men kitchen sink-style dramas.
The show received many accolades, including an International Emmy Award and the Silver Rose Of Montreux
Norbert Smith - A Life
Tx 3/11/89 22.30-23.30 Channel 4
| Starring | |
| Sir Norbert Smith | Harry Enfield |
| and featuring (in alphabetical order) | |
| Interviewer | Melvyn Bragg |
| Old Duffer | Charles Simon |
| Great Aunt Grace | Patrick Barlow |
| Mr Wilkinson | Stewart Harwood |
| Will Silly | Peter Goodwright |
| Melvyn Merry | George Raistrick |
| Lady Norbert | Renée Asherson |
| Barney | Simon Godley |
| Policeman | Charles Pemberton |
| Sir Donald Stuff | Moray Watson |
| Horatio | John Elmes |
| Cecilia Johanson | Felicity Montagu |
| Harry Crabbe | David Henry |
| Western Mayor | Gareth Vaughan |
| Clementine | Jane Snowden |
| Dick Dotty | Mike Kelly |
| Mary Beethoven | Catherine Chevalier |
| Sarah Brightman | Mary Chilton |
| Brian Beale | Joe McGann |
| Mrs. Grim | Susan Field |
| Eileen | Jenny Funnell |
| Baby | Christopher Edis |
| Our Kid | Adam Woods |
| Our Kid Next Door | Karl Bonworth |
| Davy Throb | Con O’Neill |
| Mrs. Walker | Amanda Walker |
| Billy | Henry Power |
| German General | Michael Godley |
| German Sergeant | John Golightly |
| German Officer | Stefan Bednarczyk |
| Herr Luytmen | Jeffrey Harmer |
| Greenham Guard | Jack Douglas |
| Greenham Leader | Barbara Windsor |
| Greenham Officer | Kenneth Connor |
| Ruby | Josie Lawrence |
| Cyril Freebody | Geoffrey Chater |
| Written by | Harry Enfield |
| Geoffrey Perkins | |
Original Music | |
| Directed by | Geoff Posner |
| Produced by | Geoffrey Perkins |
Norbert Smith - A Life
There's loads of Harry Enfield out there on the net, as is right and proper - here's a link to him on Chortle...
And the show has never been released on DVD - there is a link here to a Video sale, although it looks a bit dusty!
Other shows in GEOFF & DAVID ...
