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!