Norbert Smith: A Life (Harry Enfield)

[sponk]

I became aware of the existence of this Harry Enfield thing when the American YouTuber Sam Seder compared its title character to Steve Bannon in a recent interview. Apparently PBS America broadcast it in 1990, a year after it was shown here, and I'm glad they did as Sam may not have seen it and brought it to my attention otherwise. It's a mockumentary and career retrospective about a washed up, early 20th century actor.

It's really good overall, though the interviews with Melyvyn Bragg don't hold up as well as the sketches, many of which are brilliant. My personal favourite was the kitchen sink style It's Grim Up North. Hurt my chest laughing at that.

[rasta-spouse]

I like this a lot. Maximalist comedy with a big budget. So many delights in it.

Now imagine the amount of excellent comedy like this we're going to get when those hundreds of millions of pounds come in from the over-75s paying their licence fees. (joke)

[Gulftastic]

'It's Grim Up North' is magnificent.

Up there with 'Samshie & Nicey' as Enfield's best work for me.

[sponk]

I'll "Up there with 'Samshie & Nicey' as Enfield's best work for me" you!

[Pranet]

The British made western and the musical number about London.

And the Where Eagles Dare bit.

All of it really.

[Absorb the anus burn]

An all time favourite. Endlessly quotable.

- I'm eating blueberry flapjacks to tell you I'm back Jack.

- Poor, Sir  Norbert was in a terrible state..... Alaska!

- Dame Peggy Ashcrofty-Wofty.

- I've never smoked a pipe before.

- You gotta heat the pot wether it's warm in side or not!

- yes, let's have a mass debate.

- I'm going outside to kill more of our kid's pets.

[DrGreggles]

Best thing Enfield ever did.

The talking head that Norbert hated was a favourite:
"We were all there. Except me..."

[13 schoolyards]

Annoyingly, the (recent?) DVD release cuts off the Andrew Lloyd Webber punchline to the running joke about Smith's shit biopics of classical musicians.

It's a cheap joke I know but Beethoven "playing" his piano while a full symphony suddenly starts plays his 4th is brilliant.

[Morrison Lard]

'It's Grim Up North' is magnificent.

Yeah, it's bloody superb.
"I'll miserable bastard you if you're not careful".

Will Silly in "Oh Mr Bankrobber!"is great too, reminds me of the Police Squad! bank robbery scene.

[bgmnts]

Some crackers in this.

Keep Your Hair on Daddio, Dogs of Death and Its Grim Up North being highlights.

'kin 'ell the Nelson Mandela stuff hurt my chest.