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John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Must watch Eric & Ernie

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wy7ck

I'm a fan of Morecambe & Wise, and also have a strong interest in the portrayal of impresario Jack Hylton.

A friend of mine advised the BBC Set Design department, he says not that they took much notice of the info he supplied on what Jack Hylton's office looked like in 1939! And he was also lucky enough to give Ted Robbins (who played Jack Hylton, very well) some insight, and was invited to the premiere press screening of the show in Manchester.

For Morecambe & Wise fans, he says it's wonderful, urges us all to watch it - it's beautifully shot, sympathetically acted and simply a joy to watch.
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John W

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I'm really looking forward to this programme and have been ever since I first heard about it

As has been suggested a must for all true M&W fans like me

Shame it clashes with the World Championship Darts on Sky but there again I can watch sport almost anytime
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becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6792

I've also been looking forward to this ...loved Morecambe and Wise...they were two of the best!

SantaFefan · Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:46 pm Post subject:

All goes for me too, although the thought did cross my mind as to whether I want to "see" how it really was? sometimes it's best just to have your own memories and thoughts as to how they were in real life... in fact for me, these constant TV shows showing the "Best of" M&W are actually doing them an injustice in the long run.. always showing the same sketches to the point of boredom..
Andre Preview for example.. great for sure, but they did so much more than this.. ( I don't have to watch it though do I? Laughing

)

I was surprised to see the "girl" from EastEnders playing Eric's missus... she was on the radio the other day admitting she hadn't seen them before..
I'm sure it'll be good..
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ColinB · Guest

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6792

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5747 Location: Hampshire

The trailers have looked very promising so I shall be watching it (well, recording it as I'm going out tonight).

As a Morecambe & Wise fan of hundreds of years standing I think I shall have no qualms about how they are portrayed as it all takes place in the years leading up to their making it to the big time.

The two young actors who play them seem to be well-cast. Victoria Wood has a hand in it and, as Becky has mentioned, the two families have been supportive, so I think we are all in for a treat.

Number Six · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 438 Location: In the village

The recorder is already set, looking forward to it immensly. I always used to say that Vic Reeves reminded me of a young Eric and now I see that he's playing Eric's dad
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iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Yes, I'll be watching this--not sure if this'll be as it goes out or on Video Plus.

Ian.

Heloise · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 237

Thought it was brilliant myself Very Happy

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John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

It was brilliant, the boys and the the two chaps were just Eric and Ernie, Victoria Wood was brilliant, Vic Reeves was OK though his character (Eric's dad) was not exciting Smile

Mrs W was out so I then went on to watch the docu about making the drama.

Long time since I ever watched 2.5 hrs or TV in one night!
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John W

ColinB · Guest

Yes, I thought it was fabulous. I also enjoyed the doc afterwards - although I am a bit suspicious of people too young to have watched the TV show on a regular basis in its heyday trying to convince me that they used to love watching it!

They can, of course, remember aspects of the shows simply because they'd been fed DVD viewing copies ahead of the interview!

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Minx · Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 10:29 am Post subject:

Terrific. I didn't realise how much I had missed them. Nor how much they thought of each other. Very well cast. And the BBC was portrayed very aptly I felt. Wink

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ColinB · Guest

Being a bit of a television production technology geek (well, somebody has to be!) I can reveal that the BBC never used the TV cameras that were shown on the stage of what purported to be the Shepherd's Bush Empire (for a time the "BBC TV Theatre") or even the pedestals they were mounted on.

OK, I go back into my hole now. Rolling Eyes

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Colin,

I suspect nobody remembers/knows what was used for that old series, or if they did it wasn't preserved.

There was a later scene inside a studio which looked very cramped, I wonder how authentic that was.

As for Jack Hylton's office, well there was a monstrosity of a gramophone in there, very unlikely for a 1939 office. The little 'suitcase' models were more than adequate then, and there were electric models using styli too by then, I'm sure that would would have been in his office. He was a band leader most of his career, only becoming an important impresario from the late 1930s and most of the theatre bill posters that we saw in his office were of an older vintage.
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John W

ColinB · Guest

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Colin,

This place is full of techno geeks and anoraks!

As I say Hylton's 1939 office was not very 1939. His impresario career had only just started then yet the theatre posters in his office were mostly older vintage, e.g. one for Vesta Tilley who retired in 1920 Laughing

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John W

aviddiva · Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 1:52 pm Post subject: Eric and Ernie

I'd like the chairperson of the organisation I'm in to see this, as she's previously given a talk in which she mentioned working with the young M & W - she said they had the 'Woody Woodpecker' theme tune as their play-on music when they played the halls.

I can believe Victoria Wood casting Ted Robbins in this as Jack Hylton - did anyone else see him, Kate and Amy Robbins in the 'Anne Widdecombe' closing sequence of With All The Trimmings?
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undiscovered · Joined: 15 Sep 2010 Posts: 650 Location: Peterborough

I thought it was great, I thought the two main actors were terrific.
Like you John I went on to watch the doc behind the scenes although preferred the fact it was more a look at some old M&W material.

My OH wasn't old enough to have seen the Christmas shows or their tv series but she must have liked the show as didn't worry too much that the bateries didn't work on hte remote after it finished Embarassed

As soon as Vic Reeves did the paper bag trick it all came rushing back.
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ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Their Christmas show from 1977 is presently on BBC 2
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aviddiva · Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 9:07 am Post subject: Eric & Ernie

Emer McCourt (the girl from Eastenders) also appeared on 'Rolf Harris Paints His Dream'.

Am I right in thinking the Woody Woodpecker routine was a prototype for 'Bum-Oo-Ya-Ta-Ta-Ta'?

I agree about the padding on the BBC shows - on the 1977 Christmas special they could have dropped the Angela Rippon high kicking dancing girls sequence and cut the song with Penelope Keith in 'Cyrano De Bergerac'.
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We are loonies and we are proud!

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Barty · Joined: 22 Aug 2010 Posts: 115

That was a truly superb drama, really excellent all round.

My only criticism is aimed at the BBC - why the HELL did they all but bury it on BBC2? This should have been on at prime time on BBC1.

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6792

I wonder if they really did share a bed in the hotel they stayed in when they were younger or was that just done for fun?

The two actors who took the lead parts were excellent and Victoria Wood looks very much at home in that period

This was a lovely tribute to Morecambe and Wise and showed if it hadn't have been for Sadie we might never have had the pleasure of seeing these two at work.....I felt for Ernie though when he was left all by himself when Jack Hylton only wanted him and not his dad..how old was he then?.....he didn't look any older than about 10

Above all it showed they were great friends as well as colleagues...sounds like Ernie wouldn't have had it any other way.

They were very special and brought lots of fun and happiness and laughter to millions of people ....what a wonderful legacy they left.

graham b · Joined: 23 Sep 2010 Posts: 211 Location: Wakefield

There was a programme on R4 yesterday called The Garage Tapes which had recordings made by Ernie Wise of their radio performances from the early years on. Presented by John Culshaw who is obviously a fan.

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5747 Location: Hampshire

I caught up with it last night. What a thoroughly delightful programme and beautifully written and acted by all.

The programme about the making of it was also extremely good with lots of clips of Morecambe and Wise and comments from their respective widows and Gary Morecambe.

Andy W · Joined: 02 Dec 2010 Posts: 140 Location: France

I just hope they repeat it-on BBC 4 perhaps. My Sky box decided to switch itself off whilst I was away for the New Year and I can't get the BBC TV iPlayer over here in France (Yes, I know there are ways to get round this!).
The Garage Tapes programme is still online http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00s6svj

preraphaeliteangel · Joined: 16 Nov 2010 Posts: 249 Location: Yorkshire

I just caught this on the iPlayer as I was away over New Year, and really enjoyed it. It's the first time in ages that I've watched something so long and not fallen asleep Exclamation

I also enjoyed seeing the portrayal of the theatres and the theatrical digs in that era as my mother was a dancer in those sort of shows (and with Felix Mendelson's Hawaiian Serenaders) in the 1940s.