Galton & Simpson, the brilliant English TV comedy writers of the early sixties, produce a feature for Harry H. Corbett, the delusional, aspirational, lecherous son Albert from Steptoe & Son (US spinoff Sanford & Son).
In The Bargee, Corbett plays commercial bargee (yes, they existed once) Hemel Pike; what Harold Steptoe might have become had he escaped Oil Drum Lane. And most of the early 60's British comedy stalwarts are here doing their regular turn. Similarly Corbett only recreates Harold Steptoe on a barge. Ronnie Barker, as his dimwitted brother partner, is not a patch on Albert Steptoe's malicious, cantankerous, devious Wilfrid Brambell (qv) - who pretty much stole the same year's 'A Hard Day's Night' as MacCartney's father.
But so far, so faintly amusing - Hemel plans his journey along the waterway by working out with woman he can spend each of the four nights with.
15 meandering minutes in, they come across Eric Sykes as a cabin cruiser owner with delusions of grandeur. Hemel avoids sinking his barge in a collision, but sadly the film is sunk with all hands at this point. Eric Sykes, bless him, is overwritten, overacted, and overboard. I could watch no more for fear of encountering him again.
Nostalgia/curiosity value only. 2* for meaning well.
In The Bargee, Corbett plays commercial bargee (yes, they existed once) Hemel Pike; what Harold Steptoe might have become had he escaped Oil Drum Lane. And most of the early 60's British comedy stalwarts are here doing their regular turn. Similarly Corbett only recreates Harold Steptoe on a barge. Ronnie Barker, as his dimwitted brother partner, is not a patch on Albert Steptoe's malicious, cantankerous, devious Wilfrid Brambell (qv) - who pretty much stole the same year's 'A Hard Day's Night' as MacCartney's father.
But so far, so faintly amusing - Hemel plans his journey along the waterway by working out with woman he can spend each of the four nights with.
15 meandering minutes in, they come across Eric Sykes as a cabin cruiser owner with delusions of grandeur. Hemel avoids sinking his barge in a collision, but sadly the film is sunk with all hands at this point. Eric Sykes, bless him, is overwritten, overacted, and overboard. I could watch no more for fear of encountering him again.
Nostalgia/curiosity value only. 2* for meaning well.