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He was always the source of much merriment and a terrific guy to boot. R.I.P.
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Very sad news. Met him once at an company function and even at 75/80 as he must have been then, was still funny and still falling about! He was also rather risque at times in the joke department...
And Albania will no doubt have a national day of mourning.
One of the last true legends of comedy.
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Risque? Rick Wakeman tells a story of sitting in an I of M coffee shop with him and Norman speaking quite loudly, to help those who were ear-wigging, about his requirement for a secretary / house keeper. As they left, Norman stood in the doorway, leaving Rick trapped at the till paying the bill and finished the conversation in a loud voice, much to Rick's embarrassment, "of course I'd hope that the occasional shag wasn't entirely out of the question".
John
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Wisdom never quite floated my comedy boat.
I found the falling about stupid to the point of embarrassing, and rather sad that he was still doing it as he got older.
There was a tragic 'tears of a clown' element to Wisdom which made it impossible for me to find him very funny.
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Never did it for me either.
"Mr Grimsdale!" - fall over.
Funny why?
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I used to bunk in the 'picture house' to see him in the early 60's, always been a fan of his,
I'm not in the least bit sad at his passing though, the geezer was 95 for gawd sake.
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I know someone that knew him in latter years and had a "view" of him. Mind you found him funny when I was a kid and have some fond memories of his films - the milkman one being a favourite.
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>> - the milkman one being a favourite.
Ditto.
Although not really in my generation, everything I've seen him in, from films to TV interviews, he always made me chuckle.
RIP Norm.
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Was there one where he was a copper (in fake copper's uniform, cos he was too short to join the force) and ended up reffing a kid's football match - with the police whistle?
That rings a bell from 35+ years ago...
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The one where he was a frustrated police recruit was On the Beat.
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This is an old clip from 62, excellent vid quality, for 48 years ago!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtU9gy1r6CU
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I always thought he was a mixture of being cringeingly embarassing at times, but at others very funny. In a way he was a precursor to Mr Bean - the sad social failure we all identify with a bit, but who pursued his logical but chaotic actions in a way one couldn't help finding endearing in the end.
The best moments for me;
The pompous chief of Scotland Yard in his full uniform.
Serving tea at a meeting by filling a stack of cups and then sliding them along the table.
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For those that like Norm, Amazon have reduce the price of the Norman Wisdom Collection (DVDs) from £59.99 to £23.47, either as a mark of respect or a cynical marketing ploy, depending on your POV...not a bad price for 12 films either way
www.amazon.co.uk/Norman-Wisdom-Collection-DVD/dp/B001CWLFIQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1286271295&sr=1-1
"This collection contains 12 feature films starring diminutive funny-man Norman Wisdom. Titles include THE BULLDOG BREED, ONE GOOD TURN, THE EARLY BIRD, PRESS FOR TIME, ON THE BEAT, MAN OF THE MOMENT, A STITCH IN TIME, JUST MY LUCK, THE SQUARE PEG, FOLLOW A STAR, TROUBLE IN STORE, and UP IN THE WORLD."
UPDATE: Only £17.94 at www.choicesuk.com/product.aspx/norman_wisdom_collection_boxset_dvd_698855
Last edited by: smokie on Tue 5 Oct 10 at 10:39
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>> Wisdom never quite floated my comedy boat.
I'd have to agree with you there, iffy - about as funny as Charlie Drake.
But then 'comedy' is quite a personal thing - some may prefer Monkey Dust to Mr. Bean (personally, a source of intense irritation) - others would take the opposite view - and some will like both :-)
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Yes RIP Norman.
Selfishly I'm sad to see him go because it's another thing that reminds me I'm getting older too!
Grew up knowing of him. Bit of a cheeky chap that brought smiles to many and caused no harm.
He now joins Eric, Ernie, Tommy C, Ronnie B and all as personal fond memories.
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I could never bear him. But RIP all the same.
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>> about as funny as Charlie Drake.
Funniest moment I saw of his was in Jim Davidson's version of Sinderella (he played the role of Baron Hardon). He was drunk as a skunk, couldn't remember half his lines and just made them up as he went along.
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he never really did it for me either but at least he was funnier than jack douglass
whoo ha ha whey...............
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I've long thought that Robbie Williams looks a bit like Norman Wisdom when he struts about on stage. Especially when he starts taking his shirt off all I can see is an image of NW looking bedraggled.
I never really got Wisdom's comedy either but then I never really got that era of comedy much. A decade or so later when people like Peter Sellers came to the fore is more my thing.
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You've got a point - watching the drug addled (allegedly) crooner poor attempt at aping Freddie Mercury in the Help for Heroes concert had me wondering who he reminded me of - what made me laugh were his very strange trousers - maybe he should stick to Norman Wisdom.
Not wanting to give a national treasure a kicking but a former colleague of mine knew him and in his later years became quite a nasty little man.
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"watching the drug addled (allegedly) crooner poor attempt at aping Freddie Mercury"
I can forgive him all of that - it's the false American accent he sings in that makes me want to throw the wireless out of the window when he comes on. Him and Elton, Rod Stewart and plenty of others.
I mean what are "stormy wowders" (Rod Sewart, I am Sailing)
You can tell evrybowdy this is your saowng (Elton, Your Song)
grrrrrr
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Very true Dave, I agree with you but some of the ballads might not cut it in a Stoke accent I suppose...Wish I could think of a phonetic example...
:-)
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I went to college in Stoke. They call everybody Duck.
So you'd probably get "Let meeeeeeee entertain you, duck"
Which I'd probably buy...
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Don't even think about starting on Angels.
One of the best songs of all time and he has one of the sexiest bums too.
Pat
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"he has one of the sexiest bums"
Well he's certainly an rse hole...
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Perhaps not as big a one as you appear to be sometimes Dave:)
Pat
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"Perhaps not as big a one as you appear to be sometimes Dave"
True but I'm an rse hole with an English accent.
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A common enough affliction Dave in my experience. Nothing to beat yourself up about...
:-)
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...Nothing to beat yourself up about...
Or anybody else, for that matter.
I still can't find that thread, must have dreamed it.
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>> ...Nothing to beat yourself up about...
>>
>> Or anybody else, for that matter.
>>
>> I still can't find that thread, must have dreamed it.
>>
Very astute Iffy. Nice one.
BBD the subject that iffy alludes to is fully supported here.
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>> I never really got Wisdom's comedy either but then I never really got that era
>> of comedy much. A decade or so later when people like Peter Sellers came to
>> the fore is more my thing.
>>
Well Humph, does yeor Dog Bite?
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It is nut ma duwg.
The minky, he is the businessman.
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Yor speeling is atroshous.
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>> "of course I'd hope that the occasional shag wasn't entirely out of the question".
>>
>> John
>>
And I thought it was a Cormorant!
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I wasn't a great fan of Norm's slapstick type of comedy but I can appreciate talent in any performer.
The fact that he was a keen biker endears him to me.....
.....and that little ' signature ' trip he did at his investiture that made the Queen's face light up with a broad smile !
Lovely.
Ted
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I wasn't even born when he made his films in the 50's and 60's, but I was introduced to them in my childhood by my dad who was (and still is) a great fan. I remember laughing hysterically at them, but then slapstick humour has always appealed to me. I will be doing the same with my daughters when they are a little older.
I was surprised to read the comment earlier in this thread that he wasn't a particularly pleasant character. Everyone I know who has come into contact with the man reckoned he was an absolute joy to be around. Humble to the point of being almost ignorant of his fame and success, and constantly larking about. And to this day I have never seen anyone else make the Queen smile and laugh like that in public.
RIP.
Last edited by: DP on Wed 6 Oct 10 at 09:30
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A legend indeed, Norman (sorry, Sir Norm...) had a flat here in Epsom and was there quite frequently. In his 80s, he was happy to do a few hospital charity presentation handovers for us and I drove him there. He was an absolute delight and never stopped "being the clown", while being very professional and flexible for the cameras. Came across as a nice, ordinary guy and it's hard to imagine he had a "dark side". Apparently, he was a very shrewd investor and although had his main home on the tax-friendly Isle of Man, he always paid his UK taxes. A unique and rightly lauded entertainer - as opposed to much of what passes as "talent" these days.
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Very touching tribute to him tonight on the One Show - two of the carers from the nursing home he was in since 2007 recalling how he used to "play dead" some mornings, one of them was in tears worth a watch on iPlayer.
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"recalling how he used to "play dead" some mornings"
Perhaps that's what he's doing now.
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>> "recalling how he used to "play dead" some mornings"
>>
>> Perhaps that's what he's doing now.
>>
And as the funeral courtege moved on its final journey, no one heard the muffled words "Mr Grimsdale!".
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>> Very touching tribute to him tonight on the One Show
[interesting piece on the history of the breathalyser later in the programme as well]
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RIP Sir Norman Wisdom - MD
