Steptoe and Son *** (1972, Wilfrid Brambell, Harry H Corbett, Carolyn Seymour, Arthur Howard, Victor Maddern, Mike Reid, Barrie Ingham, Queenie Watts) – Classic Movie Review 6879

The TV stars Wilfrid Brambell and Harry H Corbett successfully re-create their delightful performances as Steptoe and Son and there is some funny writing from television creator-writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, re-working material they had already used on TV, in director Cliff Owen’s welcome 1972 British spinoff movie.

BBC television rag-and-bone man Harold Steptoe (Corbett) falls in love with a sexy stripper (Carolyn Seymour) and goes down the aisle with her. But Harold ends up taking his jealous old dad (Brambell) on the honeymoon, and the dirty old man plots a quick divorce for the happy couple.

The opening out of the endlessly bickering father and son rag-and-bone situation and the unreality of the plot are snags, but it is a fair transfer to the big screen, a notoriously difficult task. It was a hit anyway, making a profit five times its cost, and a couple of notches up on the 1973 sequel Steptoe and Son Ride Again.

Also in the cast are Carolyn Seymour as Zita Steptoe, Arthur Howard as Vicar, Victor Maddern as Chauffeur, Fred Griffiths as Barman, Joan Heath as Zita Steptoe’s mother, Fred McNaughton as Zita Steptoe’s father, Lon Satton as Pianist, Patrick Fyffe (as Perri St Claire) as Arthur, Patsy Smart as Mrs Hobbs, Mike Reid as Compere, Alec Mango as Hotel Doctor, Michael Da Costa as Hotel Manager, Enys Box as Traffic Warden, Barrie Ingham as Terry and Queenie Watts.

Steptoe and Son is directed by Cliff Owen, runs 98 minutes, is made by Associated London, and released by EMI, is written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, is shot by John Wilcox, is produced by Aida Young and is scored by Roy Budd. The Steptoe theme is by Ron Grainer.

Steptoe and Son and Steptoe and Son Ride Again are available on a double DVD.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6879

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