Norbert Smith, a Life

NORBERT SMITH, A LIFE is an absolutely priceless send-up not only of British films over the years, but of the worshipful documentaries that cable and public TV companies crank out from time to time. (Using Melvyn Bragg as the narrator, doing exactly the kind of thing he was doing at the time on "The South Bank Show," was an inspiration, and kudos to Lord Bragg for being a good sport.) The film parodies are all spot-on, but the scene from the World War II action flick (with Sir Norbert finding an excuse to guzzle a glass of wine in every single shot), and the identical scenes from each of Sir Norbert's composer biopics (BEETHOVEN, MAN OF MUSIC; LIZST, MAN OF MUSIC; ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, MAN OF MUSIC) are especially hilarious.

And by the way, chalk me up as another member of the I Used to Have This on Videotape But I Lost It Somehow Club. What I wouldn't give to find a copy to replace the one I had!

I have to add my praise to others here who like this comedy. The more you know the British film industry history the more you will get out of the jokes.

It is out on dvd now so you can buy it if you want. But I was shocked that it was made so long ago and also shocked how short it is,it is only 47 minutes. Enfield did film parodies in his tv series,could some of these not been put on this disc? wrong production company I suppose.

Thinking back to this now, it is hard to believe that Harry Enfield would go onto produce such low grade trash. This spoof documentary is an absolute piece of comic genius. Packed with loads of truly clever subtle jokes about the nature of the film, television and theatre world. Sir Norbert is a composite of a number of well known giants of the thespian world. They have lovingly spoofed some of the greatest films from a range of different film genres. If you are British you will have great fun working out just who and what the writers are referencing. Everything is done to perfection. The look and feel of each "film" is spot on. The best has to be the early 60's working-class-life film, "It's Grim Up North". Quote, "I'm going out to fly me whippets". I used to have this on tape too, but it's long gone and as far as I know has never been repeated. A great shame.

Highly recommended. The parodies are dead on accurate; the performances are first rate. (Favorite moment: when Lady Norbert interrupts Sir Norbert during the suitcase story.) Put together with great attention to detail. (Watch for the editing and continuity errors in the Richard Burton war film parody.) I only wish it were available on video. I had a copy once and lost it.

Harry Enfield came to fame with his long running characters Stavros and Loadsofmoney on British TV's copy of Saturday Night Live. Subsequently, his own sketch show (with a host of new characters) ran successfully for many seasons. But in between he made this brilliant spoof documentary, about the life of the "legendary British actor", Sir Norbert Smith.

In just an hour, Enfield mercilessly parodies every genre of the much -maligned British film industry (my personal favourite being his take on the dour realist films of the early 60s, with the northern father asking his family: "When's that baby going to grow up and get himself a proper job?"). But it's all great stuff. In between the cod clips, he meanwhile paints a touching (and even more hilarious) portrait of senility. Perfectly judging the line between the sublime and ridiculous, "Norbert Smith" is a wonderful creation. This material could have run and run: instead, it ended where it started (though some of Enfield's later creations were clearly developed from ideas first tried here). A masterclass of comic creativity.