David Doherty
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Joined: 07 Sep 2006
Posts: 141
Location: Vancouver
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 Posted: Mon 14 May 2007 21:45 pm Post subject: The Book What I Wrote |
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I've just been reading the autobiography of one of our greatest comedy writers, Eddie Braben.
Eddie, as some of you may know, wrote for Eric Morcambe and Ernie Wise.
And I quote:
"Arthur Lowe was the first and only guest in my experience to leave Eric Morecambe speechless - it didn't happen very often. This collector's item happened during a rehearsal for 'Mutiny on the Bounty'. Eric and Arthur were playing out a scene on deck; Eric warned him there was unrest amongst the men and that there was talk of 'mutiny, Cap'n'.
Arthur completely ignored the written line, whatever it was. He mimed taking a cigarette out of his mouth, crushed it underfoot and said, and it was the best Humphrey Bogart impression I'd ever heard, "If that's the way it's gonna be, sweetheart."
It was the first and only time I had ever heard a guest get applause during a rehearsal.
After Eric and those of us who were present had got over the initial surprise at this quite brilliant ad-lib, Eric said, 'Hell Fire! He's brought his own jokes!'
It was, as far as I can remember, the only time a guest ever altered or added a word to a script with such stunning effect.
It shouldn't have come as a surprise to any of us, as Arthur Lowe was surely one of our greatest comedy and character actors."
There you go! (I hope Eddie doesn't mine me quoting him!)
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"Can you hear me Muller?" |
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