Morecambe and Wise - the comedy legends
Ranked #8,194 in Entertainment, #91,935 overall
About Morecambe and Wise
Morecambe and Wise were probably the greatest comedy duo Britain ever produced. Responsible for Christmas specials watched by more than half the country, Eric Morecambe "the tall one with glasses" and Ernie Wise "the short fat one with hairy legs" worked together for over forty years.
In that time they brought us sketches such as Breakfast time, Andre Previn's attempts to conduct Eric on the piano and Shirley Bassey's struggle with the worst set (and stagehands) in performance.
In that time they brought us sketches such as Breakfast time, Andre Previn's attempts to conduct Eric on the piano and Shirley Bassey's struggle with the worst set (and stagehands) in performance.
The early years
The founding of Morecambe and Wise
Ernie Wise joined show business at an early age, appearing on stage when barely into his teens. Eric Morecambe had a slower start. The pair met while doing music hall and formed a team in 1941. Briefly seperated during the war, in the postwar period they moved from music hall into radio, and then in 1954 into television. After some years performing, the duo appeared on the Bob Monkhouse show and then got their own show "Running Wild".
At least initially the critics were not kind: one famous but pithy review read simply "Definition of a TV set: the box they buried Morecambe and Wise in."
Despite this failure they were approached, reluctantly, about producing a new show as a result of an Equity strike. Morecambe and Wise were members of the VAF - the variety performer's union. As a result of the strike, Morecambe and Wise used their two writers as extras for many of their early shows. The presence of only four characters on screen gave these shows a much more focused feel than many other comedy shows of the time.
At least initially the critics were not kind: one famous but pithy review read simply "Definition of a TV set: the box they buried Morecambe and Wise in."
Despite this failure they were approached, reluctantly, about producing a new show as a result of an Equity strike. Morecambe and Wise were members of the VAF - the variety performer's union. As a result of the strike, Morecambe and Wise used their two writers as extras for many of their early shows. The presence of only four characters on screen gave these shows a much more focused feel than many other comedy shows of the time.
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Recruiting a new writer
Eddie Braben
Eric Morecambe's first heart attack came out of the blue and changed the shows noticeably. It happened in 1968, while he was driving home, and it was uncertain for some time if he would recover.
While he was convalescing, the writing team that had supported them moved on to another show. Instead, the pair recruited Eddie Braben as their new writer.
Braben focused on the genuine friendship the two had as a focus of the show, changing their on-screen personas to match. Ernie, the pretentious one forever on his way to Hollywood and Eric, a little more naive, funny and fiercely defensive of his friend. It was an inspired choice, as the shows became more popular than ever.
While he was convalescing, the writing team that had supported them moved on to another show. Instead, the pair recruited Eddie Braben as their new writer.
Braben focused on the genuine friendship the two had as a focus of the show, changing their on-screen personas to match. Ernie, the pretentious one forever on his way to Hollywood and Eric, a little more naive, funny and fiercely defensive of his friend. It was an inspired choice, as the shows became more popular than ever.
Morecambe and Wise
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The Guest stars
The great and the good
Reknowned for their ability to get star guests, such as Andre Preview (sorry, Previn) and others, they also became known for Eric Morecambe's quickfire wit and ability to get excellent actors and actresses to corpse on live television. Shown on the left with the cast of the Sweeney, they also included newsreaders, presenters, musicians and more among the guests.
As many fans commented the shows were in such good nature that no one was ever offended; not least because it was obvious the people on stage were enjoying every minute of it.
Running themes throughout the show included Eric's catchphrase of "Rubbish", the fact they never paid their guests and Ernie's plays. Of course, this brings us to Des O'Connor.
As many fans commented the shows were in such good nature that no one was ever offended; not least because it was obvious the people on stage were enjoying every minute of it.
Running themes throughout the show included Eric's catchphrase of "Rubbish", the fact they never paid their guests and Ernie's plays. Of course, this brings us to Des O'Connor.
Des O'Connor
The long running Gag
Des O'Connor started out as a comedian, and worked on the same bill as Morecambe and Wise before he went into music. According to one of the writers the gag started out from one of Des' album covers - when he saw the tan, the good hair and gleaming teeth he thought "Right you, you're asking for it." In this clip, however, Des suggests the ribbing had been going on for sometime before that and Morecambe simply started adding it to the show. The result was comedy gold, since they were lucky enough in Des O'Connor to get someone who was game for having the mickey taken out of him every week on national television.
In this BBC Worldwide clip Des O'Connor talks about his early years and the famous feud with Morecambe and Wise.
In this BBC Worldwide clip Des O'Connor talks about his early years and the famous feud with Morecambe and Wise.
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The Christmas Specials
A national institution
Morecambe and Wise are probably best remembered for their Christmas Specials. Watched by over half the country when they were first shown, they have proved timeless and are reshown every year.
The secret to their success, and their notorious one-take acting, was rehearsal. They would rehearse solidly for up to two weeks before a sketch was due to be shown, honing the performance and adding any good ad libs to refine the script. As a result, when things went astray, they could roll with it and carry on with the show - if they didn't work it in.
In 1976 they both received OBEs for their work in show business.
A few of their classic clips are shown below:
The secret to their success, and their notorious one-take acting, was rehearsal. They would rehearse solidly for up to two weeks before a sketch was due to be shown, honing the performance and adding any good ad libs to refine the script. As a result, when things went astray, they could roll with it and carry on with the show - if they didn't work it in.
In 1976 they both received OBEs for their work in show business.
A few of their classic clips are shown below:
The end of the partnership
Eric Morecambe's untimely death
After his heart attack Eric Morecambe's health had declined, which affected their shows. He was no longer able to perform the same activity and often took a backseat during the dance numbers.
In 1984 Eric Morecambe collapsed backstage after performing in a theatre. He had suffered another heart attack and tragically, this one was fatal. He left a wife and three children, and a nation in mourning.
In 1984 Eric Morecambe collapsed backstage after performing in a theatre. He had suffered another heart attack and tragically, this one was fatal. He left a wife and three children, and a nation in mourning.
Without his long time partner, Ernie Wise did not continue in comedy and went into semi-retirement. Instead he became a panelist on a BBC gameshow, and wrote a regular column for a newspaper. On March 22 1999, he died of a heart attack at the age of 73, after falling ill the year before.
Morecambe and Wise Show on DVD
From Amazon.co.uk
Their full selection of shows are available on DVD from Amazon.co.uk. Unfortunately these are Region Two Pal, design to play in the UK and Europe, and will not play in the US.
Season 1 & 2
Season 3
Season 4
Season 5
And of course, their Christmas Specials:
BBC
Christmas Specials
The Thames Years
(Inc. Xmas specials)
Morecambe and Wise on Amazon.com
Eric and Ernie memorabilia
Morecambe and Wise memorabilia on Amazon.com. There are a range of DVDs and books that showcase some of their sketch work, although their shows are not available in DVDs in US format.
Bring me sunshine
The closing credits to the Morecambe and Wise show
As the Morecambe and Wise show always closed with "Bring me Sunshine" it seems like the right way to end the lens.
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Leave your comments
Have your say
Have a favourite sketch from Morecambe and Wise? Any special memories? Objections to Des O'Connor?
Please share them here.
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Desparate Dan
Aug 13, 2009 @ 3:33 pm | delete
- I Prefer The One In The Glasses! (LOL)
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SusanVillasLewis
Jun 21, 2009 @ 6:51 pm | delete
- Thanks for introducing me to these guys! And congrats on having the top lens in the comedy duo category this week at The Carnival of Squid. http://carnivalofsquid.blogspot.com
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Treasures-By-Brenda
Jun 21, 2009 @ 9:36 am | delete
- Hadn't heard of Morecambe and Wise either. Nicely done & blessed.
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CDT
Jun 2, 2009 @ 5:23 pm | delete
- Morecambe and Wise were much loved in the UK. Household names for decades, their shows are still regarded as comedy classics.
Their Christmas shows were a national institution...I still remember the whole extended family glued to the TV every year on Christmas evening while I was a young child, watching Morecambe & Wise, passing round the tin of Quality Streets and the box of After Eight mints and my aunties getting tiddly on sherry - M & W were as much an integral part of Christmas Day as the Queens Speech...happy days :)
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0ctavias0fferings
Jun 1, 2009 @ 3:30 am | delete
- Morecambe and Wise were an institution in the UK. The shows still run from time to time on some of the satellite channels and, although the inuendo seems a little tame in this modern day, the humour is timeless. I think one of my greatest favourites will always be the breakfast sketch to the 'Stripper' tune, brilliant. 5* for you
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About the Lensmaster
Tirial & Error Lensography
by tirial
tirial
I've been a fan of Morecambe and Wise for years, and wanted to do lenses about my favourite comedy duo.
For all my lenses (everything from Aviation to...
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