Norman... Is That You? (1976)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

George Schlatter

Writers:

Sam Bobrick (play)
Ron Clark (play)

Release Date:

13 May 1977 (Finland)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

There's a Sexual Revolution Going On... And All the Leaders Are in My Family!

Plot Keywords:

Homosexual | African American | Gay Lead Character | Based On Play | Character Name In Title

Cast

Redd Foxx	...	Ben Chambers
Pearl Bailey	...	Beatrice Chambers
Dennis Dugan	...	Garson Hobart
Michael Warren	...	Norman Chambers
Tamara Dobson	...	Audrey
Vernee Watson-Johnson	...	Melody
Jayne Meadows	...	Adele
Wayland Flowers	...	Larry Davenport
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sergio Aragonés	...	Desk Clerk
Allan Drake	...	Cab Driver
George Furth	...	Bookstore Clerk
Sosimo Hernandez	...	Desk Clerk
Michael Masters	...	Delivery man
Barbara Sharma	...	Bookstore Clerk

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

‘Norman… Is That You?’ opened at the Lyceum Theater on February 19, 1970.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Although movie is set in Los Angeles, one of characters makes mention of a recent visit to a local A&P supermarket, an east coast chain that has no stores on West Coast.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Cheers: Norm, Is That You? (#7.6)" (1988)

Uneven, but terrific comedy bits inside!

Norman, Is That You? was (this is all third hand, so take it with a grain of salt) adapted to an African American family from a Jewish one, when it made the transition off stage and onto screen. Also, it was one of those movies originally filmed in video, so the prints from the theater can't have been that great. Still, performances by Redd Foxx and others were pretty good.

What I wanted to tell you all is that the movie is a PERIOD PIECE: it reflected the attitudes in the mid to early 70s about finding out you have a gay son or daughter in your family. For that reason alone, it's pretty interesting- if not a little "hollywood". Don't believe me? Check out lines about curtains, etc. Very stereotypical. Not too deep.

But... the movie really shines in a couple of areas. There is a side splitting scene when Redd Foxx is trying to find his wife, who's run away with his brother (!) to Ensenada in a souped up Pinto. The phone conversation across the border is really memorable.

But... the best scene in the movie is when Wayland Flowers and Madame did his/their gay routine that he used to do in gay bars and nightclubs. To the best of my knowledge, this is the only time that routine was filmed. And, it's a slightly cleaned up and much shorter version, I'm told. Still, it's vintage Madame, and shouldn't be missed. People are still stealing lines from Wayland; the man was truly gifted. Enjoy the movie!