Norman... Is That You? (1976)

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:

The original Broadway production starred Maureen Stapleton and Lou Jacobi. The play ran for only 12 performances.

Goofs:

Continuity: During bookstore scene, a counter top display of a book by author/performer Steve Allen (whose wife Jayne Meadows appears in a major supporting role) keeps flip-flopping so cover is always on view, whether it is being shot from point-of-view of a customer or from that of behind counter clerk.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Afro Promo (1997)

Offensive, stagy comedy

I have no idea as to which audience director George Schlatter hoped to sell this comedy-of-ills. With Redd Foxx in the central role and enough pimpy outfits and polyester to carpet the entire 1970s, "Norman" plays like a blaxploitation picture combined with any number of silly sitcom episodes involving comic misunderstandings, not to mention an elongated cameo by Waylon Flowers! Based on a play by Sam Bobrick and Ron Clark, this tale of an estranged married couple (Foxx and Pearl Bailey) learning the hard way that their son is secretly gay--and living with a mincing, prancing white homosexual--has enough limp-wristed jokes to shame any early episode of "Three's Company". Bailey keeps her dignity, and Foxx's sheer confusion is good for a couple of chuckles, but the rest of the performers are humiliated. * from ****