Funny by George: The George Wallace Story (TV 1999)

Director:

Don Percy

Writer:

Jim Murphy

Stars:

George Wallace, Bill Kerr, Patti Allan

Cast

Cast overview:
George Wallace	...	Himself (archive footage)
Bill Kerr	...	Himself - Narrator
Patti Allan	...	Herself (as Patti Allen)
Bill French	...	Himself
Max Gillies	...	Himself
Iris Shand	...	Herself
Rita Wallace	...	Herself

Storyline

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

56 min

Color:

Black and White Color

User Reviews

Australia's first stage and movie star.

George Wallace was a tubby Australian vaudeville comedian whose pratfall and blather was a huge success in 1920s theater. For anyone not familiar with his looks and style let me offer this image: mix both Laurel and Hardy together with Lou Costello and add some Dom DeLuise. Yes, I know, eeek. But he was a hilarious and much loved performer whose showgirl antics saw his marriage collapse and his career bump from city to city in the 20s and 30s. His forays into early talkie film comedies were even more successful with depression tired cinema-goers and his lovable silliness made 1930s Australian films very popular, enough so to support an industry for about 8 years. This ended with WW2 and he returned to the stage. This DVD documentary lovingly interviews friends family and performers and even his wife from 1917...! Some excellent color footage exists from various home movies. Overall it is a charming tribute to a very popular man almost unknown by viewer born after 1950. With great photos of various eras, cinemas and theaters, stage stars and movie clips it is a well researched valentine to probably Australia's first cross-media comedian. His film LET GEORGE DO IT from 1938 seems modeled on any MGM Marx Bros comedy with romantic musical subplots and funny kiddie dance routines among the chases and yelling. Early parts of this DVD don't immediately identify who is being interviewed which is a bit irritating. Narrated by veteran actor Bill Kerr (seen later in GALLIPOLI) who appears as a 10 year old with George, adding to the astonishment.