The Curse of Steptoe (2008) (TV)

Director:

Michael Samuels

Writer:

Brian Fillis (written by)

Release Date:

19 March 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

In the early 1960s aspiring stage actor Harry H. Corbett jumps at the chance to play junk-dealer Harold...

Plot Keywords:

Actor | 1960s | Stage Actor | Adultery | Homosexual

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Roger Allam	...	Tom Sloane
Jason Isaacs	...	Harry H Corbett
Zoe Tapper	...	Sheila Steafel (as Zoë Tapper)
Clare Higgins	...	Joan Littlewood
Elspeth Rae	...	Young Blonde Actress
Burn Gorman	...	Ray Galton
Rory Kinnear	...	Alan Simpson
Philip Davis	...	Wilfrid Brambell (as Phil Davis)
Ken Oxtoby	...	Costume Designer
Ben Parr	...	Wilfrid's Young Blonde Man
Peter Hamilton Dyer	...	Director (as Peter Hamilton-Dyer)
Sophie Hunter	...	Maureen Corbett
Julian Forsyth	...	Clive Goodwin
Jamie Lennox	...	Plain Clothes Policeman
Scott McNess	...	Boy Outside Theatre

Also Known As:

The Curse of Steptoe and Son (UK) (promotional title)

Runtime:

67 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The brother of Harry H. Corbett's second widow, Maureen, complained to the BBC that the timeline portrayed in the film was wildly misleading and gave the impression that i) Maureen's affair with Harry may have led to the break-up of his first marriage with Sheila Steafel which was not the case, and ii) Harry's decision not to make any more episodes of "Steptoe and Son" (1962) coincided with the birth of his and Maureen's first child, whereas the birth had happened eight years before the end of Steptoe. The BBC upheld these complaints and agreed not to repeat the film unless it was edited to remove these misleading errors.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Directly after the 1962 awards ceremony, Corbett does his impersonation of Harold Wilson with reference to his White Heat of Technology speech. Wilson did not become Prime Minister for another two years and the White Heat speech was even later. However, the writer made this 'error' quite deliberately. He took dramatic license. Dates were fudged throughout the piece, so though the award ceremony was in fact held in 1962, the film avoids placing it in time. Harry's party trick was his Harold Wilson impression; that was the most appropriate moment in the piece to give him the chance to do his thing.

Movie Connections:

Features "Till Death Us Do Part" (1965)

Just simply brilliant !

Jason Issacs was on top form as Corbett and Phil Davis was absolutely stunning as the tragic Wilfred Brambell all in all one of the best pieces of drama to grace the BBC in a hell of long time. The whole affair although telling a sometimes very dark tale was handled with a great deal of affection and care. Having loved Steptoe & Son from an early age I will certainly view it in a different light knowing the heartache it appears to have caused the Brambell and Corbett. Costumes and sets were spot on and the piece really gave you a feel for how writers and performers of that era behaved towards one another. Much like the actual show I regret this show having to end as it left me wanting more from two of the finest most underrated actors in the UK.