Apparently members of the Corbett family are not too pleased with the drama's portrail of Harry and claim it is based more in fiction rather than fact. Especially Harrys relationship with Wilfred. Also the slight fact it was Sheila that was unfaithful and the reason for the divorce and that Harry meet Maureen after his seperation with Sheila.
http://www.steptoe-and-son.com/corbettmessage.html
http://www.steptoe-and-son.com/corbettmessage.html
I have reproduced the link in clickable form here - hope you don't mind.
Thanks - a very interesting article, obviously heartfelt. Personally, and I know this is true of a lot of fans, I think I know enough about Steptoe and Son to realise that the docu-drama wasn't completely accurate but even so, some of these inconsistencies are pretty surprising.
I think true fans understand the relationship between Harry and Wilfrid - they didn't hate each other, but they weren't exactly friends either. We must all have relationships at work like that - people whom we work well with but don't seek out socially after work hours. I don't really blame the programme makers for spicing things up a little in this regard - and I don't think they tried to depict hatred between the pair, just antipathy.
The inaccuracies about Harry and his wives are more difficult to justify. I don't see how the drama about the dynamic between the people responsible for Steptoe and Son would have been affected by detailing Harry's private life accurately - though truth, especially where relationships are concerned, can be a movable feast.
My body makes no moan
But sings on:
All things remain in God.
Regarding the message from the Corbett family about inaccuracies in 'The Curse of Steptoe', the message also has its fair share of inaccuracies. The film-makers interviewed Shiela extensively about her time with Harry, and no-one else - not even members of Harry's later family - are qualified to dispute her version of events because they were not there at the time. Just because they have a different opinion doesn't make the film a 'work of fiction'.
The letter from the Corbett family say they are looking into what they can do about the film, hinting at possible legal action. I hazard to suggest they'll do nothing. The BBC say they have independent sources (which the Corbett family hardly are) that back up all events portrayed in the film. BBC lawyers are very careful about these sort of programmes, and unless there is independent correberation of the events in the film, the writer would not have been allowed to do it.
Im not so sure. I have seen many documentaries (granted im not sure who put them togeather) but all say how much Harry hated Wilfred (moving towards the end of the 3-4th series, Even to the point when coming back from there aussie tour They wanted diffrent flights, as they didnt want to be near each other. I also seem to remember seeing in the same documentary that harry hated Wilfred because he would ad-lib/forget his lines, and for an actor of harrys calibur thats the biggest no-no. Even during one of the episodes you can tell wilfred is a little..sloshed. (i remember an episode where he has trouble haying 'Mittons' and 'signiture':( (even tho i felt it made the char more loveable) I guessed this docudrama took liberties with the story but not like most of you thought. I thought they were just trying to cram the relashionship from 8+years into an hour and a half. Which forced them to edit the timeline slightly. From the books/docs ive seen i belived CoS made the actors seem more friendly to each other, than they were in real life. Once again the media would much rather put out impression they hate each other rather than respect each other.
P.s sorry for my spelling.
This message was done in the best possible of taste :) x 24/7
Well if the producers can get the colour of Harry's eyes wrong I'm sure they can get other less obvious things wrong too!
shareThere were a lot of liberties taken with this adaptation. In fact this is true of most adaptations and the Corbett family expressed their dis-satisfaction.
Its that man again!!
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