Morecambe & Wise: Song and Dance

LAUGHTER

# Anywhere... #

Morecambe and Wise.

Unique.

Wa-hey!

Irrepressible.

# I'll be there following you around. #

And funny.

Very funny.

# Come to me out of the long ago... #

Giddy up! LAUGHTER

Good evening,

and welcome to this celebration of Morecambe and Wise

at their musical best.

Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise began life in variety,

before eventually making it big on television.

At their peak, they were assured, artful, cheeky and daft.

And they entertained millions of people, year in, year out,

throughout the '70s.

TRADITIONAL GREEK MUSIC

MUSIC SEGUES INTO VARIETY SHOW MUSIC

Their act was a combination of front-of-cloth crosstalk, sketches,

and a whole variety of musical numbers,

much of which harked back to their touring days.

# Red, red robin goes bob-bob-bobbing along, along

# There'll be no more trouble when he keeps singing his old sweet song

# Oh, wake up! Wake up, sleepy head! #

Argh!

More often than not,

the duo were teamed with stars of the day.

People like Shirley Bassey, Vanessa Redgrave

and, I'm delighted to say, me.

GRAND FINALE MUSIC

LAUGHTER

Oof, I'll go down.

I can't get down there, I suffer with vertigo.

-Oh, she's suffers with vertigo.

-Does she?

-That's wind, isn't it?

-No...

-No, a fear of heights.

-Heights?

-Oh, as well?

-Heights.

-You get down there, and I'll...

-If I could...

I'll come down, and let you climb down.

-I'm sorry about this.

-I can't climb down there in this dress.

-My hand, my hand.

-Where is it?

-It's where it shouldn't be.

I can't get down there in this dress.

Do something with the dress, love.

-You must do something.

-It's been specially made.

-I realise.

LAUGHTER

If you just climb down here.

-I really don't like heights at all.

-No, no.

-Don't worry.

-Can you get that leg down?

I'll hold on to anything that...

-Dignity at all times.

-Yes.

Try a little... This one. No, no. Maybe...

That's my hat.

Oh! Oh-ho. HE GIGGLES

Yes, lovely. Oh!

Yes, fine. How are we doing now? Lovely. That's it.

-Argh!

-Don't worry. There we are.

We've got it made. I don't think... I don't...

LAUGHTER

Keep smiling.

Now, go forward. Get ready.

LAUGHTER

-I've had enough.

-Had enough?

Yes, I have. I'm going home. Thank you very much!

When I first saw the script for that sketch, it said,

"Eric and Ernie, plus Penelope, staircase."

And I thought, that's rather strange, I wonder what that will be.

So, when I started rehearsing, they said to me,

I said, "What's the staircase?"

"Oh, what we'll do is make a grand entrance.

"You'll be in a beautiful gown, and we'll be in white tie and tails.

"And then, when we get to the end of the staircase,

"two of the last steps are missing."

So, I said, "Fine."

I was in their hands, I'd have done anything by this time.

It wasn't until I got into the studio that I saw

that the last two steps were, in fact, about 10 foot high.

So, I was taken totally by surprise.

With Eric and Ernie, the comedy was always about

puncturing the glamour, and sending up the grand occasion.

# So we'll walk up the avenue Yes, we'll walk up the avenue

# And to walk up the avenue's what we like. #

What do you think of it so far? "Rubbish!" Oh, yes?

Everything was rehearsed terribly, terribly well, with a lot of laughs.

I can remember standing in between Eric and Ernie

at some point during one or two of the sketches I did.

And Eric went forward as if I'd goosed him.

And, of course, I laughed.

He did that every day, every day I laughed,

and indeed I laughed on the take as well.

-Would you like a little drink?

-That's very kind, I'll help myself to a lager.

LAUGHTER

-They're all at it, you know.

-Yes.

It may have looked as if they were making it up as they went along,

but it took two weeks of intensive rehearsals to get a show into shape.

Here's some rare footage of the boys rehearsing with Anita Harris.

ERNIE HUMS ALONG TO PIANO

# Everybody loves a baby That's why I'm in love with you

# Pretty baby, pretty baby

# And I'd like to be your sister, brother, dad and mother too

# Pretty baby, pretty baby

-# Won't you come and let me rock... #

-WORDS MUDDLED

# And we'll cuddle all the time

# Oh, I want a lovin' baby And it might as well be you

# Pretty baby of mine. #

It's hard to believe that, when Morecambe and Wise first auditioned for the BBC,

the notes came back as follows.

BIG BAND MUSIC

Thank goodness they took no notice.

Another key to the show's popularity

was to reveal familiar faces in a new light.

# You were never lovelier

# Lovelier

# Lovelier

# Lovelier

# Lovelier

# Lovelier

-(FALSETTO) #

-Lovelier!

# All I can say is, "Wow!"

# Wait till the riff and raff

# See just exactly how I sign my autograph

# What a set-up, holy cow! They'll never believe it

# If my friends could see me now!

# If you ever feel so happy you land in jail, I'm your bail

# It's friendship, friendship Just a perfect blendship

# When other friendships have been forgot

# Ours will still be hot! #

When Angela Rippon first stepped out from behind the desk

on Christmas day in 1976,

the country went bonkers.

She had been the BBC's first female newsreader.

She was brisk, she was professional.

But no-one had ever seen her below the waist, let alone on the move.

A report on the economy has just come through from number 11 Downing Street.

The Chancellor's statement reads as follows.

"There may be trouble ahead,

"but while there's midnight, and music, and love, and romance!"

MUSIC

# Let's face the music and dance. #

# You were meant for me

# I was meant for you

# Nature fashioned you And when she was done

# You are all the sweet things rolled into one

# Plaintive melody... #

Ahhh!

# That will not set me free

# I contend the angels must have sent you

# And they meant you just for...

-# A!

-You're adorable

-# B.

-But you're beautiful

-# C!

-You're a cutie full of charms

-# A!

-You're adorable

-# B!

-But you're beautiful

-# F!

-You're a feather in my arms

-# G!

-You look good to me

-# A!

-You're adorable

-# B!

-But you're beautiful

-# C!

-You're a cutie full of charm

# It's fun to wander through the alphabet with you

-# But what are we gonna do about him?

-Who me?

-Yes!

-# A!

-You're adorable

-# B!

-But you're beautiful

-# C!

-You're a cutie full of charm

-# J!

-You're like Jack and Jill

-# K!

-You're so kissable

-# A!

-You're adorable

-# B!

-It's fun to do the alphabet with you

-# But what are we gonna do about him?

-Hey? Oof! #

One, two, a-one, two, three, four!

SAMBA MUSIC

Pea-nuuuts!

MUSIC RESUMES AT FRANTIC PACE

Angela Rippon's appearance opened the floodgates

for more strait-laced presenters to join Eric and Ernie in a routine.

# Lots of things in life are beautiful but, brother

# There is one particular thing that is nothin' whatsoever

# In any way, shape or form like any other.

# Other!

# Who said that? #

Burt?!

THEY WHISTLE ALONG WITH MELODY

Eric had been nervous about this sketch.

He couldn't see how they would make the acrobatics work.

They seemed to have convinced some people, though,

because Barry Norman and Richard Baker were inundated with requests

for further demonstrations of their remarkable gymnastic skills.

THEY CHEER

Eric and Ernie liked playing running gags,

and it wasn't just with well-known faces.

They had their own roster of minor stars.

Here was one of their favourites.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce you to

one of the world's greatest harmonica players,

Mr Arthur Tolcher!

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE STOPS ABRUPTLY, LAUGHTER

HE PLAYS

APPLAUSE

HE RESUMES PLAYING

APPLAUSE

HE RESUMES PLAYING

Great!

Arthur Tolcher was a friend of Eric and Ernie from their variety days.

Here's Eric with his and Arthur's mother.

Like Eric, Arthur's mother was a driving force behind her son,

and a memo was circulated around the BBC branding her a pest

for constantly pushing her son forward.

The memo said...

To be fair to the BBC,

they received the first letter in 1937, when Arthur was 15,

and continued to receive them on a regular basis up until 1956.

Sadly, his mother didn't live to see her son's prime-time success.

Ladies and gentlemen, my latest play, Napoleon...

HE PLAYS

Not now, Arthur!

Please, not now.

Ladies and gentlemen, the very beautiful, very talented, very well-known...

HE PLAYS

Not now, Arthur. Not now.

Sorry about that.

Ladies and gentlemen, it's my pleasure to introduce you

-to a charming young lady, someone...

-HE PLAYS

Not now, Arthur.

Arthur, you're becoming a nuisance.

Another returning guest from their variety days was Des O'Connor.

Short for Desperate?

ORCHESTRAL INTRODUCTION

That is the best record Des has ever made.

You mean there was nothing on it at all?

MUSICAL INTRODUCTION

# I... #

LAUGHTER

Originally, Frankie Vaughan was to have been the target of their humour.

Ladies and gentlemen, it's Frankie Vaughan!

MUSICAL INTRODUCTION

LAUGHTER

He's too old to be Frankie Vaughan's son.

-That's Frankie Vaughan's son, David.

-If that's his son, how old's Frankie?

Nobody dare ask.

It's a special request for this number.

-By a little old lady who's deaf.

-Yes.

LAUGHTER

-She phoned us from New Zealand.

-Yes.

-And she said...

Reverse charges as well!

Would you sing Cabaret for her, good and loud?

Well.

I would love to do Cabaret.

But it's impossible, I don't have an orchestration...

I thought it was the way you walked! I'm sorry, I didn't realise that.

I have no music, no straw hat.

I've got a straw hat.

Frankie, we've fixed up the music, you just leave it to us.

Everything's fixed, don't worry about it.

It's been a great pleasure working with you.

MUSICAL INTRODUCTION

THEY PLAY TUNELESSLY AND OFF BEAT

# What good is sitting alone in your room?

# Come hear the music play

# Life is a cabaret, old chum

# Come to the cabaret. #

As a joke, Frankie had got his lawyer to send the pair a letter

threatening to sue them if they didn't stop ridiculing him.

Ernie took it seriously, and the duo redirected the lampoons towards Des.

BIG BAND MUSIC

LAUGHTER

Props always played an enormous part in Eric and Ernie's act.

Step forward and take a bow, special effects man Bill King.

MUSIC

LATIN MUSIC

# Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. #

LAUGHTER DROWNS SINGING

APPLAUSE

Sometimes, less is more.

No set, no costumes, just three stools.

# Oh, we ain't got a barrel of money

# Maybe we're ragged and funny

# But we'll travel along

# Singing a song

# Side by side

# We don't know what's coming tomorrow

# Maybe it's trouble and sorrow

# But we'll travel the road sharing our load

# Side by side. #

# Through all kinds of weather

# What if the sky should fall?

# Just as long as we're together

# It doesn't matter at all.

# When they've all had their quarrels and parted

# We'll be the same as we started

# Just travellin' along Singin' our song

# Side by side! #

This next classic routine was an idea Ernie had had 12 years before.

MUSIC: "The Stripper" by David Rose

LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE

One of the ways the pair involved their guests each week

was to persuade, dupe, blackmail them

into appearing in one of the "Plays What Ernie Wrote."

Most of them ended on a song and dance.

-# I really can't stay

-But, baby, it's cold outside

-# I've got to go away

-But, baby, it's cold outside

-# This evening has been so very nice

-I'm hoping that you'll drop in

# I'll hold your hands They're just like ice

-# My mother will start to worry!

-Beautiful, what's your hurry?

# And father will be pacing the floor

# Listen to the fireplace roar

-# So, really, I'd better scurry!

-Beautiful, please, don't hurry

# Well, maybe, just a half a drink more

# Never such a blizzard before. #

# Do you promise to forgive and to forget if I should be a bit flirtatious? #

-What she say?

-What she say?

# Will you try and understand if I'm a bit on the Casanova side? #

What he say? What he say?

# If I go out with the boys Would you say it's full of joy

# That a fella cannot count on from his bride? #

Now, wait a minute.

Can you do this without moving your lips?

BAG SNAPS

LAUGHTER

BAG SNAPS

# Have you ever hoped to say you'll share a joint account?

# We say the nicest things. #

I'm surrounded by amateurs!

# We say the nicest things! #

APPLAUSE

I was asked to play Roxanne in Cyrano De Bergerac.

I'd never played it in a theatre,

but it's a marvellous addition to my CV.

# Look at you

# Look at me

# Wish that we could always be

# So young

# So gay

# That's him today

# Look ahead

# Can't you see

# What our future's going to be?

# Well, I'm not young

# And he's not gay

# To me, he'll always seem that way

# Some day your figure is bound to spread

# Your fallen arches will drop like lead

# You'll find your beautiful smile has fled

# No hair on top of your shiny head

# Don't let the wrinkles upset you

# I'll still be happy I met you

# Darn it, baby, that's love

# Some day you're gonna have chins to spare

# Where are the muscles that once were there

# You'll sit and rock in your rocking chair

# Gosh, boys but you'll be a gruesome pair

# Though you're a physical wreck, dear

# I'll still be happy to neck, dear

# Darn it, baby, that's love!

-(DEEP VOICE)

-In spite the fact that

# Some day your memory's gonna fail

# You'll be exhausted when you inhale

# You'll need bifocals to read the mail

# I'll find your jokes just a wee bit stale

# Though you may look like December

# It's May, I'm gonna remember

# You will always be my turtle dove

# It's me for you

# And you for me

# Collecting social security

-# Mush!

-Darn it, baby, that's

-# Mush!

-Darn it, baby, that's

# Hold!

# Darn it, baby, that's love. #

MUSIC STUTTERS TO AN END

APPLAUSE

Some of the biggest names in music were also happy

to be humiliated by Eric and Ernie.

Even Elephant John.

We'll do something else. I know, we'll do the counter melody.

-That's a good one.

-You know that? # Won't you play a simple melody. #

-Oh, yeah, my mother's favourite, that.

-Is it really?

If she was out there, there'd be tears in her eye.

-Why?

-She can't stand me. LAUGHTER

This is the novel idea. You sing -

# Won't you play a simple melody. #

I sing that, I sing that.

While you sing that, I sing -

# Musical demon Set your honey a-dreamin'

# Won't you play me some rag? #

-OK?

-Yeah.

-You start. Don't you know the other one?

LAUGHTER

-Yes! I know them both.

-He knows them both.

But you're going to... You're going to start with the melody,

-and I'm going to do the counter melody.

-I start?

-Yeah.

So, it's - (HESITANTLY) # Won't... Won't...

LAUGHTER

Just a moment.

IMITATES A TUNING FORK

# Won't...

ELTON PLAYS A NOTE

That's close, that's close.

(TUNELESSLY) # Won't... you play a simple -

-BOTH:

-# Musical demon Set your honey a-dreamin'... #

No, no!

Hold it, son, hold it.

LAUGHTER

-You sing -

-BOTH: # Won't you play a simple -

BOTH: # Musical demon Set your honey a-dreamin'...

-No, no!

-Hold it, hold it, son. You're starting to annoy me.

BOTH: # Won't you play a simple

# Musical demon... # Hold it, son!

# Won't you play a simp... Won't... Mu...

# Won't you... come home, Bill Bailey Won't you come home. #

Hold it! Hold it!

-Can I make a suggestion, can I make a suggestion?

-Yes!

-Oh, good.

-Come around, Hilton.

-What Mr Wise was trying to tell you...

-Who?

-Mr Wise.

-He respects me!

-Mr Wise.

-It's age!

You sing your first bit, right?

Which is, # Won't... # That bit.

-And you keep going and let him carry the counter-melody.

-Yeah.

-Cos you're singing his bit at the moment.

-Yeah.

So, we'll go through it, and you just sing your bit, right?

-You got me?

-Yes!

Right, so, here we go. Right?

ALL: # Won't you play a simple mel...

-# Musical demon... #

-No!

Hold it, son, hold it.

Now, it's not very difficult.

All you have to do is keep to your own bit.

-Keep to my own bit.

-Just keep to it. Ignore him.

-Ignore me. Mr Wise.

Right. Here we go, right?

# Won't you play a simple...

# Musical demon... #

No!

LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE

What I am telling you is it's...

# Won't you play a simple me-lo-dy. #

And not, # Musical demon, set your honey a-dreaming. #

God! I'm not used to working under these circumstances.

Appearing on Eric and Ernie's show

wasn't always the greatest platform

for guests to showcase their latest hits.

# Sweet dreams, baby

# Dream, baby, sweet dreams, baby

# Sweet dreams, baby

# Dream, baby, sweet dreams, baby

# Sweet dreams, baby

# Dream, baby, sweet dreams, baby

# How long must I dream?

# Dream, baby, got me dreaming sweet dreams the whole day

# Dream, baby, got me dreaming sweet dreams the whole damn day... #

LAUGHTER DROWNS MUSIC

# Dreaming of you... #

Take a listen to this.

# Yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay

# Yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay

# Well, just because I... #

Does it sound familiar?

It's Helen Shapiro's Don't Treat Me Like A Child.

And those backing vocals

inspired one of Eric and Ernie's most famous sketches.

# Yay, yay, yay

-# I know why I've waited

-Yay, yay, yay

-# Know why I've been blue

-Yay, yay, yay

-# Wait each night for someone

-Yay, yay, yay

-# Exactly like you

-Yay, yay, yay, yay

-# Why should we spend money

-Yay, yay, yay

-# On a show or two?

-Yay, yay, yay

-# No-one plays those love scenes

-Yay, yay, yay

-# Exactly like you

-Yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay

# You make me feel so glad

# I want to hand the world to you

# You seem to understand

# Each foolish little dream that I'm dreaming

# Scheme that I'm scheming

# Dream that I'm dreaming Scheme that I'm scheming

# Now I know why mother

# Taught me to be true

# She'd want me for someone

-# Exactly like you

-Yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay

# Exactly like you

# You make me feel so glad

# I want to hand the world to you

# You seem to understand

# Each foolish little dream that I'm dreaming

# Scheme that I'm scheming

# Dream that I'm dreaming Scheme that I'm scheming

-# Now I know why mother

-Yay, yay, yay

-# Taught me to be true

-Yay, yay, yay

# She meant me for someone Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

# Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly like you

# Exactly like you

-# Exactly like you

-Yaaaaaay

# Yay, yay, yay. #

If they weren't backing singers, they were backing dancers.

# Got together a new kind of orchestra

# And we all played just the same goofus harmony

# And I must admit We made a hit

# Goofus has been lucky for me. #

# I'd tell the whole darn world

# If you don't happen to like it

# Deal me out

# Thank you kindly, pass me by

# Pass me by, pass me by

# If you don't happen to like it Pass me by. #

# The minute you walked in the joint

# I could see you were a man of distinction

# A real big spender

# Good looking, so refined

# Wouldn't you like to know what's going on in my mind?

# So let me get right to the point

# I won't pop my cork for every guy I see

# Hey, big spender

# Spend a little time with me. #

Another favourite trick of theirs was to masquerade as scenery men.

# They asked me how I know

# My true love was true

# I of course replied

# Something deep inside

# Cannot be denied

# They said some day you'll find

# All who love are blind

# When your heart's on fire

# You must realise

# Smoke gets in your eyes

# So I chaffed them and I gaily laughed

# To think they could doubt my love... #

LAUGHTER DROWNS MUSIC

# Yet today my love has flown away... #

LAUGHTER DROWNS MUSIC

# Now, laughing friends deride

# Tears I cannot hide

# So I smile and say

# When a lovely flame dies

# Smoke gets in your eyes

# So I... #

LAUGHTER DROWNS MUSIC

# To think that they could doubt my love

# Today my love has flown away

# I am without my love

# Now laughing friends deride

# Tears I cannot hide

# So I smile and say

# When a lovely flame dies

# Smoke gets in your eyes. #

# Like a clock Whose hands are sweeping

# Past the minutes of his face LAUGHTER

# And the world is like an apple Whirling silently in space

# Like circles that you find

# In the windmills of your mind CLANGING

# Like a tunnel that you follow To a tunnel of its own

# Down a hollow to a cavern Where the sun has never shone

# Like a door that keeps revolving In a half forgotten dream

# Or the ripples from a pebble Someone tosses in a stream

# Like a clock whose hands are sweeping

# Past the minutes of its face

# And the world is like an apple Whirling silently in space

# Like the circles that you find... # CLANGING

# In the windmills of your mind... # LOUD CREAKING

# Like a circle, then a spiral

# Like a wheel within a wheel

# Never ending or beginning

# On an ever spinning reel

# As the images unwind Like the circles that you find

# In the windmills of your mind. #

APPLAUSE

A Morecambe and Wise dance routine often paid homage to the golden age of the Hollywood musical.

Both Eric and Ernie were experience dancers,

and although some of their co-hoofers weren't regulars on the dance floor,

they managed to pull it off with panache.

# There may be trouble ahead

# Ahh, ahh

# But while there's moonlight and music and love and romance

# Let's face the music and dance

# There may be teardrops to shed

# Aaah, aaah

# So while there's moonlight and music and love and romance

# Let's face the music and dance

# I wont dance. #

-She won't dance!

-Don't ask her!

-# I won't dance! #

-She won't dance!

-Don't ask her!

-# I won't dance! #

-She won't dance!

# Madam, with you

# My heart won't let my feet do things they should do

-# You know what?

-Know what?

-# I'm lovely

-And so what?

-# So what?

-I'm lovely

-# You know what?

-No, what?

# You do to me

# I'm like an ocean wave that's bumped on the shore

# Must you dance?

# Every dance?

# With the same fortunate man?

# You have danced with him since the music began

# Won't you change partners

# And dance with me?

# Won't you dance Quite so close

# With your lips Touching his face

# Won't you change partners and dance with me?

# You may never want to Change partners again. #

By 1976, expectations of the Morecambe and Wise Christmas shows were running so high

that the strain was beginning to take it's toll on Eric's health.

So, for this sketch, Eric took things at a slower pace

while Ernie was the one on the move. And what a mover!

# I'm singin' in the rain

# Just singin' in the rain

# What a glorious feeling

# I'm happy again

# I'm laughin' at clouds

# So dark up above

# The sun's in my heart

# And I'm ready for love

# Let the stormy clouds chase

# Everyone from the place

# Come on with the rain

# I've a smile on my face

# I walk down the lane

# With a happy refrain

# I'm singin' Just singin' in the rain

# I'm dancin' in the rain

# Da-da-da, da-da-da

# Dee-da-da, da-da-dee-da

# I'm happy again

# I walk down the lane

# With a happy refrain

# Just singing and dancing in the rain. #

I'm wet through!

Have you seen what you've done to me? I'm wet through!

You! I'm wet through, I am. That's not nice.

I'm wet through, folks.

# Just singing and dancing in the rain. #

The tap dance at the beginning of this next number was an old routine

they used to do in their variety days, called Yankee Doodle Dandy.

It was the only tap dance they knew and they got it down to a fine art.

What are you playing at?

I mean, let's face it, he's half a star, aren't you?

Yes, I'm half a st...

Pushing us off!

According to Eric, that number had to be done in one

take, otherwise they had to start again,

which is why they kept in the unrehearsed fall during the fight.

Please, please, please!

We're in the middle of our dance routine...

Please, pull yourselves together!

Get in a line, get in line! Go on.

-Wait!

-One, two...

One of Morecambe and Wise's most famous sketches had had

a dry run way back in the 1960s.

MUSIC: "Piano Concerto" by Grieg

-I say!

-Yes?

What are you doing there?

I was going to play the piano.

Well, you should, I cued you in to play the piano.

You see, the point is, there's not enough introduction music.

-Do you follow my meaning?

-What do you mean?

Well, I'm not getting there in time with the introduction.

You see, what's happening, it's going, "La-ta-ta-ta...

"ta-ta-ta..."

-And I'm only getting here.

-Oh, I see.

Really, I should be here.

Yes, yes.

So...

..the introduction music is about that much too short.

-Oh, is it?!

-Yeah.

But it was the added ingredient of having one of the world's most

respected conductors, Andre Previn, that took the sketch to new heights.

At the time, Previn was so busy he famously had to

learn his lines in the taxi on the way to the studios.

The lack of rehearsal made Eric so nervous he asked Ernie

if he'd play the conducting role as he had years before.

Luckily he didn't get his way.

This is the moment when Eric realises it's going to be OK.

Good night, gentlemen.

-Please don't go.

-What's the matter with him?

Don't go, Mr Preview...

-Privet!

-Previn.

I can assure you that Eric is more than capable.

Well, all right, I'll go and get my baton.

-Please do that.

-Yes, it's in Chicago.

Is it?

Wow, he's in, I like him!

Eric gave Previn two pieces of advice before filming this...

Only thing is, he forgot to tell the orchestra.

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight, Grieg's Piano Concerto by Grieg...

LAUGHTER

..Soloist, Mr Eric Morecambe,

conducted by Mr Andre Previn. Thank you.

MAN LAUGHS

What's the matter?

What's wrong? What happened?

It's the introduction.

The introduction's wrong?

It's too short.

-It's too short?!

-Oh, you noticed?

Yes! By how much is it too short?

Well, you see, I went down here like that.

Yes. You wasted some time there!

I wasted time there, yes.

You see, it's about, I would say about that much.

-It's about a yard.

-About a yard.

Yes, if you could lengthen it by about a yard, we'll be in.

And...what do you think we can do about that?

Oh, well...

That's nothing to do with me.

My musical manager does all this.

Could we get in touch with Grieg?

That's a good idea.

You mean, call him on the phone?

Well, why not?

What a shame I didn't bring his phone number.

It's Norway something or other, isn't it?

What's the code?

Fingal's Cave.

I think it's Fingal's Cave.

Mind you, you might not get him, he could be out skiing.

Look, look, could we just try it again?

I'll tell you what, this time I'll sit down there waiting.

What a good thought.

-Hey!

-You'd be ready.

He's in, isn't he? I like him. Oh, yes!

-I'll announce it again.

-Do that.

All right, ladies and gentlemen, Grieg's Piano Concerto,

soloist Eric Morecambe, conductor Mr Andrew Preview.

DRUM ROLLS

Any time!

Could I have a word with you, please?

I'm sorry, I'm terribly sorry.

Look, you see, the point is, it's one of those things...

Has he gone?

Oh, there you are.

-You see, I hope you don't mind me saying this...

-No.

..but when you got to the part which was my cue, I couldn't see you

for the lid of the piano.

-Yes.

-The lid of the piano was in the way?

-Was it?

-Yes.

It was the lid of the piano.

I don't know what we can do about that.

He wants to be taller, doesn't he?

Could you wear high heels?

Again?

No, you don't have to, you know.

I don't know what we can do about that.

Well, I have a suggestion.

Would you jump up in the air?

So I can see you over the lid of the piano?

You want me to actually jump into the air on the rostrum

in order so you can see my cue?

Yes, I mean, if you'd do that for me?

Yes, I'll do that for you.

-I'll announce it again.

-Yes, nice man, isn't he?

-Isn't he charming?

-I like him.

Grieg by... With him and him.

OPENING BARS OF CONCERTO

Great!

ERIC PLAYS WRONG TUNE

Something wrong with the violins?

No, there's nothing wrong with the violins.

That's only your opinion.

What were you playing just then?

The Grieg Piano Concerto.

But...

..you're playing all the wrong notes.

I'm playing all the right notes.

But not necessarily in the right order.

I'll give you that.

I'll give you that, sunshine.

That sounded quite reasonable to me.

Are you satisfied, Mr Preview?

-No!

-No?

What do you mean, no?

-I am not satisfied.

-Why not?

Look here, with all due... Would you mind, just one second?

Don't forget, for another four pounds we could have got Edward Heath!

HE PLAYS GRIEG PIANO CONCERTO

Rubbish!

PLAYING ERIC'S TUNE

That's it!

That's us got it. Come on!

Wonderful stuff.

So we've reached the end of this celebration of the song

and dance of Morecambe and Wise.

There's really only one thing left to do. Here's a clue.

Remind you of anything?

No? It was Eric and Ernie's homage to the Marx Brothers.

The song that accompanied that iconic dance began life in 1966.

It was written by a couple of New Yorkers, Arthur Kent and Sylvia Dee.

It was a sweet, some might say forgettable, little piece.

But it attracted Eric and Ernie

because Mrs Morecambe's pet name for her son was "Sunshine".

Good night.

# Bring me Sunshine, in your smile

# Bring me laughter all the while. #

You said we were finishing with that one!

# In this world where we live

# There should be more happiness

# So much joy you can give

# To each brand-new bright tomorrow

# Make me happy, through the years

# Never bring me any tears... #

-What do you think of it so far?

-Rubbish!

# Let your arms be as warm as the sun from up above

# Bring me fun, bring me sunshine Bring me love

# Bring me sunshine in your smile

# Bring me laughter

# All the while

# Let your arms be as warm as the sun from up above

# Bring me fun

# Bring me sunshine Bring me love. #

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd