Britain's Most Loved and Best Comedy Double Act

That Riviera Touch Press Pack - Page 2




BIG LAUGHS Keep The Peace Better Than THE BOMB … says Hugh Stewart

Years ago, when Hugh Stewart who produced That Riviera Touch was starting his film-making career, he was writing scripts for the custard-pie comedies. In recent years he has produced the Norman Wisdom comedies.

Particular Quality
His belief is that Morecambe and Wise can become international stars as Norman Wisdom became an international star.

He adopted the same tactics with them as he did with Wisdom.
"It would be fatal to try and do otherwise", he said. "What matters is that particular quality—that jewel a comedian has. That is what had to be exploited throughout the film".

Slapstick
Hugh is also a great believer in slapstick.
Indeed he holds it to be timeless. Human nature being what it is, Hugh believes, the average person will always laugh when another person comes a harmless "cropper". That's logical reasoning.

"The illogical thing", said Hugh Stewart, "is that people should think slapstick outmoded."
"Slapstick derives from the honourable tradition of the Commedia delTArte."
"Thrills, action, drama—all these are inherited from the theatre, from literature and from the circus."

"But slapstick has a unique place. This is proved by the fact that the great film names known by those too young to have SEEN the performers, are all slapstick comedians—Chaplin, Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, Harold Lloyd, the Keystone Cops and others".

His love of slapstick as an entertainment is proof that Hugh Stewart is never afraid to "prick the balloon" of pomposity. He dislikes pompous people.

Squashy Fruit
He, himself, is never afraid of losing his dignity. An actor once went up to him and asked: "I get some squashy fruit all over my face in this scene. How should I play it?

Hugh picked up some of the squashy fruit. "Like this", he replied. And slapped the fruit all over his own face. The demonstration was much appreciated by the film unit. The important thing was that the film unit were laughing with Hugh Stewart, not at him.

Fanatical Belief
Laughter is Hugh Stewart's life. He has an almost fanatical belief in its value. He believes it can do more to encourage nation to live in peace with nation than the Big Bomb.

"Comedy is the great leveller", he said.

"Laughter is the common language of the whole world. It is universal. You can share a laugh in any land—and be the better for it".


© Rank Organisation 2008
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Morecambe and Wise Press Packs
As feature films are released, the press are given packs that introduce them to the film. View the press packs here.