The Best Of Morecambe And Wise

Book Review from 2007

This is a collection of Morecambe and Wise scripts that have been strung together by extra snippets that suggest Eric and Ern are talking to you about the book. For example…..

Eric : What happens now?
Ernie : The opening spot from one of the shows we did.
Eric : Is it any good or are you in it?
Ernie : They’re all good. That’s what this book is all about. ‘The best of Morecambe and Wise’
Eric : Should have done ‘The Worst of Morecambe and Wise’ Would have got 23 volumes out of it.

The book has a brief biog of Eric and Ern plus Eddie Braben. There is also a forward from Robin Day. The book also contains many black and white pictures to illustrate the scripts including the guests that starred in them.

One interesting point is that the photographs appear to have been taken during rehearsals and not from the actual recording. Many of the pictures are taken from a different angle to the broadcast and in some, they are not fully in costume.

An example of this is the Cleopatra sketch with Glenda Jackson. There are several shots of the sand dance taken from the side plus Eric is seen to be wearing casual shoes instead of the comedy pointed ones seen in the show.

Included are; Going for a quick one, Frank Finlay, Lust over London, The bank manager, New balls please, Napoleon and Josephine, Escape from Stalag 54, Antony and Cleopatra and more.

This book or at least the style and concept of the book has been rehashed over the years. A newer book, Morecambe & Wise a Celebration contains much the same content but without the narrative.


© morecambeandwise.com 2007