Barry Norman RIP

And, why not?;)

RIP Barry. Enjoyed his film reviews in the 80s and 90s


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4656792/Film-critic-Barry-Norman-dies-aged-83.html

Are Am Eye

He could discern good and bad films in all eras and all genres. While overall being a big and enthuasiastic fan of cinema.

bodhrandude

My favourite film critic and a memorable TV theme tune too.

timthumbni

Seemed a nice fella. Grew up listening to his reviews. This was the time before you tube/Facebook so he was quite influential on my underage movie choices.

He was often quite critical of a movie which I enjoyed. Unlike a lot of the reviewer sycophants nowadays who seem to be sponsored by studios.

blueser

He was briliiant. Then to go from him to the risible Jonathan Ross. The mind boggles. Plus, it seems Barry had a bit of a crush on Michelle Pfeiffer as well. So he had excellent taste in women as well!

Cee-Jay-Cee

Was a regular viewer of his show and if he liked a film that was usually good enough for me. RIP

timthumbni

blueser wrote: »

He was briliiant. Then to go from him to the risible Jonathan Ross. The mind boggles. Plus, it seems Barry had a bit of a crush on Michelle Pfeiffer as well. So he had excellent taste in women as well!

What's that about? Re Michelle pfeiffer?

timthumbni

Showing my age I remember Barry reviewing an American werewolf in London. I was only a wee boy and the clip scared the absolute ****e out of me.

Great times. I thought he was quite sarcastic at times and I loved that.

satguy

For those of a certain age, he was a big part of our TV land, and voice worth listening to..

ThisRegard

[Deleted User] wrote: »

And, why not?;)

RIP Barry. Enjoyed his film reviews in the 80s and 90s


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4656792/Film-critic-Barry-Norman-dies-aged-83.html

I watched and listened to his dulcet tones all the time even though I never had the means or intention to see most of the films he ever reviewed.

blueser

timthumbni wrote: »

What's that about? Re Michelle pfeiffer?

https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/881152806362763264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fs9e.github.io%2Fiframe%2Ftwitter.min.html%23881152806362763264

AllForIt

blueser wrote: »

He was briliiant. Then to go from him to the risible Jonathan Ross. The mind boggles. Plus, it seems Barry had a bit of a crush on Michelle Pfeiffer as well. So he had excellent taste in women as well!

I thought Jonathan Ross was really quite good. Much better than his chat show.

And you really don't get much better looking than Michelle Pfeiffer

blueser

AllForIt wrote: »

I thought Jonathan Ross was really quite good. Much better than his chat show.

Behave! He's far too full of himself for me. I always got the impression that he used the programme as a vehicle for self promotion, whereas with Norman, he made sure the programme was about the films, not him.
:mad:

AllForIt wrote: »

And you really don't get much better looking than Michelle Pfeiffer

She wasn't hit too many times with the ugly stick, that's for sure!

AllForIt

blueser wrote: »

Behave! He's far too full of himself for me. I always got the impression that he used the programme as a vehicle for self promotion, whereas with Norman, he made sure the programme was about the films, not him.
:mad:

I think that's a bit harsh but even if it's somewhat true what you say I didn't notice and I for one did enjoy his style of presentation of the show and his insights/comments. I enjoy the current incarnation of the show too in a different way to the Ross/Norman eras.

Barry at his best or at least typical here- 1977 Star Wars review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOAevaDpBE4

timthumbni

Deleted User wrote: »

Barry at his best or at least typical here- 1977 Star Wars review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOAevaDpBE4

Ooooffff. Barry was a wee bit cutting. That's why I liked him. Good clip there. Good spot.

take everything

RIP

Patty O Furniture

Was it Barry himself that was asked did he ever get star-struck with all the guests, he said no, but there was one-time Tom Hanks came in one time & said "ah the Legend that is", he thought was quite nice.

Can't remember how long he done the BBC Show, but afaik was only with Sky for a while, when he moved the Film Reviews to sky!

BBC lost a great show to SKY- never understood why they let the Film franchise go there

Stigura

Big Thanks to Bodhrandude there, for the wonderful reminder. Thanks.

As Blueser said; " He made sure the programme was about the films, not him. "

Oddly enough; I couldn't swear it wasn't my younger brother who turned me onto watching Barry Norman. That would have been back in the early days. I never had a access to a TV, mid 80's onward.

Either way, yeah; Barry Norman? Iconic.



Brother's never really put me onto a bad film either!

I think it was Spitting Image that coined his catchphrase "And, why not" - can't find any Barry Norman-Spitting Image puppet on youtube - it might surface in the coming days.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

I think it was Spitting Image that coined his catchphrase "And, why not" - can't find any Barry Norman-Spitting Image puppet on youtube - it might surface in the coming days.

Actually I found one clip- just a quick appearance at the end:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkJWVODzFqg

snowflaker

Deleted User wrote: »

BBC lost a great show to SKY- never understood why they let the Film franchise go there

Was it not just Barry that left? Film is still on BBC, with Claudia Winkleman (it now, like a lot of BBC shows, has a host rotation)

blueser

Patty O Furniture wrote: »

Was it Barry himself that was asked did he ever get star-struck with all the guests, he said no, but there was one-time Tom Hanks came in one time & said "ah the Legend that is", he thought was quite nice.

Can't remember how long he done the BBC Show, but afaik was only with Sky for a while, when he moved the Film Reviews to sky!

25 years, I think (Film 72 - 98). 1 year away in 1982 presenting Omnibus. Returned in '83.

Deleted User wrote: »

BBC lost a great show to SKY- never understood why they let the Film franchise go there

They didn't lose the show, they lost the host. Norman walked because he was sick of the programme being punted round the schedules, never having a fixed, reasonable slot.

The Highwayman

There was something about his voice when he used to present the 'Film 19**' whatever year, late at night when I was tired and probably past my bedtime. It was soothing and warm, sad news he shall be missed.

9or10

Sorry to see him go.

Always tried to catch Film ** when he was doing it. Clearly doing a job he absolutely loved.

snowflaker

snowflaker wrote: »

Was it not just Barry that left? Film is still on BBC, with Claudia Winkleman (it now, like a lot of BBC shows, has a host rotation)

Ah yeah that was it. Still they should have tried more to keep him. I lost track of him when he jumped to sky. He was originally a journalist and stayed true to that profession throughout in that he wasn't Afraid to be the critic.

valoren

blueser wrote: »

He was briliiant. Then to go from him to the risible Jonathan Ross. The mind boggles. Plus, it seems Barry had a bit of a crush on Michelle Pfeiffer as well. So he had excellent taste in women as well!

Jonathan Ross when reviewing Batman Forever described it as one of the "greatest movies ever made."

LordSutch

The Highwayman wrote: »

There was something about his voice when he used to present the 'Film 19**' whatever year, late at night when I was tired and probably past my bedtime. It was soothing and warm, sad news he shall be missed.

Well said.

I guess Mark Kermode is his successor?

snowflaker

LordSutch wrote: »

Well said.

I guess Mark Kermode is his successor?

I never understood why Kermode wasn't given Film XX

AllForIt

snowflaker wrote: »

I never understood why Kermode wasn't given Film XX

Well he might do it one day. I do like Winkleman and the current format with the guest critics.