Norbert Smith: A Life

Sir Norbert's home of 25 years, since nineteen sixty whatnot, which he had converted from an old country manor into a vicarage. Dorney Court at Dorney in Buckinghamshire.

The sun dial is still there but the topiary has changed. SJ

As the Interviewer (Melvyn Bragg) for the special television tribute explains that Sir Norbert Smith (Harry Enfield) is 80 this week, the old actor walks into the branches of a bush. Dorney Court to the north-west of Windsor.

Antony Blair visited Dorney Court, which dates back to the 1440s.

Looking back on the celebrated actor's distinguished career, the Interviewer tells the viewers that most evenings after school, Norbert would take himself to the Peckham Empire where he fell in love with the music hall. In reality, this is the Empire Theatre in Leicester Square WC2 seen at the turn of the last century.

Totally different buildings and now pedestrianised. (RL)

After appearing as a sidekick to Will Silly in the 1936 film 'Oh Mr. Bankrobber', Norbert starred in 'Rebel Without a Tie' the following year as a juvenile delinquent seen here in a scene with Barney played by Simon Godley.

The success of 'Rebel Without a Tie' made Norbert realise that possibilities were opening up for him beyond the shores of England and in 1938 he set sail . . . . for the Isle of Wight.

Then, in September of 1939. the peace of the Isle of Wight was to be shattered by the outbreak of war in Europe. Not wishing to shirk his responsibilities towards his country, Norbert Smith set sail at once . . . . for America. A period view of the Queen Mary arriving in New York, New York.

Now, so well known, Norbert was offered one of the prize rolls of the time, acting with Cecilia Johanson (Felicity Montagu) in a Sudso commercial. Horsted Keynes station on the Bluebell Railway in West Sussex.

John Harwood caught the carriage door nicely. (SJ)

"I may forget you my darling, but I'll never forget my new Sudso." Horsted Keynes station, also seen in 'The Naked Runner', 'Adolf Hitler, My Part in His Downfall', 'Mr. Holmes', 'Savage Messiah', 'The Beast in the Cellar' and 'Waltz of the Toreadors'

John turned around. (SJ)

In 1955, Norbert Smith opened his own studios. The gates to Dorney Court adjacent to the former entrance Lodge on Village Road, Dorney.

Those gates today. (SR)

As audiences wanted to see American films, the studio made westerns such as 'They Called Him Stranger' which starred Norbert along with Gareth Vaughan as the Mayor. The American Adventure Theme Park at Shipley to the north of Ilkeston in Derbyshire.

Richard Winchester explains that the ‘cowboy town’ was know as Silver City, where guests were once entertained with a Western Show twice a day but the site is currently being redeveloped as Shipley Lakeside after the theme park closed and was left derelict from 2007.

Sir Norbert leads the Interviewer from the house and the two get into his "Austin" Martin. The Grade I listed Dorney Court in Buckinghamshire, which also appears in 'Father Came Too', 'Number 13', 'The Missionary', 'The Black Cat' and 'Sliding Doors'.

Large plant tubs now guard the entrance. (SR)

In 1959, in recognition of the success of his studio, Shakespearian productions and his Sudso commercials, Norbert was to be knighted. Facing Buckingham Palace in London SW1.

The rain has deterred the crowds. SJ

Perhaps surprisingly, his first film as a Knight was to be one of the gritty, new socially realistic films 'It's Grim Up North'. In this clip, Brian Beale (Joe McGann) cycles towards the dysfunctional home that he shares with his Parents and ever pregnant Sister.

Continuing the interview inside the "Austin", Norbert turns onto a main road as he describes his increasing reliance on alcohol . . . . Phil Richards provides the location as Village Road, Dorney pointing out that the shadow of 'Norbert Studios' gates seen in Capture 9 is visible behind the car. (RL)

Phil provides a shot of the same location as it is now. (RL)

. . . before circling back from where he came from.

And so Phil panned to the right to capture the same scene with much fuller trees. (RL)

Following appearances throughout the 60s in films such as 'Keep Your Hair On, Daddio' and 'Rover Returns Home', Norbert's off screen drinking became on screen drinking when he was teamed with Richard Smashed, Dick Booze, Oliver Guiness and Peter O'Pissed for 'The Dogs of Death' before he agreed to star in 'Carry On Banging'.

Outside the gates of USAF Greenham Common, Barbara Windsor and her fellow Protestors advance on two Guards played by Norbert Smith and Jack Douglas.

Appearing as an Officer, Kenneth Connor asks what on Earth is going on.

After an absence of nearly forty years, Hollywood was to call Sir Norbert again . . . to appear, like so many other distinguished British theatrical Knights, in half a dozen films as a foul mouthed, upper crust butler. Facing north at the intersection of North Gower Street and Carlos Avenue in Los Angeles, California with the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood to the right.