This is a double movie offering with the rag and bone men from Steptoe and Son branching out from their half hour episodes into full length feature films. The general plot remains the same. Harold is the single, late 30s son and Albert is the manipulative father who wants the best for his boy but seems to be able to find a way to stop his boy having any long-lasting joy.

In the first movie we start with a flashback after the divorce court proceedings where Harold and the old man go to a function at the local footy club. Harold falls in love with the stripper, eventually going on to marry her. Albert, the dirty old man of so many episodes doesn?t think the stripper is good enough for his boy and finds many reasons to get in the way of the relationship. When the marriage day arrives he stalls and stall but Harold eventually goes through with it.

In a twist that most people wouldn?t even consider in real life, Harold takes the old man on the honeymoon to Spain. Albert continues to manipulate the system until he falls ill and he and Harold take the only seats available on the plane to England. The wife stays on and is left to fend for herself as the boys get back and wait for her to join them. Initially the letters are quite loving but as time goes on they become less so and eventually they cease. Poor Harold is left without the love of his life until he meets her many moths later. She is going to have a baby and Harold really hopes its his but, as usual, things go awry and he ends up without baby or wife, while Dad lingers on.

In the second movie the guys are down on their luck as usual and to make matters worse their horse that pulls the rag and bone cart is sick and needs replacing. Harold seizes in the idea of getting a greyhound to win them lots of money but he falls into a trap laid by the local hoods and gets a dog that has a nasty habit of staying in the box when the gate opens. Eventually, after a great deal of experimentation they teach the dog to race but he fluffs his big chance when he jumps the fence to be with Harold and Albert rather than finish chasing the hare.

The hoods want their money and when Harold finds out how much Albert?s insurance is worth they decide to fake the father?s death. Things get out of hand as the rest of the rag and bone trade comes to pay their respects but the ruse works until the guys decide Albert needs to be resurrected. Eventually, despite this modern day Lazarus miracle the boys pocket ?876. Their riches don?t last long as Harold buys a racehorse that can?t run.

I used to watch the Steptoe and Son show when I was much younger and it was in Black and White on the TV. The concepts explored in the half-hour shows were really well done and the comedy was well written and well acted. Unfortunately, in your humble correspondent?s opinion, they should have left it at that.

This is not a show that translates to the movies very well as the underlying concept of the manipulative, socially inept father and the son watching his life pass by without hope of ever leaving the rag and bone trade is better served in small doses. I thought that they played the idea for everything it was worth and lost. I wrote ?quite stupid? in my notes at one stage and I reckon that?s a bit sad after the fabulous TV show I remember from years ago. There will be others who will really enjoy the movies and good luck to them. I am disappointed that I didn?t enjoy it as much as I had hoped. Perhaps its just me?

THE EXTRAS

Apart from scene selection there were none.

CONCLUSION

If you liked the old British series about the rag and bone men Steptoe and Son then this double movie offering might be what you?re looking for. Follow Harold through the trails and tribulations of his marriage to a stripper with the dirty old man Albert right there to spoil things. In the second movie the boys try a couple of get rich schemes with the usual limited success.