Brad Garrett in "Gleason"

[The Great One]

I would be interested in hearing the opinions of anyone who saw the made-for-TV biography of TV icon Jackie Gleason. I'm no expert on the life and career of Jackie Gleason so I don't know how accurate the movie is but I did enjoy Brad Garrett's portrayal of "The Great One". Maybe some of you pros out there would be willing to point out the inaccuracies if there were any.

[Bill S.]

I haven't seen this yet, but I'd really like to. Is it available on DVD anywhere?

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by Bill S.

I haven't seen this yet, but I'd really like to. Is it available on DVD anywhere?

The "Gleason" dvd is available. The best place to get it from is bestprices.com
and they're only charging $7.99 for it.

[Bill S.]

Originally Posted by The Great One

The "Gleason" dvd is available. The best place to get it from is bestprices.com
and they're only charging $7.99 for it.

Thanks, I'm gonna try and pick that up soon. I'll let you know what I think.

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by Bill S.

Thanks, I'm gonna try and pick that up soon. I'll let you know what I think.

Great! I checked out your Honeymooners website today~AWESOME!!!

[The Great One]

Nobody saw this movie?

[*ClassicPinUp*]

Haven't seen it yet but I can tell you what I think tomorrow.
Just bought it! The cover freaked me out a little at a quick glance Brad really does look like Jackie. I'm glad they had him do this as I think he's the only current actor with enough talent to even compare to Gleason's comic genius.

[VIDEOWACK]

Originally Posted by The Great One

Nobody saw this movie?

I saw this, yes. There were several innacuracies and omissions in this film, mainly with time-lines. The screenwriters didn't do their homework well at all. One such flaw was showing Jackie bringing his future wife home to meet his mother, only to find that she had died. If you read Jim Bishop's bio "THE GOLDEN HAM", that is not what happened. Jackie and his friends were playing cards in the kitchen. He would periodically get up to check on her. She would shortly die while the gang played cards. One such friend was Julie Dennehy, a neighbor. Jackie had yet to meet the woman who would become his first wife.

There were others including his first TV job, which was "LIFE OF RILEY" and NOT "CAVALCADE OF STARS". His using his famous catch phrase "HOW SWEET IT IS" at the beginning of "STAGE SHOW" was a blooper. Gleason didn't start using that phrase until 1962 when he started "THE AMERICAN SCENE MAGAZINE". He first used it in the film "PAPA'S DELICATE CONDITION" which was filmed just before his return to weekly TV in '62. There's also a question of whether he really WAS fired off his first picture, "NAVY BLUES". I have never read anything to back that up over all these years, so I'll leave THAT one open for doubt.

[W.B.]

And regardless of licenses of accuracy in certain parts of Gleason's life - and Mr. Garrett's height - Brad's voice was a bit too deep compared with The Great One. I have heard Gleason described as a baritone, voice-wise; Garrett's voice sounds more like a bass-baritone.

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by W.B.

And regardless of licenses of accuracy in certain parts of Gleason's life - and Mr. Garrett's height - Brad's voice was a bit too deep compared with The Great One. I have heard Gleason described as a baritone, voice-wise; Garrett's voice sounds more like a bass-baritone.

W.B. you are right about Brad's voice. That's the one thing that bothered me a little while I was watching the movie.

[Bill S.]

Originally Posted by The Great One

Great! I checked out your Honeymooners website today~AWESOME!!!

Thanks a lot, I appreciate it.

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by VIDEOWACK

I saw this, yes. There were several innacuracies and omissions in this film, mainly with time-lines. The screenwriters didn't do their homework well at all. One such flaw was showing Jackie bringing his future wife home to meet his mother, only to find that she had died. If you read Jim Bishop's bio "THE GOLDEN HAM", that is not what happened. Jackie and his friends were playing cards in the kitchen. He would periodically get up to check on her. She would shortly die while the gang played cards. One such friend was Julie Dennehy, a neighbor. Jackie had yet to meet the woman who would become his first wife.

There were others including his first TV job, which was "LIFE OF RILEY" and NOT "CAVALCADE OF STARS". His using his famous catch phrase "HOW SWEET IT IS" at the beginning of "STAGE SHOW" was a blooper. Gleason didn't start using that phrase until 1962 when he started "THE AMERICAN SCENE MAGAZINE". He first used it in the film "PAPA'S DELICATE CONDITION" which was filmed just before his return to weekly TV in '62. There's also a question of whether he really WAS fired off his first picture, "NAVY BLUES". I have never read anything to back that up over all these years, so I'll leave THAT one open for doubt.

Hey VIDEOWACK! Thanks for your input. I didn't realize that there were that many innacuracies. Definitely lazy screenwriters!!!

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by AndAwayWeGo

Haven't seen it yet but I can tell you what I think tomorrow.
Just bought it! The cover freaked me out a little at a quick glance Brad really does look like Jackie. I'm glad they had him do this as I think he's the only current actor with enough talent to even compare to Gleason's comic genius.

Great! I hope you enjoy watching it. I thought Brad Garrett's portrayal of Jackie Gleason was awesome.

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by Bill S.

Thanks a lot, I appreciate it.

I hope you don't mind but I definitely will have some Honeymooners questions to ask you in the near future.

[Bill S.]

Originally Posted by The Great One

I hope you don't mind but I definitely will have some Honeymooners questions to ask you in the near future.

No worries, keep 'em coming!