NORMAN IS THAT YOU

US, 1976, 91 minutes, Colour.
Redd Foxx, Pearl Bailey, Dennis Dugan, Michael Warren, Tamara Dobson.
Directed by George Schlatter.

Norman… Is That You? is based on a play – which may not seem politically correct in later decades. Redd Foxx and Pearl Bailey are parents who discover that their son is gay and want to remedy this. There is a lot of comedy, a bit daring at the time, about gays – especially with very camp kinds of characters and a dream sequence of the Nellies, the award for the vacuum cleaner salesman of the year.

Redd Foxx was popular on television, Pearl Bailey famous as a singer, Dennis Dugan as an actor and later director.

George Schlatter is best known for directed a number of television variety shows and performances over the decades.

Despite the lack of political correctness, there are many funny things about Norman… Is That You?

1. The appeal of the film, as a comedy, human document? the attitude towards gay liberation causes?

2. How evident that it was based on a stage play? Contrived scenes, characters as types, illustrating situations? farcical aspects? The quality of the humour in scenes, dialogue?

3. Colour, the modern American scene? The stars? Music? The black point of view?

4. How humane in outlook was the film? Its portrayal of relationships, moral comment? Attitude towards blacks?

5. The theme of homosexuality? how real, contrived? How sympathetically presented? How sympathetically? In any way explored? The use of humour? Offensive, inoffensive?

6. The father and his saying the title of the film? The portrayal of the older generation, home background, his wife running off, attitude towards her and his brother? Seeking sympathy from his son, his reaction to the situation? Hiring Audrey? His behaviour with her? Attitude towards homosexuality, heterosexuality, sex in general? The resolution of the film and his final attitude towards his son?

7. The contrast with his wife, her behaviour, motives? The comedy of her arrival? Her reaction to her son? The final solution and the employment of Garcon?

8. How credible a character was Norman in himself? Revealed as living with Garcon? Style in decor of home and clothing? His attitude towards a problem and no problem? Generation gap? His spending the night with his girl friend? Attitude towards Garcon, to the future? future?

9. Garcon as a farcical character? exaggerated style, jokes? The portrayal of Larry with his show and the gay humour?

10. Audrey and her reaction? The farcical aspect of her presence? The moral ambiguity?

11. The quality of the farcical situations? How particularly American? Good taste or not?

12. How much feeling was there for people in the film? The balance between humour and compassion?