Frank Skinner on George Formby (2011 Documentary)

A great documentary that not only focuses on the man himself, but the fans and the playing technique! An absolute belter!

[@jookingstudio5292]

Beryl and George deserve a lot of credit for their actions in South Africa. It was brave and selfless.

[@steveb60879]

I think it was less about making a stand and the fact that his wife Beryl was quite a vicious woman and didn't take too kindly to being spoken down to.

[@YorkyOne]

Other posters have pointed out the George Formby / Beatles connection via George Harrison. But here's another. The documentary tells of how, 20 years before the Beatles refused to perform to segregated audiences in the American south, George and Beryl made exactly the same stand against the apartheid regime in South Africa. I knew nothing of this. My admiration for them knows no bounds.

[@wmr9019]

I am 58 , my brother, born 9 months after George died ( bro sadly now passed away) and I always loved his films , our favourite song was Mother what'll I do now !!! RIP to all 💖

[@geniehinseth512]

I haven't heard of that one. But the doc said he made about 20 & I only know of about 1/3 or 1/4 of that many. My favorites are He Snoops to Conquer, Bellbottom George & Feather Your Nest in that order too I think. But i wish I could GET ALL OF THEM THAT HE MADE ON AMERICAN DVDS!!!!!

[@Sara_Kane]

I've watched this documentary several times now over the years, it really is a great one! Frank Skinner was the perfect choice to do it, being as he is a huge George Formby fan. His love for the subject shines through, which is wonderful to see. "Our George" is still one of the finest comedic performers this country has ever produced, and a beast of a Uke player too!

[@jmarsh3347]

I laughed, I cried, what an absolute joy to watch.

[@johndaarteest]

56 is no age he's right, just think, if George had lived, he may well have played into the 1980s and 90s. RIP George and thanks for all the entertainment.

[@kenray3205]

George Formby was a legend really funny person! His wife was heroine to stand up to those who stood for Freedom is Man's Birthright.

[@hooplemott]

Thank you Frank... Very informative.

[@MrConan89]

Playing guitar and in bands and solo gigs for 60 years (I am now 71), a pal nagged me to do a GF song a year ago. I went out and bought a uke and sang "Cleaning Windows" at a gig. Having seen this I am inspired to learn more. I bought my two grand daughters ukes and you can click on KZbin to see 6 year old Clementine singing "Darling Clementine" together with me. GF was one of the very very best.

[@graemeyetts3465]

Ive always liked Frank Skinner. The school class clip is lovely here. Look how happy and engaged the kids are.

[@lindamanas954]

Frank really is a very intelligent presenter.

[@JaredGriffiths2000]

I love George Fomby!

[@MrMaverick48]

Was not a fan of Frank Skinner but my estimation of him as gone sky high since watching this video well done Frank.

[@lindsaypeterholden2701]

Yes,completely changed my opinion! Well done Frank and well done George Great stuff!!!

[@broxmouth]

Superb documentary; astonishing that the BBC completely failed to deal with this part of Northern musical historyfor the last 60 years. Frank Skinner deserves thanks for treating the subject seriously and drawing out a rich part of Northern culture that deserves to be remembered. Also amazing that although there are many thousands of uke-players who copy George - very few come even close to his technical virutosity and sheer verve.

[@geniehinseth512]

I didn't think ANYONE had been able to copy George Formby's UNIQUE Uke style & talent. On one Documentary of him that I saw a few years or so ago said that NOBODY HAD as far as THEY KNEW, & as of the date of that documentary been able to impersonate him playing the Uke.

[@lesleymcshanemitchell9651]

Loved this Thank you Laughed cried Remembering that fun man with Moral Values [South Africa[ Great player. But above all A Humanatarian

[@geniehinseth512]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@moirawright327]

Enjoyed this documentary had listened to A few of the usual George Formby songs ,a few weeks ago one of his famous ones kept going around my head but didn't know all the lyrics so asked my alexa to play some songs never realised how fabulous he was ,had me laughing early hours of the morning it was like listening to funny stories ,now quite hooked on him .

[@geniehinseth512]

EASY ADDICTION TO GET!!! I'M ADDICTED TOO!!!

[@charlieskinner6386]

Just a FANTASTIC documentary. Thank you uploader, thank you Mr. Skinner, and of course thank you to Mr. Formby!

[@mrs.g.9816]

Not only was George Formby a great banjo-uke player, but he really appeared to enjoy himself while playing and singing those funny songs. So cheeky and cheerful. I can see why he's still well-loved by lots of people. I appreciated learning more about his life. Thanks so much!

[@geniehinseth512]

I thought AT FIRST that it was a banjo too because it LOOKS like one but my cousin plays the banjo and I THINK the SOUND of the banjo and the uke really are very different. I think that the banjo has a sharper tone and the uke has a softer tone. I don't have one yet but I'd like to get one and try to learn to play it, even though I don't stand a chance of playing it very well. I'm nearly 62 years old. The guitar came very easy to me but I'm sure the Uke is harder.

[@mrs.g.9816]

@@geniehinseth512 As far as I've learned, it's a ukulele with a banjo's sound box to make the sound louder. I'm 67. All my life, I've always loved good music, but I never had the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument. I'd like to buy a used violin and learn country fiddling. Better late than never!

[@wuffothewonderdog]

During the last war in the Far East the troops used to get film shows when not in action. The British troops found that the Indian troops, and particularly the Gurkhas, loved George Formby films and never tired of them.

[@2468Bubbly]

George was a brilliant entertainer and the sour comments here are obviously by people who dont recognise real talent.

[@georgeseraganian271]

As a kid in Canada loved his films in the 1950's. Gracie Fields too.

[@alantrue7316]

Good on you George.,never forgotten.Thanks Frank.,once again!

[@OfficialFingazMC]

Never been a fan of George Formby, but I'm watching 'Goodnight Sweetheart' atm so I thought I would. Plus I love Frank!

[@miriamwilson9542]

what a lovely, charming documentary. thank you!

[@judacia]

Lovely program. Thanks for sharing :-)

[@AvaT42]

This was a good documentary. Entertaining and informative. I had never heard of that horrendous stay for George and Beryl in South Africa before. Good for them in playing only black audiences, and for Beryl slapping that ‘horrible little man’❣️

[@pappyreeves7580]

Thanks Frank, that was a very moving and informative documentary..your passion and respect for George is touching, and well deserved....:

[@mimsicle1]

My dad was a great fan. Thanks for this.

[@cx42control]

Hey,respect him for what he was, A Great All-rounder.

[@davidmacgowan2337]

Wonderful, feel-good documentary. The section in the rock makers is a joy. Thanks, Frank.

[@patriciajones4732]

I Admired George Formby, as a child, his talent with the yke, was outstanding, l loved how he always exuded such joy an happiness, he is such an all time inspiration.❤️🙏

[@peterwood-jenkins3634]

Some say not liked in the Music Industry among so called older acts, maybe jelousy?? Frank has it right the humor is dated but fits that period exactly, we are all dated with time I was influenced by George as a child in an air raid shelter on the UK s South Coast, When I became a pro singer i did a George Impression and enjoyed every minute of it To go from a Roy Orbison song to a George Formby impression was quite a good gimmick The man was a simple genius thanks Frank Skinner for this great Documentary

[@avelingbarford]

Great documentary, just recently become a great fan of George.

[@JohnyG29]

Got me in to the uke, then the banjo. So eternally thankful. Cheers.

[@biriyaniferrari165]

Shame he never got chance to headline Glastonbury....can you imagine!

[@None-zc5vg]

Formby appeared regularly on t.v. just before his death, introducing Sunday-afternoon showings of old b/w. films from the '30s and early '40s, mostly wartime propaganda stuff (as I remember it).

[@alsdouble]

Well done Frank, loads of smiles watching that. Well you cannot not smile can you?

[@2011littlejohn1]

I would have liked it mentioned that another very famous George was a big fan - he was once President of the George Formby society and always when flying took 2 ukuleles along in case anyone wanted to join in. That was George Harrison part of the only UK act that was bigger than George.

[@npg68]

+jack freeman apparently he used to carry more than two ukes in his car....just in case anyone wanted to join in :)

[@michaelgarfield9845]

Yeah, but so far, none of the Beatles that have died have had 150,000 people lining their funeral route. Our George did.

[@DrRoberts66]

What a stupid and facile statement by Michael Garfield to make! Neither of the Beatles who have died had public funerals, so how could people line the route? I agree with Jack Freeman - the documentary would have been enhanced by mentioning George Harrison and the influence George Formby had on the other Beatles, too. The single Free As A Bird, which the surviving Beatles made from a John Lennon home tape, includes a Formby-style ukulele solo by Harrison and, on the 2015 remix, Lennon saying: 'Turned out nice again'. The phrase was used in the original but played backwards.

[@christopherth]

I’ve got a 78rpm record of George senior

[@kopynd1]

no limits is the greatest motorcycle movie ever made

[@alexcarter8807]

I grew up in Hawaii where it seems every kid was issued a Kamaka "uke" or at least any uke, but you got a uke. And you went to classes, and some tiny percent actually got rather good at playing the thing. I didn't learn about George Formby until I was in my 40s and wow .... It's a whole different approach to the "uke" isn't it?

[@kazakhseven]

Always makes me smile when i see footage about George Formby.. Sad that people like Shlomo Shekelberg was affected because there was a Muslim child in the class. Not often mentioned but there was more than 400,000 Muslim soldiers fighting on the British side in WW2. Formby was a legend! Just wish there was a happier ending to his life but life can be complex.

[@OfficialFingazMC]

Bloody ell I'm surprised he hasn't been posthumously cancelled

[@awawawawaw6446]

the perfect docu love frank for this

[@MR-ty3vn]

A joy to watch

[@Rollich1]

It's amazing that even with Formby's work with the troops in WWII, he's *totally* unknown in the U.S.

[@shlomoshekelberg4631]

Aben Rudy Sorry, while the Brit troops were listening to this guy we were busy actually winning the war

[@npg68]

+Shlomo Shekelberg oh please!

[@bigPapabear1980]

I sincerely despise ignorant myopic shit stains like you. You give the rest of us Americans a bad name. French, Brits, Americans, Russians, Poles, and a host of men from other nations all FOUGHT and DIED to stand against Germany and her allies during the war. All of them brave souls. We called them "The Allied Forces" for a reason. We all had a stake and we all paid a price in blood. Grow the fuck up! You fucking disgrace.

[@Bix12]

@ Slomo Shitaturd You are a pompous, arrogant slag, aren't you?

[@JohnyG29]

From this, and your previous quotes, I'm sorry old chap but you seem to be very ignorant (or a "troll"). You must be very uneducated, and I feel very sorry for you. Hope all goes well chum. Cheerio.

[@brigittegeorg]

Thank you. Very interesting, I enjoyed it a lot.

[@adrianrosenlund-hudson8789]

Absolutely fascinating 🤩

[@newforestpixie5297]

David Gedge of The Wedding Present must have been inspired by George . I’m not a musician ( my father & son are ) but the tunes on the 1987 Album called George Best have a similar feel . 😃 I can totally imagine their tune called Kennedy from 1989 being played on a Yuke .

[@JohnDoe-uu2zs]

Brilliant doc

[@PhilMacVee]

Wonderful.

[@RayMainBagpiper]

That looks like SOOO much fun !!!!

[@banjonoises]

Excellent

[@PelleSmith]

I'd like to see Jake Shimabukuro play some George Formby some day

[@Grundsau47]

How d'ya figure he's unknown in the US? My family remembered hearing him during the war...we may never have seen his films, but George Formby is still well known over here, especially when you figure out how many years it's been since his untimely demise... And then, of course, there are us youtubers...so there!

[@shelovezcandy2852]

Interesting documentary. I would have preferred less focus on the playing of the uke and more on the man himself. They could have covered his stage work in pantomimes and in Zip Goes A Million etc.

[@uke1964]

great frank

[@OBLONGATA61]

The Emperor of Lancashire. ⚘.

[@alexdavies1662]

I don't care about what some biased and small-minded journalist wrote in a recent article, George Formby still has a considerable following in the UK and rightly so. He made some good films and entertaining songs.

[@MrMcMudder]

great stuff...classic banjo uke...

[@wickedwoodsman43]

like mr skinner so much more now :)

[@antoniosilvestro9045]

RIP 🙏 X

[@handsfree1000]

Paul McCartney had a hit with ukulele in the song Dance Tonight

[@AynMax666]

I would have liked to have heard about the authorship of the songs---Formby didn't work alone.

[@jumpfortyfour9965]

george and no limit brill film on iom TT RACES .

[@royfr8136]

I know George because there was nothing else on tv back in the late 80’s 90’s

[@filmbuff-ru4xt]

Poor George wasn't half dominated by his wife. However, without her his career would have gone nowhere.

[@gwinniboots]

His films are cringeworthy but I have always loved his songs! He must have had a good personality to have achieved what he did, despite a poor start in life. Interesting that he was a jockey early in life.

[@frizell10]

what movie is the performance of baby from 12:45?

[@gwinniboots]

There’s a statue of the great man in Wigan’s Grand Arcade.

[@PurdyBear1]

Its a banjolele, so not sure how much of a Ukulele you could call it. That's just my opinion though, it really doesn't sound much like a Uke to me. One thing that is very obvious to an onlooker is that a lot of Ukulele players don't seen themselves as musicians, which is very sad indeed. I think Jake Shimabukuro will more more of an idol for the young these days then George. PS please go and see what a UKULELE sounds like compared to these Banjoleles, I don't like the later but I do love the first.

[@omfug7148]

So his father had money (yes earned, not inherited) and George Jr was illiterate? I wonder why George wasn't sent off to school? sort of mind-boggling. I'm a yank and I just heard of Formby in the last couple of years, but my roots are deep in Lancashire, so I'm not surprised that I I am interested!

[@omfug7148]

***** but you would think that his father would have wanted him to do better than be a jockey? isn't it always about class with the Brits? LOL

[@michaelgarfield9845]

Only if you believe in the fantastical, and frankly cringe-worthy stereotypical bullshit portrayal of us 'Brits' by Hollywood. The sad thing is that a great number of Americans actually believe it. If you're an American imagine this scenario. Someone who isn't American asks you why you aren't wearing a Stetson, a pair of Colt 45s and shouting yee-haw every other word. Does that seem ludicrous to you? Well times that by a hundred and you'll know how ludicrous the average American's view of us is.

[@natalyafisher2571]

Very different time, very different parental expectation. Years later, he admitted that Beryl (his jealous, controlling wife) had been the driving force behind his success as she changed his look and everything, she was aware of the fact that he couldn't read and write having dropped out of school aged only 7 years old after finding it 'not for him any longer' and that he didn't understand music. There was someone with boards saying "High" or "Low" so he knew what to do on the banjo. After WW2, his look was considered out of step with the post-war crowd. 😊 Happy Thanksgiving

[@ropper75]

Peter Nixon is the uncomplicated one on you tube Shamanza.

[@barbarapineda5730]

primes. Fact he's, unknown. The states, not.too many indivi... never heard of him, but hes weren't the only comedi..

[@bobbyboyderecords]

Beryl was from Showmen (fairgrounds) was she not?

[@barbarapineda5730]

Hes sound likes the.former singer, hanks williams,.sr. he's haves a Cockeysville accents. Too he's made so much.shillings in.his, primez.

[@garethwatkins6347]

Only one complaint - its not long enough ! still superb though

[@PhilMacVee]

Banjo or ukulele?

[@MegaBarc]

Please, dear youtubers, 20:58 - Is it correct to conclude this ukelele guy (beeing interviewed) is at least a slice better player than GF ?

[@dave03085]

Smiley face

[@shamanzaolonzo2943]

ANyone catch the name of the youtube channels he mentioned?

[@jacklaw7932]

Alfred E. Neuman!

[@OfficialFingazMC]

Leopard skin tiger rugs?

[@bigzach1000]

If you do not love George Formby, there must be something wrong with your noodle. This is a great documentary. However. I feel like he gives way too much credit to Georgie's uke skills and not enough to his comedy and acting. If I could make a pie chart that would graph out why George was a star: 40% George's natural happiness, 30% the Lancashire character he perfected, 30% musical skills A rare self-taught genius of showbiz talent.

[@geniehinseth512]

If there's a "PIE CHART" I would cut it in 3rds - A third for comedy talent, a third for musical talent (HIS UKE SKILL IS UNIQUE, NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE ELSE SAYS), & a third for HIS LOVE FOR ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF COLOR.

[@alanblissett9834]

Did he right his own songs

[@connoroleary591]

He was a good comedian and musician. But what a loss to horse racing.

[@darksharkrafa1]

what was the school Frank visited...St Bongo Bongoo

[@TheElfishGene]

Everything about 'Our George' except his actual Ukeleles. What happened to them?

[@resonator_95]

Scattered about. They were auctioned off in 1961 and have been passed down over the years. George Harrison's family own two I believe, Brian May from Queen has one. Some George Formby Society members have some too.

[@daveround7838]

our George born and bred in wigan not warrington

[@nosmoking6573]

frank your not carrying a ukelelee..its a banjolelee

[@AlexGreenwoodUkulele]

+tara greene Most banjolele players just refer to them as a ukulele, as that's, theoretically, what it is. Might be annoying to some people, but it's quite normal. A banjolele isn't classed as an instrument, but an instrument-hybrid.

[@nosmoking6573]

Ohh! I stand corrected..I never knew that. Thankyou for putting me right Mr Swaggins ;) x

[@mazda1942]

Another correction is that the name Banjolele is used as a generic term where, in reality it is the trade name of just one manufacturer. But once it's been in common use for a certain length of time it covers a range of manufacturers. It a bit like calling a ball point pen a biro, even if it is not made by biro. I am the fortunate owner of a Gibson UB4 which is one of the best ukes ever made. The UB stands for Ukulele Banjo, so Gibson recognized that the Banjolele was made by a rival company.

[@RemoteAbductionArm]

PurdyBear1 That's ridiculous. It's a uke.

[@AlexGreenwoodUkulele]

+RemoteAbductionArm It is actually a Banjolele (Banjo-Ukulele) as a ukulele is wooden. The difference between a banjolele and a ukulele is that a ukulele is wooden and sounds very mellow. A banjo is made of wood, metal and a vellum that can be plastic, leather or, heaven forbid, paper! xD The banjolele is a mixture, and it's basically a really loud, crisp ukulele, but totally different in appearance, sound and feel. Banjo body, Uke tuning and strings, as well as the same amount of strings as a uke, not a banjo.

[@steveb60879]

By all accounts, he was gornless and cretinous in real life.

[@joenelson6511]

Not by "all accounts " obviously. 🤣

[@paulyf.107]

Didn't handle his money affairs?! That is rather sloppy... you are getting on a bit, sort it out. He came from money, so, apart from grief - wahh, he had no excuse... "...when I'm leaving no will"x 2... [to the tune of "cleaning windows"]

[@adamtzsch]

I once contacted TB. She blocked me shortly thereafter.

[@barbarapineda5730]

That flats, is working class, or upper middle class, hes born provi... that is'nt his, flats, they, mistaken.most of times.

[@thomaskallmyr]

THOMAS KALLMYR ESCARGENCY SWEDEN

[@edwardarckless3112]

Strange as we all know that in fact he was gay. But all in all a very wonderfull artiste.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

Do we?

[@natalyafisher2571]

He was not gay! 😀

[@jahno7154]

Gay as in happy he definitely was

[@the_glove]

More George less frank todger pulling

[@barbarapineda5730]

That lil shillings, not too much.comes on.pay this.man, more shillings s150 weekly. Better two 💷. Poundz get out.of here.

[@pippiperade4030]

Amazing how someone can make a living out of plagiarising George Formby's style with a tenth (I'm being kind!) of his talent.