The second feature film based on the successful Steptoe and Sontelevision series found Albert and Harold Steptoe absolutely skint (again).
Their poor old horse, Hercules, has to be retired to a rest home in the country, and Harold is sent with Albert’s life savings (£89) to buy a new horse at the market. Instead, he is conned into buying a greyhound by Frankie Barrow (Henry Woolf), the Godfather of Shepherds Bush.
Harold and Albert train the dog – christened Hercules II – on Hampstead Heath and then take him to White City to run in a big race. Harold puts all their remaining cash on Hercules to win, but the dog fails to finish, and they lose everything.
Harold persuades Albert to feign his own death in order to collect on his life insurance to pay off their debts – they owe Frankie Barrow a small fortune.
It transpires that the insurance is no longer valid, but the day after the funeral, the insurance man returns with better news about the policy.
Diana Dors features in a cameo role (trying to look alluring and sexy, but, to be honest, she was well on her way to her latter Worm That Turned proportions by that time – but still a class turn). Milo O’Shea, Geoffrey Bayldon, Frank Thornton, Yootha Joyce, Bill Maynard and Sam Kydd are also featured.
Plans for a third Steptoe and Son film were abandoned when Steptoe and Son Ride Again did not perform as well at the box office as expected.
Albert Ladysmith Steptoe
Wilfrid Brambell Harold Steptoe
Harry H. Corbett Woman in flat
Diana Dors Dr Popplewell
Milo O’Shea Lennie
Neil McCarthy Lennie’s wife
Yootha Joyce George
Bill Maynard Percy
George Tovey Percy’s wife
Olga Lowe Claude
Sam Kydd Claude’s wife
Joyce Hemson Frankie Barrow
Henry Woolf Vicar
Geoffrey Bayldon Mr Russell
Frank Thornton
Director
Peter Sykes
Video
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Harold and Albert train the dog – christened Hercules II – on Hampstead Heath and then take him to White City to run in a big race. Harold puts all their remaining cash on Hercules to win, but the dog fails to finish, and they lose everything.
