AustLit

'A fascinating look behind the mask of Australia's most well-known comic actor, Barry Humphries, that delves into the origins of his world famous characters Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson.

'Filmed during his 2007 Australian tour, this documentary traces Humphries' roots to his suburban Melbourne home, his school, Melbourne Grammar and university days. It also includes interviews with some of his oldest friends and contemporaries, including famous personalities like Philip Adams, Ernie Sigley, Bruce Beresford and Magda Szubanski. It seeks to find the key to what influenced his brilliant creations that have Australians all over the world loving, but also cringing at his satiric take on Australian suburbia post-World War II.

'The film is spliced with interviews of Humphries and his comic creations, Dame Edna and Sir Les, thrusting and parrying with the official Humphries version of events and providing humorous counterpoints to the narrative.

'This engaging celebrity biog reveals that Humphries' driving force is essentially his performance addiction and his rebellion against "niceness".'

Source: ABC TV1 website, http://www.abc.net.au/tv/
Sighted: 09/02/2009