Wilfrid Brambell, the actor who played Paul's grandfather here, was 52 when "AHDN" was released, (probably 51 when it was filmed). Paul himself has just turned 69, old enough to be this man's father.
Clean old man was a poke at Wilfred Brambell's then current hit TV show "Steptoe & Son" about Junk dealer and his son. Re-made into 'Sanford & Son " in the US. Wilfred was only 53 at the time as Paul's grandfather ....
william brambill star of Steptoe and Son, whose dotage antics repeatedly had him called "you dirty old man!"by his tv son, is here shown sly and verbal...and is call "clean" by one and all.
Wilfrid Brambell, who portrayed Grandfather McCartney, starred in the sitcom Steptoe & Son at the time this movie was made. In that show, his character Albert Steptoe was constantly referred to as a “dirty old man”, which was somewhat of a catchphrase for that show. That’s why he is a “clean old man” in this movie.
Paul's 21, 22 when it was released. Brambell, 51 isn't granddad-older, & his look's typical of men his real age in '60s England: stuffy/ There was a true generation gap then, "old-school" grooming & dress. Playing old? Well, in a way, since he -is- playing Paul's granddad, but, in fact, his skin is clear, healthy unwrinkled, &he's lean, straight, & fit; a healthy 51 year old man of the times.
Kinda still is. When I was in the north of England a few years ago I saw older people (not super old, late 50s on up) dressed in slacks and dark jackets looking like they were from another world. The younger people were in jeans, leggings and leather bomber jackets.
Wouldn't you just know, the only guy who gets to stick his nose into Margaret Nolan's natural splendor is as gay as a day at the fair, still of course, very clean. When I was a kid I had no idea all the "clean old man" remarks were a nod and a wink at the Steptoe character
