A Private Function

Life after WWII was bleak in England. Rationing was hitting hard, but spirits were lifted by the forthcoming royal marriage of Elizabeth and Philip. This slice of village life takes a poke at stiff England and the trials and tribulations of getting a slap up feast on the table for the local VIPs to celebrate the marriage. Michael Palin is the wimp, and marvellous Maggie Smith is the "trousers" in the relationship. Lots of lovely one-liners to treasure.

A near classic; like something Ealing might have done if, perhaps, raunchier though not necessarily darker. Set at the time of the present Queen Elizabeth's wedding to Prince Phillip, it's about the petty jealousies of the ostensible middle-classes of Northern ration-book Britain.

Michael Palin is Gilbert, a mild-mannered chiropodist, looked down upon, in all senses, by the local community who finds his trump card and way into society in the form of a pig that is being fattened for the private function of the title, a dinner for local dignitaries in celebration of the royal wedding. Maggie Smith is his genteel wife who turns into Lady MacBeth in pursuit of her dreams of fitting in and that great character actress Liz Smith is her slightly dotty mother. Scriptwriter Alan Bennet's depiction of the milieu of false noblesse oblige is as sharp as ever and the entire cast rise to the occasion.

This is one of those very droll, and sometimes bizarre British comedies that is absurdly funny. The plot centers around a couple in the days right before Elizabeth II's coronation and the machinations of a social climbing Maggie Smith who equates pork with prestige. She manages to get her henpecked husband (Michael Palin) to kidnap a pig, and well the rest just needs to be experienced. I thought the movie was hilarious, but I have known others who found it just plain ridiculous. Those who disapprove of bathroom humor need not see this one.

A sympathetic black comedy about human nature and the relativity of principles, especially in times of need.

The use of a pig turns out to be a delicious metaphor about how much human beings are willing to get their hands dirty, just to have their bacon on the table, every day.

A tongue-in-cheek Monty Python twist in a film executive produced by ex-Beatle George Harrison.

Curious is the reference to the bad example of the French, in the bacon black market, which is exactly the same as that supplied by the English.

In Times of Brexit it seems an aditiinal irony to the British values and puritanism.

Why do I love this movie sooooo much. Because it is one of the most delightful movies ever made.

From the opening shots of Dame Maggie Smith and her aged mother (Liz Smith) jostling for space on the Wurlitzer seat to the closing shots of Michael Palin and Richard Griffiths looking sadly at Betty on the platter this is a movie where every scene has something new.

The contents of Michael Palin's lunch box, Richard Griffiths popping his little trotter over the edge of the chair to get a chocolate for Betty, Liz Smith checking her nightgown for malodorous fumes, Bill Paterson and his wonderful artistry with green paint ( don't miss this line its great), Michael Palin's overt Pythonesque chiropodist sign, and Liz Smiths startled look watching him clean it, these are just a taste of the subtle visual and aural moments that make this movie magic (moments that obviously went completely over the head of a previous reviewer).

Alan Bennetts plot is original and actually believable, as snobbery of all kinds can be found alive and well in any nation in the world at any time, and Denholm Elliot and Dame Maggie Smith would have to be crowned the King and Queen of snobbery for their efforts in this.

Many people read some books over and over This is a movie I watch over and over. I have this movie on Video and I shall definitely be buying it on DVD as well