Decline and Fall

Anyone saying this series is poor needs a good whacking. I laughed through the whole bit and was very entertained. If you read a bit of history and study the schools of the time, 1920's, the series reflects the true history of UK education. This was very enjoyable and I look forwards to more from this capable group of producers.

The main stars are Jack Whitehall, Eva Longoria, David Suchet, Douglas Hodge, and Stephen Graham, but there is a fine supporting cast as well.

Decline and Fall opens at an Oxford College on an evening in 1928. Two elderly porters are quietly sipping their port in front of a fireplace. The two are played, as if in homage to two great British series of the past, by Tim Piggot-Smith (in one of his last roles); and Nickolas Grace, who played Anthony Blanche in Brideshead Revisited. There is suddenly a commotion overhead. Aristocratic students, members of the Bullingdon Club, are destroying a room and college property. They spill out onto the street. A hapless theology student, Paul Pennyfeather, passes by and is attacked and stripped by the rowdy group. He rushes, naked, back to his digs, but is thrown out of Oxford for running through the college nude.

The rest of the three-hour series deals with Paul's adventures after he leaves Oxford. I highly recommend it.

This is perhaps the most pretentious and outrageous farce in British style. I think the British simply mistake and fail to distinguish the thin line between comedy and farce, and of course, this is the ultimate farce that I've ever watched. Every thing and every moment in this series were just so over the top ridiculed and exaggerated. If this is what we called "The English Humor", then don't bother. Even it's only three episodes, with so many cast and manpower involved, the production fund and budget were simply moronically wasted. I felt myself so stupid when I watched the first episode and decided to jump out of the plane by my own will; I'd rather crash down to earth instead.

DECLINE AND FALL is a three-part series based on the novel of the same title by Evelyn Waugh. Perhaps you read his masterpiece Brideshead Revisited but at the tender age of 25 he produced a comic novel Decline and Fall partly based on his teaching experience. The principal character is Paul Pennyfeather who is sent down from Oxford for indecent behaviour and goes on a series of strange adventures including obtaining a teaching position at a chaotic school and an engagement to high society beauty. Waugh's novel is generally considered to be a high-society satire exploring the topics of elitism, racism and xenophobia. Although sometimes the point might be difficult to get and some people say that the novel written in 1928 is not relevant at all (but some say the story is still relevant and has many links to today's society) the story retains its universal appeal due to flamboyant characters whose eccentricity borders on insanity. Dr. Fagan who runs the school is afraid of his students, despises his daughter Florence (because she is fat and good-hearted) and adores his daughter Diane (because she is butchy and bitchy). Some of the teachers are literally crazy and some are miserable. The very first episode contains a brilliant line:

We class schools into four grades - leading schools, first-rate schools, good schools and schools.

Dare not to say that it does not ring any bells with you! The cast is great. Paul is played by Jack Whitehall, he is a popular stand-up comedian and you could see him in a hilarious sitcom Bad Education. Legendary David Suchet is Dr. Fagan and high-society beauty is portrayed by luminous Eva Longoria. All in all the series is well made, funny and boasts solid budget with some of the scenes having been filmed in the real medieval castle.

This must have been one of the last performances of TPS. Surprised this was not acknowledged in the credits. A great loss of a great actor. First came to my attention in the wonderful adaptation of Paul Scott's "Jewel in the Crown" novels. Admired for many roles since. I had tickets to see him in Northampton this April which sadly had to be returned. Condolences to friends and family.