Le frère, la soeur... et l'autre

The adaptation of Joe Orton's play Entertaining Mr Sloane is a misfire. Beryl Reid is the middle aged nymphomaniac Kath who spots the amoral narcissistic drifter Mr Sloane (Peter McEnery) lying half naked sunbathing in the cemetery. Kath herself who lives by the cemetery is dressed seductively, a see thorough dress and we initially see her suggestively licking an ice lolly.

Kath invites Mr Sloane to become her lodger and quickly seduces him. Her elderly father, Dada recognizes Mr Sloane as the man who killed his employer and then disappeared.

Mr Sloane is having a fine time womanizing, tormenting Dada and being playful with Kath and her brother Ed (Harry Andrews) who drops by every now and then. Ed seems straight-laced but drives a pink Pontiac and makes Mr Sloane the chauffeur with a tight leather uniform.

The film is supposed to be a grotesque, sexual black farce but the film reveals its hand too early. McEnery is too old as Mr Sloane, he should had been held back as an innocent charmer than unveiled as a murderer as soon as he met Dada. As for Ed, that pink Pontiac gave him away not matter how much of a country gent he tried to pass off as.

The ending was also rather abrupt and disappointing although I suspect a gay marriage ceremony would had been seen as shocking at the time.

"Entertaining Mr Sloane" is regarded in some quarters as one of the great post-war British comedies though you would hardly think so after seeing this 1970 film version. It's not at all bad, is frequently very funny and its cast of four, (Beryl Reid, Harry Andrews, Peter McEnery and Alan Webb), give it all they've got. Reid and Andrews are siblings; she's a nymphomaniac and he's gay and McEnery is the eponymous Mr Sloane, the object of both their affections. Webb is their ancient father and it's he who rubs Mr Sloane up the wrong way. Douglas Hickox directed without much imagination, relying too heavily on the material. Entertaining it certainly is but great? Best you see it on stage before making up your mind.

If you haven't seen this superb film - put it to the top of your "must view" list! Featuring two of Britain's best character actors, the late Beryl Reid and the late Harry Andrews, this scintillating black comedy is based on Joe Orton's wonderful play of the same name. Reid is marvellous as aging nymphomaniac Kath and Harry Andrews provides a superb foil as her roue brother Ed, who both attempt to secure the sexual services of their libidinous lodger, Sloane (played by Peter McEnery). Set in an eerie graveyard lodgehouse and with Alan Webb as their grubby father this brilliant film has gained cult status since its release over 30 years ago and is the only film I can watch - and enjoy - repeatedly.

Joe Orton's classic play is bought to the big screen and features just 4 eccentric characters. Young lothario, arch manipulator and potentially murderer. McEnery cons his way into love starved Beryl Reid's house by a graveyard where she lives with her old father, Webb. All is well but McEnery needs his wits about him when Reid's gay businessman brother Harry Andrews arrives.

The script is all in this witty, very dark black comedy, although the performances are spot on with Reid wonderful as the sad, past it sex mad landlady and particularly Andrews in full military swagger preaching morals to McEnery whilst still longing to get into his pants. Hilarious.

A Classic "English Black Comedy" You have to laugh Well Miss Reid.. who knew you were a tart. And she kills it. From scene ONE. We're off on a trip. It's an ageless, magnificent English comedy as only they can do. Farce, black comedy and more, so much more. The characters. How did Beryl and Harry Andrews have the guts to do it. This is Harry from Ice Cold In Alex. Played Upper Crusts all his career. Then this manic. But everyone's mad in Joe Orton world.

Confession time I watched this for the first time as a young boy with my mother as she laughed her head off. Me ... Embarrassed not a bit of it.

Back to Mr Sloan. Every word is a gem. Every word has so much meaning. Double, Multiples. It rips along and the brother/sister switch around in their affection/hate/dominant/submission/up .. down and anyway you want. The opening scene for each of the 4 lead's are brilliant. We get them. Get them in what ever works for you. McEnery, ok he's not a perfect Mr Sloan. But he is up against 2 fantastic actors revelling in what was the performance of their careers. He does have to be in almost every scene after all. Dada. Ok. He's annoying. But it's Reid and Andrews who are so funny, sad, Kath and Ed. As sad, weird, fuuny, needy pair as you'll ever find in cinema. But you have to laugh.

Watch this. You'll learn about England, the secretive, crazy people who lived in the home counties with their double lives, fantasy's and sadness.

An the theme song my Georgie Fame.