Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War

This film shows just how people are regarded over the age of 60, and unfortunately because generations are getting older, it will only get worse. Everyone in this film shows just what can be achieved if you don't have to sit & eat cabbage and be doped up to the eye balls.

Pauline Collins, plays her part so well, to be put into a home, just because her son (Peter Capaldi) and his wife want her home after his father dies, and now his mother has become "past it." The film shows just how in a position to either be putting someone in to a care home, or being made to go into a care home should be aware of, because this certainly is an eye opener. People are not "past it" just because they don't work, or have lost their partners.

A truly terrible film, it's an embarrassment to British comedy.

This could only be a topping up the bank account acting job for those involved in this travestry. Nothing about it is worth watching even the advert breaks are more entertaining.

This could have been a chance to shine a light on how the elderly are treated in uncaring care homes in a light-hearted way.

There aren't any laughs to be found in this rubbish. Considering the cast assembled the script is poor and formulated from various sitcoms with the humour removed. This is even worse than the later Carry on films, a sad waste of celluloid that could of been put to better use.

I viewed and taped this production when it was first shown on TV, and recently had an occasion to re-watch it. I loved it even better the second time around.

It's the tale of a woman forced, by the death of her obnoxious husband and the designs of her avaricious son and his equally greedy wife, to retire to a residential nursing home. She does not find things to her liking. It is run by a strict regime, and although not overly mistreated, the elderly inmates are not exactly handled with due reverence either. The new arrival, Mrs Thelma Caldicot is about to change all that...and how! Hopefully I trust not many (none would be better) of these types of establishments are run as depicted here. Even more so as I'm getting on a bit myself, and one can never be quite certain of the future. However, I have my fingers crossed.

Reminiscent of the American made-for-TV movie, "Amos" (1985) starring an ageing Kirk Douglas, which more poignantly explored a similar theme (as indeed to some extent did a certain two-part episode of "One Foot in the Grave"), "Cabbage War" takes a somewhat less cynical view of things. This results in a robustly delightful, slightly over-the-top comedy, with real life man & wife team John Alderton and Pauline Collins for once in opposition to each other, and playing their parts with perfection and relish. In such a distinguished and superbly chosen cast it's difficult (after Pauline Collins) to pick out the star of the piece. They are all just simply wonderful. Not wishing to spoil it for those who haven't as yet seen it, I won't delve further into the storyline. Suffice it to say that it's one not to be missed.

Entertaining - as what might happen to us all in many ways. On the other hand the awful prospect of life in an institutional setting is horrible. There are many versions of State sanctioned deprivation of liberty - each designed to enhance community well-being that might be compromised by health, behaviour and stranger status. There many stories of abuse in each - to children, aged and ... The fact that she managed to lead an escape is entertaining and even encouraging as we approach 'that' age. But could we? Maybe we should do something before we get there. Just like Yes Minister. Government and public administration is occasionally hilarious. But shouldn't we do something about it? I loved it and have helped many friends work through it as entertainment and as a warning.

Cabbage War is a little British gem. Pauline Collins is perfect for her role and it's not long before you get behind her. I don't know if this movie was an examination of marriage, ageism and aged care in Britain, but certainly it has a strong feminist bent. One of the main issues is chemical restraint in aged care homes, something that is currently being examined by a Royal Commission here in Australia. Toward the end it does go a little exaggerated as certain characters become unrealistically loopy, but it charts its course well and the unlikely end comes as a pleasant surprise. Some of Britain's best actors are with this one. The soundtrack was old-fashioned, but I'll concede, given the average age was well over 70, that's to be expected. Not the funniest movie I've ever seen, but one that will certainly make you smile, and certainly one with the purest of intentions.