The Philanthropist (1975) (TV)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Stuart Burge

Writer:

Christopher Hampton (writer)

Release Date:

29 October 1975 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Satire | University | Professor

Cast

James Bolam	...	Don
Charles Gray	...	Braham
Colin Higgins	...	John
Amanda Knott	...	Liz
Helen Mirren	...	Celia
Jacqueline Pearce	...	Araminta
Ronald Pickup	...	Philip

Directed by
Stuart Burge

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Christopher Hampton		writer

Produced by
Cedric Messina	....	producer

Production Design by
Don Homfray

Sound Department
Colin Dixon	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Catlett	....	lighting technician

Other crew
Alan Shallcross	....	script editor

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1975) (UK) (TV) (original airing)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "The Philanthropist" by Christopher Hampton opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theater on March 15, 1971, ran for 64 performances and was nominated for the 1971 Tony Award for the Best Play.

A man of no convictions

The Philanthropist is Christopher Hampton's witty and incisive reversal of Moliere's Misanthropist. According to Hampton 'it occurred to me that in the climate of abrasive candour which characterised the late 1960's, Alceste would have been quite at home: whereas his opposite, a man concerned above all to cause no offence and be an unfailing source of sweetness and light, would very likely succeed only in raising heckles where-ever he went'.

Thus we have the impeccably mannered Ronald Pickup falling over himself to be pleasing and honest, and instead finding that honesty is taken as a subtle form of insult and that to be pleasing is to be unfashionable and rude.

This BBC adaptation, made in 1975, is superb and superbly cast. Pickup is a wonderfully self-absorbed philanthropist, reminding one of Humbert Humbert without the crime. James Bolam is perfectly cast as Don, ostensibly Pickup's friend, but finding how easy it is to dupe the innocent quite without design. Of all the actors only Helen Mirren fails to come to grips with her role, possibly because she is miscast, rather than misreading the part of Celia.

This great play is included as part of the Helen Mirren At The BBC DVD box-set. I do not really understand the fashion for releasing these plays as sets under the umbrella of an actor - much more useful would be a box-set of Christopher Hampton At The BBC. It's his play, Mirren just happens to be in it.

THE most essential play of the 60's and 70's. And shame on the BBC for leaving it unseen in the archives for 33 years.