A Private Function (1984)

Director:

Malcolm Mowbray

Writers:

Alan Bennett (story) &
Malcolm Mowbray (story) ...

Release Date:

11 March 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

1947 in a small town in England. The war has been won two years ago, but there's still rationing of meat...

Plot Keywords:

Pig | Small Village | Mother In Law | Dance Scene | Breaking The Law

Awards:

Won 3 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Michael Palin	...	Gilbert Chilvers
Maggie Smith	...	Joyce Chilvers
Denholm Elliott	...	Dr. Charles Swaby
Richard Griffiths	...	Henry Allardyce the Accountant
Tony Haygarth	...	Leonard Sutcliff the Farmer
John Normington	...	Frank Lockwood the Solicitor
Bill Paterson	...	Morris Wormold the Meat Inspector
Liz Smith	...	Joyce's Mother
Alison Steadman	...	Mrs. Allardyce
Jim Carter	...	Inspector Noble
Pete Postlethwaite	...	Douglas J. Nuttol the Butcher
Eileen O'Brien	...	Mrs. Sutcliff
Rachel Davies	...	Mrs. Forbes, Wormold's Landlady
Reece Dinsdale	...	P.C. Penny
Philip Whileman	...	Preston Sutcliff (as Philip Wileman)

Runtime:

94 min | USA:93 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Barnoldswick, Lancashire, England, UK

Company:

HandMade Films

Trivia:

The German title of the movie is 'Magere Zeiten', which translates roughly as 'Lean Times' (or 'Hard Times'): the film is set during a period when food was heavily rationed in the United Kingdom.

Quotes:

Morris Wormold the Meat Inspector: It is my experience that when people say they are only human, they have been making beasts of themselves.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Secret Life of Brian (2007) (TV)

A private Function

This is a film that will stay with you for a long time, the one liners are classic Brit of the era. A collaboration of some of Britains best artists and delightfully done. Maggie Smith and Michael Palin produce some priceless moments as a Nen pecked Husband and his controlling wife. Denholm Elliot who's character oozes slippery snobbishness as only the English can do is superb. This is a movie to own and watch with guests after a great afternoon of eating and drinking together, preferably a roast with lots of good New Zealand wine. A couple of saucy bits mostly in the mind make it racy in an OK way, the mirror scene had mt father in law in stitches for ages after. Films like this make it worthwhile having a film industry and the creative process that produced it can only be applauded. Well Done MikeNZ