MikeBSG Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 What are your favorite British comic films? I like most of the usual Ealing suspects: Kind Hearts and Coronets, The Lavender Hill Mob, and Man in the White Suit. I've never warmed to The Ladykillers, and Whiskey Galore made me laugh only once. As for non-Ealing comedies, Heavens Above with Peter Sellers really struck me as well done. I'm All Right, Jack was also good. Smallest Show on Earth was quite charming, and Belles of St. Trinian's took me by surprise and made me laugh. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
reverendmdg Posted July 24, 2006 Share Posted July 24, 2006 All the Python films, the hard to find "Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer", "The Missionary", "A Private Function", "Jabberwocky", "Time Bandits", "Brazil", "Erik The Viking", "Privates On Parade", and "Yellowbeard". Link to post Share on other sites
MikeBSG Posted July 25, 2006 Author Share Posted July 25, 2006 I had forgotten about "A Private Function." That was very funny. I think that the art theater I saw it at was giving away plastic pig snouts to promote the movie. "The Missionary" was also very good. It's a shame Michael Palin hasn't made more films. Link to post Share on other sites
movieman1957 Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 I think Palin's been having way too much fun making those travel documentaries for BBC. Link to post Share on other sites
Terrence Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 One of my favorite British comedies is "The Captain's Paradise" with Alec Guiness and Yvonne DeCarlo. A very funny film. Unfortunately, it's not shown on TV very often. Terrence. Link to post Share on other sites
MikeBSG Posted December 30, 2006 Author Share Posted December 30, 2006 Just watched "Passport to Pimlico" on DVD last night. It starts slowly, but once the premise kicks in (a deed proves that a London neighborhood is not legally British soil), the movie becomes quite funny and fascinating. However, it is how the film plays out the consequences of the idea that kept me hooked. I didn't much care about the characters, which, I guess, is why this Ealing film hasn't ever been as popular in America as the Alec Guiness ones. Link to post Share on other sites
ken123 Posted December 30, 2006 Share Posted December 30, 2006 School for Scoundrels and An Inspector Calls starring Alistair Sim, it is also very much a morality play. Link to post Share on other sites
MikeBSG Posted February 5, 2007 Author Share Posted February 5, 2007 I watched "Carlton-Brown of the F. O." and had a blast. It is a Boulting Brothers satire on British diplomacy, aparently akin to "I'm All Right, Jack" and "Heavens Above." It was very clever, and the crisis seemed a bit like a mix of Cyprus and Cuba. The cast was very capable, and Raymond Huntley gave an awful cliche ridden speech as if it were pearls of wisdom from on high. (The film had a scathing view of the U. N. by the way.) A must for all Terry-Thomas fans. Link to post Share on other sites
dfordoom Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 I love the idea of The Mouse That Roared. Unfortunately it suffers from the problem that most Peter Sellers movies suffer from - Peter Sellers. He tries so hard, and he just isn't funny. Link to post Share on other sites
SueSueApplegate Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 True. I enjoy Sellers when I'm in the mood, but sometimes it's obvious he's trying too hard. I'm an Ealing fan and was lucky enough to go to the UK last summer. The first time I viewed The Ladykillers Link to post Share on other sites
SueSueApplegate Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 Sorry. Didn't wind it up. The kitty jumped on the boards. The first time I viewed The Ladykillers was the first time I fell in love with Guinness on the screen. I have the boxed set that also has the Lavender Hill Mob.Has anyone read his autobiographies? Simply charming, like the man himself. I also enjoyed The Ruling Class with Peter O'Toole. Link to post Share on other sites
Cinemascope Posted February 24, 2007 Share Posted February 24, 2007 Um, maybe Peter Sellers is just an acquired taste? I found the movie to be quite amusing, if perhaps not quite laugh-out-loud funny. Link to post Share on other sites
michaelryan Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 Try "Too Many Crooks' ' Privates Progress" and the Doctor series especially "Doctor at Sea" with Dirk Bogarde James Robertson Justice and Brigitte Bardot Link to post Share on other sites
Robindra Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 What about Peter Sellers in Two Way Stretch? I've always felt that this film was almost stolen from him by Lionel Jeffries as the prison warder Sidney Crout, but it really is very funny. Link to post Share on other sites
Film_Fatale Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Anyone else watching/recording *Heavens Above!* ? Link to post Share on other sites
Bronxgirl48 Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Didn't check the schedule yesterday, darn it, so I missed HEAVENS ABOVE! for viewing or recording. Did you enjoy it? Link to post Share on other sites
Film_Fatale Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 I did record it but haven't watched it yet. I think the last Ealing comedy I watched was *I'm All Right, Jack* a while back. However, *Heavens Above!* is available on DVD, so you should be able to rent it if you don't want to wait till the next TCM showing. Link to post Share on other sites
WeNoSpeak Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Chiming in... The Butcher Boy and Shirley Valentine Link to post Share on other sites
Bronxgirl48 Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites
Film_Fatale Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 > {quote:title=WeNoSpeak wrote:}{quote} > Chiming in... > > The Butcher Boy and Shirley Valentine Wouldn't you say *The Butcher Boy* is more of a dramedy, maybe? Link to post Share on other sites
WeNoSpeak Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Yes, I should have mentioned that The Butcher Boy, while its presented as a comedy, is definitely not for the average viewer. The humor is as one friend said "sick - that's just sick". We're still friends, but I doubt she'll watch The Butcher Boy again. Link to post Share on other sites
Film_Fatale Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 As I recall, I don't think it struck me as an easy movie to watch - and I'm a big Neil Jordan fan. Link to post Share on other sites
AngeLsLuv Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Peter Sellers in "Wrong Arm Of The Law".. Too funny.. Link to post Share on other sites
Sukhov Posted December 2, 2017 Share Posted December 2, 2017 I like the Ealing comedies. Kind Hearts and Coronets is funny. Guinness did a wonderful job with all those roles. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Sgt_Markoff Posted September 30, 2018 Share Posted September 30, 2018 I remember one called, "Passport to Pimlico" which very much appealed to me. "The Mouse That Roared", similarly. I found both these plots refreshing. Make you see the world in a new way. 'The Man in the White Suit', 'The LadyKillers', 'Kind Hearts and Coronets' yes, all good. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
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