- Find all the best television shows from the other side of the pond in our US TV store and catch the latest shows in our 2013's Hottest TV page.
Learn more about this title's writer and director in as we put Mike Leigh In the Director's Chair...
Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Reviews
From Amazon.co.uk
Originally screened as part of BBC's Play for Today series in 1977, Abigail's Party is among Mike Leigh's most celebrated pieces, with his then-wife Alison Steadman appallingly brilliant as what Alan Bennett described as the "brutal hostess" at a ghastly suburban soiree. The Abigail of the title never appears--rather, the dull thud of her lively teenage party forms a distant backdrop (and contrast) to an excruciating evening of chilled red wine, olives and the music of Demis Roussos. Steadman plays the overbearing Beverley, an Amazonian mass of frustrated sensuality in a low-cut party frock. Tim Stern is her small, stressed estate-agent husband. The guests are Janice Duvitski as Angela, a nurse whose quite spectacular gormlessness shields her from the stilted social awkwardness quietly raging around her, John Salthouse as Tony, her taciturn husband and Harriet Reynolds as Sue, the gangly and miserably nervous mother of Abigail.
Rather than play for gags, Leigh and his actors mercilessly turn the screw of embarrassment through a series of too-true-to-life exchanges of dialogue, the stuff of all our collective worst memories of encounters with neighbours, aunts and office colleagues. Often misread as a satirical parade of suburban grotesques, Abigail's Party probes deeper than that, touching on nerves of anxiety and repression that throb behind the net curtains of modern England, culminating not in farce but tragedy. Decades on, Abigail's Party is as psychologically true and close to home as ever--hard to bear but utterly brilliant.
On the DVD: Abigail's Party is perfectly reproduced here in all its 1970s garishness. The one extra is a short featurette, focussing on Alison Steadman's playing of Beverley, with comments from the original actors in the TV series and Peter York marvelling at her "paint-scraping" voice. --David Stubbs
Product Description
Hilarious,cringe-inducing and shocking.Mike Leigh takes aim at the 1970's.As a get together of neighbours turns from social embarrassment,to personal antagonism,the audience is manipulated into squirming and laughing.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
59 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I hadn't seen this for quite a few years and was afraid it might have lost its impact but it hasn't. It's still just as toe-curling and awful, and hilarious, as it was back in the seventies. Steadman is the obvious star, with her incredible mannerisms and burly shoulders, but Janine Duvitski is almost as good as the drippy yet crass Angie who embarrasses her husband with every word.
Not much happens of course. Except at the end. Mostly it's just drinks being served and guests squirming, but the whole play is priceless.
As time goes by, the perfect 1970s set becomes all the more nostalgic, and this only adds to the appeal.
I was pleasantly surprised by the picture quality. Extras are limited to a short exerpt from a documentary about funny women, but there are brief interviews with most members of the cast inclusing Steadman and Duvitski .
Highly recommended. A classic.
Not much happens of course. Except at the end. Mostly it's just drinks being served and guests squirming, but the whole play is priceless.
As time goes by, the perfect 1970s set becomes all the more nostalgic, and this only adds to the appeal.
I was pleasantly surprised by the picture quality. Extras are limited to a short exerpt from a documentary about funny women, but there are brief interviews with most members of the cast inclusing Steadman and Duvitski .
Highly recommended. A classic.
66 of 68 people found the following review helpful
By nicjaytee
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
Like "The Office" 25 years later, "Abigail's Party" is such perfectly targeted, close to the truth humour that it makes you laugh out loud and cringe with embarrassment at the same time. In a setting that represents everyone's nightmare of mid 70's middle class life it sucks you into its brilliantly drawn world and then leaves you as some sort of unwelcome voyeur in the cocktail party from hell. Like most of the people there, you want to get out but you can't leave. And as things go from bad to worse you end up totally transfixed by the sheer awfulness of the situation you find yourself in.
With characters whose lives are so desperately frustrating that real aggression lies only just below the surface, this is black comedy at its very best precisely because it's much too close to reality for comfort. You can't help but laugh but you know that you're laughing at these people and their tragically depressing lives, and by the "sting in the tail" ending you really wish you hadn't. Brilliantly written, directed and acted "Abigail's Party" is far more than a humorous period piece and, quite rightly, stands up there as one of the very best British TV plays of the past thirty years.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is quite deservedly a classic, despite the two negative reviews by "a customer". It is however excrutiating watching at times and purely because it is truly a mirror on not just the seventies warts and all, but on our society as still it is today. The only problem I have with this is that being a DVD it can be switched off when it becomes too skin crawlingly awful. Imagine the agony as an audience when you had to sit through it in a theatre unable to escape as it all unfolds in front of you. The seventies is merely a contemporary backdrop. This could be the year 2007 with a power dressing career woman inviting the new neighbours round to socially demolish them and establish the pecking order. An abject lesson in how not to behave in polite company.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 18 reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Squirmingly funny.
Very funny and well acted particularly by Alison Steadman who is very squirm worthy. Enjoyed on television when I saw it years ago and still enjoyed it.
Published 1 month ago by Mrs Beverley G Pasqua
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great play
I've always loved this play and it's lovely to have a copy at home. A classic. Alison Steadman is brilliant.
Published 1 month ago by Susan Gibbons
4.0 out of 5 stars
BBC classic
A Classic play from Mike Leigh. Still funny and enjoyable as when I first watched it in 1977.
Would recommend
Would recommend
Published 1 month ago by Martin S
5.0 out of 5 stars
Abigails party
I love this film-I had it on video so decided to replace it now with DVD.Funny, quirky and well worth watching
Published 1 month ago by S. Pollard
2.0 out of 5 stars
most disappointing
It just never seemed to get going..ended up bored... so turned it off. I wish I had not wasted my money.
Published 2 months ago by bosb
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious
We saw this when it was first transmitted and it is still very good entertainment second time around. Read more
Published 2 months ago by kate
4.0 out of 5 stars
Funny
Its not one of mike leighs serious projects but its entertaining and well acted has a cult feel to it and surprises you on the way. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Neil Horn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Abigails party
This is a classice piece. If you haven't seen it before buy it! Alison Steadman is a sort of civilised monster in this and it has twists and turns you will not expect.
Published 3 months ago by J. F. Fletcher
5.0 out of 5 stars
Super play
This is one of those plays that are a must see. It takes me back i remember squirming while watching it the first time around and today is no different - its both painful and... Read more
Published 5 months ago by A. J. Obrien
5.0 out of 5 stars
dvd
Iconic dvd from the 70's. Was as entertaining as I remember from the TV BBC play. digital remastering good.Excellent buy.
Published 5 months ago by Denise Caroline Vye
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
