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A Private Function [DVD] [1984]

Michael Palin (Actor), Maggie Smith (Actor), Malcolm Mowbray (Director) | Rated: Suitable for 15 years and over | Format: DVD
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
Price: £27.50
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Product details

  • Actors: Michael Palin, Maggie Smith, Denholm Elliott, Richard Griffiths, Tony Haygarth
  • Directors: Malcolm Mowbray
  • Writers: Malcolm Mowbray, Alan Bennett
  • Format: PAL, Colour, Anamorphic, Widescreen, Mono
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Optimum Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 25 Jan 2010
  • Run Time: 92 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B002VD5RYI
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 34,644 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

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Reviews

Product Description

In a small Yorkshire town in the post-war years, when rationing is rife, a group of businessmen want to impress the local government by throwing a party to celebrate Princess Elizabeth’s wedding, with the intention of slaughtering an illegally raised pig. This hilarious comedy also follows the domestic crises of a husband and wife team, Gilbert, a chiropodist and Joyce, a bullying socially ambitious Lady Macbeth figure. Gilbert, encouraged by his wife, plans t kidnap the pig and hold the forces of snobbery at ransom. This is made all the more complex and amusing by the presence of a greedy mother who lives in terror of being ‘put away’. A Private Function was written by the award-winning Alan Bennett, writer of The Madness of King George and The History Boys and stars some of Britain’s favourite comedy actors: Michael Palin (Monty Python’s Life of Brian, A Fish Called Wanda), Maggie Smith (Ladies in Lavender, Gosford Park) and Denholm Elliott (A Room with a View, Trading Places).

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars I miss the war, Gilbert. 9 Sep 2000
By Mr. H. P. Pitfield
Format:VHS Tape
Maggie Smith and Liz Smith - what a combination. The film evokes the bleak period of the post War years in ration Britain. Alan Bennett fans will love the dry wit, the one-liners and performances of "cringing nancy" Gilbert (Palin), Mother "she's 74 you know" (Liz Smith) and a cast of actors you'll recognise from later productions such as "Brassed Off" and "Withnail and I". If only this would be transferred to DVD - my copy is played to death. All I can say is "them's having cream cakes!".
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars quality 19 July 2010
By R. Poole
Format:DVD
A really top notch film with a steller cast this is an understated wry comedy that only the UK can make.The war is over,the queen is about to get married and rationing is still in. Maggie Smith plays the desperately wanting to be upwordly mobile wife with her usual flair but special mention must be made of the glorious Liz Smith who is hysterical as her mum.My favourite line is when a lad eyes up the one solitary banana in the fruit bowl and asks if its going begging.Comes the reply "nay lad I'm planning a trifle".Brilliant movie you can watch time and time again.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic film 21 April 2009
By Ms. C. Beynon
Format:DVD
This is one of those films that you can watch over and over and still find something funny. Liz Smith is at her best as the mother and Maggie Smith wonderful, especially the scene at the piano. It is a gentle comedy, played in a beautifully understated way by Micheal Palin. I would recommend it as good British comedy.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars I love this film 28 Feb 2009
By S. Webster
Format:DVD
This film is an old favourite of mine. My dad originally had it on video so I bought it on dvd to replace it in my collection.

I laugh every time I see it. Well worth buying.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious 21 Mar 2008
By Filmer
Format:DVD
Maggie Smith is at her best and this comedy is quite simply hilarious... A1 ... ! ...
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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An English classic 20 Jun 2002
By Christine Coard
Format:VHS Tape
Absolutely classic portrayal of English manners in a small town in the post-war period, but most of the humour is timeless and side-splittingly funny; some of it is pure slapstick, but there is a lot of sly wit behind the wonderfully-written script (by Alan Bennett, the master of social observation).
Circumstances may change, but people don't and you will recognise all the character types.
Maggie Smith is in fine form as the wife of a chiropodist, prepared to do anything to climb the ladder of social success - although Keeping a pig with diarrhoea in the kitchen of a small house tests her resolve to the limit! Richard Griffiths and Michael Palin excel in their different ways as mild-mannered men oppressed by their womenfolk. Denholm Elliot delivers a classic performance as the extrovert, charming leader of the social elite.
Absolutely delightful and, like the previous reviewer, I can only beg for this to be released on DVD to delight a new audience (and so I can replace my VHS tape before it's completely worn out!).
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars One of Britain's finest films ... 16 Jan 2012
By Jimmymanc
Format:DVD
I thought at first this film would be boring, as the cover looks dated and I thought it would be one of those run-of-the mill period dramas, but it turned out to be one of the best films I've seen in a long time. Maggie Smith and Michael Palin head an all-star cast with some of the best of the British actors and actresses, including Liz Smith, Bill Paterson and Richard Griffiths.

The story revolves around the black market of the meat industry, with all of the villagers trying to sneak a little "under the table" here and there, whilst the Inspector (Bill Paterson) is hot on their trail. This is intertwined with the story of Mr and Mrs Average (Palin and Smith), the wife desperately wanting to better her place in society and make connections. Add to that the hilarious smuggling of a live pig and some of the best acting in British cinematic history, and this film is definitely a winner. Far from being just another period drama, it actually is probably a very accurate depiction of how people back then had the same despairs and ambitions as those of us now, albeit in a different environment. It made me laugh, cry, despair and finally applaud a story that literally comes to life with such a brilliant cast. Especially funny is Liz Smith, who plays the slightly senile mother. A must-see.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Good fun 9 Dec 2010
By Neil Carmichael
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A pretty straightforward plot is given life by top class acting. Michael Palin as a soppy village chirpodist, Maggie Smith as the frustrated social climber and Denholm Elliot as the vitriolic snob of a village GP. Throw in a senile grandma and an illicit pig romping unmolested around the house and you have a perfect Brian Rix type of farce. A real study in character and caricatures of the 1950's, it's appeal is not exactly timeless and would probably not appeal to younger viewers who never saw it for themselves. But if you know what a Ford Prefect looks like, you'll probably like this.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars A Private Function [Blu-ray] [1984] [US Import]
A Private Function [Blu-ray] [1984] [US Import] An ambitious couple and a V.I.P. [Very Important Pig] collide in his outrageous comedy of manners! Read more
Published 12 days ago by Andrew C. Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars Alan Bennett at his very best
I have watched this film again and again. Every time it makes me laugh - well observed humour and a fabulous cast.
Published 1 month ago by M. Lockett
1.0 out of 5 stars i dont hate it
i could not watch it wrong region still have it dont know what to do with it any one with region 1 ?
Published 1 month ago by arsenal
5.0 out of 5 stars Private Function DVD
What I didn't like was that you can't play the DVD in the UK, which I didn't realise, so it was a complete waste of money!!! The film itself is great though (had seen it before)
Published 1 month ago by ANNE COLE WILSON
1.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't work in UK
This product is not compatable with UK requirements and will not play on UK DVD players. Do not buy if you live in the UK
Published 2 months ago by Mrs C J Render
5.0 out of 5 stars Great movie in great condition
I am very happy with my purchase it was exactly as I expected and the DVD is in really good condition
Published 3 months ago by CMac
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
An absolute classic, hilarious. English comedy at its best. Maggie Smith has never been funnier. One of my all time favourites
Published 3 months ago by Janine
4.0 out of 5 stars A really funny film....
It is just as hilarious as I remember it from years ago.. Anyone who likes a laugh and especially folk who have some experience in the UK when rationing was at its height, but I'll... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mrs. Eileen Wilson Garside
5.0 out of 5 stars Michael Palin, Maggie Smith, Denholm Elliott, Richard Griffiths, etc....
A star-studded cast, and they're great in it. Very funny comedy set in 1940's austerity Britain where meat-rationing makes the keeping of an illegal pig a complicated business. Read more
Published 4 months ago by blahblahblah
5.0 out of 5 stars Unique British humour
This is a timeless classic of a film with superb performances and a script to please all the family. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Tamsyne
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