The Great McGonagall [1974] [DVD]

I can't believe this is finally coming out on DVD! I'm going to preorder this once I've finished this review. Spike Milligan at his ridiculous, Dadaist, hilarious, genre-subverting best. Milligan plays real-life, failed Scottish poet William McGonagall, a misunderstood genius in his own mind, (rightly)derided by all for his terrible poetry, convinced that if he can just trudge to Balmoral, Queen Victoria herself (Peter Sellers in this case)will give him an audience and probably a knighthood. Like Zappa's '200 Motels' no attempts are made to disguise the fact that this is a film, filmed in a decaying theatre, Milligan even breaks off and chats with the director at one point. Some might balk at the 'blacked up' actors, but I believe that he's making more of a point about Imperial attitudes to their conquered subjects than any actual racism on Milliagan's part. All in all an odd masterpiece.
Now, when's 'The Bed-Sitting Room' coming out?

I first encountered this film when it was released on VHS by "fabulous". The transfer at that time was poor--presumably there is only one print remaining--and the DVD reissue is little better.

It's surprising to see this described in other reviews as a movie Goon Show. It's not. Doubtless this misconstruction is caused by the appearance of Peter Sellers as Queen Victoria and Valentyne Dyall (appeared in a few Goon Shows). Whilst the Goons indeed found William McGonagall (and Valentyne Dyall) hilarious, this film actually belongs with Spike Milligan's Q series of the 1970s, and veers more towards the punning and near-the-knuckle racial stereotyping common in Milligan's work of that era rather than the absurd, cartoonish and timeless world of the Goon Shows.

The director, Joe McGrath, was best known as a BBC television director, having directed much of Milligan's output and some of the Not Only... But Also... shows. He had however directed a televised Goon Show performance for Thames in 1968.

The film tells the story of the life of William McGonagall, an unemployed weaver and tragedian, and one of the 'worst' poets who ever lived. He's best known for his poems celebrating the completion of the bridge over the River Tay, and subsequently describing its collapse. In fact, it's perhaps unkind to call McGonagall one of the worst poets; his approach where a line could be as long as necessary to get a rhyme in could be regarded as a precursor to rap by 75 years, if you're feeling generous. Here's an extract from The Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay:

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay !
That has caused the Emperor of Brazil to leave
His home far away, incognito in his dress,
And view thee ere he passed along en route to Inverness.

Stirring stuff!

All the action takes place in Wilton's Music Hall, Cable Street, East London, which was to feature in the BBC's much-needed Restoration many years later and is still a going concern. I think this film is unique in being made within such confines.

The film is uneven, on a trajectory from comedy to tragedy. Perhaps this reflects Milligan's well-publicised problems with depression. Is the film funny, however? I'm not sure. Milligan's humour doesn't go down as well as in the TV shows of the era. I think he was always better when you could hear his audience laughing, and he'd be struggling to keep a straight face. However, if you can decipher the dialogue from the rather poor print, there are some clever and funny sections on a par with the Q series, and some of the Tay bridge poetry is very dramatic. A New Orleans jazz funeral taking place in Dundee, with a midget coffin-bearer, is an unforgettable opening image.

I'd recommend that anyone who likes Milligan's TV output should try this film, as you're sure to enjoy at least part of it. If nothing else, it is the coming together of 2 of the Goons in a unique curio of British cinema history.

First and foremost it must be said that this is not a biopic of William McGonagall. What it is, is nothing more than a visual Goon Show. Anyone who remembers with affection radio's Goon Show will immediately recognise the style of humour which launched Spike and Peter's careers, complete with some of the most familiar voice characterisations. Unfortunately, this will fall flat on anyone who is unfamiliar with this style of comedy and who expects sophisticated "modern" humour. To really enjoy it requires a sense of the ridiculous and a complete suspension of reality.
The supporting cast of well known performers such as John Bluthal and Victor Spinetti enter into the spirit with gusto and the manic visual style of comic genius Julian Joy Chagrin as Prince Albert fits in perfectly. A lot of the scenes caused me to laugh out loud, especially the one where Queen Victoria sits at the piano playing a jazz version of "I'll Remember April," the sound being dubbed from an Errol Garner performance.
Altogether a very enjoyable production and a must for Goon fans.