Yes, an authentic portrait of early 70's London; utterly sexist, racist, drunk, antisemitic, corrupt, paranoid, dirty, dilapidated and everyone's on the make. From the days when even cheap comic strips had a film option.
It's clear from this how Dudley Moore became a bankable Hollywood star, while his comedy partner Peter Cook never really had a movie career. Peter Cook, however lovable, couldn't act if his life depended on it. He did write this excellent gag though:
"The number of leprosy victims in London can be counted on the finger of two hands".
The climax is that old standby, "chaos on the live TV show", an ending that '60's UK comedians from Norman Wisdom to Tony Hancock were reduced to at times.
And yet: It's nice to be reminded how gorgeous Joan Bakewell was in her pomp. And Spike Milligan was a very funny man, given the right script. A few glorious moments - the two Barries (Crocker and Humphries) have a lot of chemistry, the authentic Oz attitude remains untarnished, and shots of 'Alternative London' might be the only movie record of those days when hippies had become complete cynics. The London landscape depicted here has gone forever.
But the parts that seem to have been made up in the editing room - not so much dubbing as flubbing - and some atrocious non-acting, not just Peter Cook, hole this movie below the waterline; it's a struggle to stay with.
Nostalgia in a tube.
It's clear from this how Dudley Moore became a bankable Hollywood star, while his comedy partner Peter Cook never really had a movie career. Peter Cook, however lovable, couldn't act if his life depended on it. He did write this excellent gag though:
"The number of leprosy victims in London can be counted on the finger of two hands".
The climax is that old standby, "chaos on the live TV show", an ending that '60's UK comedians from Norman Wisdom to Tony Hancock were reduced to at times.
And yet: It's nice to be reminded how gorgeous Joan Bakewell was in her pomp. And Spike Milligan was a very funny man, given the right script. A few glorious moments - the two Barries (Crocker and Humphries) have a lot of chemistry, the authentic Oz attitude remains untarnished, and shots of 'Alternative London' might be the only movie record of those days when hippies had become complete cynics. The London landscape depicted here has gone forever.
But the parts that seem to have been made up in the editing room - not so much dubbing as flubbing - and some atrocious non-acting, not just Peter Cook, hole this movie below the waterline; it's a struggle to stay with.
Nostalgia in a tube.