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The Great McGonagall [1974]


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Our Price: £2.93 (subject to change)

Back From The Dead—I Told You I Was Illiterate
Review date: 2004-02-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

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?

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Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Julia Foster
Victor Spinetti
Peter Sellers
John Bluthal
Spike Milligan

Creators:
Spike Milligan (Primary Contributor)
Spike Milligan (Writer)
Peter Sellers (Primary Contributor)
John Mackey (Cinematographer)
Joseph McGrath (Writer)
Rusty Coppleman (Editor)
David Grant (Producer)
Pasha Kamal (Producer)
Peter Lamb (Producer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Fabulous Films Ltd.
Manufacturer: Fabulous Films Ltd.
EAN: 5030697007490
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2004-02-09
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Running time: 85 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1974
Language: English (Original Language)

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