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Staying On [1979]
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STAYING ON
Review date: 2008-01-07 Rating: 10 out of 10
"Staying On" is an amusing but poignant story about an elderly British couple, Colonel "Tusker" Smalley, retired from the Indian Army, and his wife Lucy, who "stayed on" after Indian Independence. Trevor Howard plays the irascible and unpredictable Tusker with great relish. Despite his heart condition and the Doctor's warnings, he continues to drink and smoke heavily and become excitable and bad tempered easily. Celia Johnson plays his long suffering wife, yet able to to burst into bouts of dancing when her spirits lift from time to time. She worries about coping on her own when Tusker dies as it seems likely that he will be the first to go. It is not until she tells him these worries that he writes her a letter telling her that his pension and insurance will ensure that she will be alright. He admits that he cannot discuss this with her. Not used to it, he says. British stiff upper lip, I suppose.
It is 1972 and the Smalleys are living out their days at the Indian hill station of Pankot, in a bungalow in the grounds of Smiths Hotel. It is leased from the proprietors Mr and Mrs Bhoolabhoy. Smiths has seen better days. It was popular during the days of the Raj, but now is not only dilapidated but is facing stiff competition from the brand new stylish Shiraz Hotel nearby. Pearl Padamsee gives a very good performance as the scheming Mrs Bhoolabhoy in her flowing pink saris, as she plots to sell Smiths and join the Shiraz consortium. To achieve this she has to get rid of the Smalleys. Saaed Jaffrey, the well known Indian actor plays her henpecked husband Frank, and he is very friendly with the Smalleys. His dominating wife makes him write the letter to his friends telling them that their lease will expire soon. He baulks at taking it to them, so Mrs Bhoolabhoy send their servant Minnie with it.
Tusker reads the letter and sufers a massive heart attack and dies. At this time, Mrs Smalley is treating herself to a visit to the hairdresser. She is taken home and the news broken to her. Despite efforts to help and comfort her, she maintains her stiff upper lip and says that she will not cry and that she will get over it all. But, later, when she is alone in her bedroom, she breaks down and wonders just how she is going to live without Tusker.
I enjoyed "Staying On" very much. The acting is excellent and the music is haunting and beautiful. Paul Scott's book has adapted very well to the screen.
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Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Celia Johnson
Trevor Howard
Saeed Jaffrey
Creators:
Saeed Jaffrey (Primary Contributor)
Celia Johnson (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: ITV DVD
Manufacturer: ITV DVD
EAN: 5037115239532
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2007-02-19
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 86 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1979
Language: English (Original Language)