Malcolm Mowbray, the British director of “A Private Function,” died June 23, producer Deniz Erel confirmed to Variety. He was 74.
Mowbray was known for directing “The Revengers’ Comedies,” “Meeting Spencer,” “Out Cold” as well as the 1984 feature “A Private Function.”
Maggie Smith, Michael Palin, Richard Griffiths, Denholm Elliott, John Normington and Tony Haygarth starred in “A Private Function,” which Mowbray co-wrote. The dark comedy followed the citizens of a small English town in 1947 who were awaiting the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. The citizens had to ration their food, but the royal celebration was the one exception. They gathered to prepare and raise a pig for the celebratory meal — but a couple, Smith’s Joyce and Palin’s Gilbert, decide to steal the pig in an act of rebellion. The film garnered six BAFTA wins, including original screenplay and best film.
In 1989, Mowbray directed the black comedy “Out Cold,...
Mowbray was known for directing “The Revengers’ Comedies,” “Meeting Spencer,” “Out Cold” as well as the 1984 feature “A Private Function.”
Maggie Smith, Michael Palin, Richard Griffiths, Denholm Elliott, John Normington and Tony Haygarth starred in “A Private Function,” which Mowbray co-wrote. The dark comedy followed the citizens of a small English town in 1947 who were awaiting the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. The citizens had to ration their food, but the royal celebration was the one exception. They gathered to prepare and raise a pig for the celebratory meal — but a couple, Smith’s Joyce and Palin’s Gilbert, decide to steal the pig in an act of rebellion. The film garnered six BAFTA wins, including original screenplay and best film.
In 1989, Mowbray directed the black comedy “Out Cold,...
- 6/26/2023
- by Charna Flam
- Variety Film + TV
Reviewed by Chris Allsop
(April 2011)
Directed by: Malcolm Mowbray
Written by: Andrew Kole, Andrew Delaplaine and Scott Kasdin
Starring: Jeffrey Tambor, Jesse Plemons, Melinda McGraw, Yvonne Zima and William Morgan Sheppard
Described as an affectionate homage to the screwball comedy genre, Malcolm Mowbray’s “Meeting Spencer” is to screwball comedy what fat Elvis impersonators are to the King: a tragic reminder of the worst rather than an admirable tribute to the best.
Jeffrey Tambor plays Harris Chappell, a chastened stage director returned to Broadway following a Hollywood flop. The story centers on Chappell’s comeback play-in-the-making, the plans for which unravel over the course of an evening at Theatre Row hangout Frankie & Johnnie’s. Faced with ever-greater obstacles to success, Chappell and friends become increasingly desperate as they strive to keep their plans afloat.
Key to the success of “Meeting Spencer” is that as the desperation rises, so does the pitch of the comedy.
(April 2011)
Directed by: Malcolm Mowbray
Written by: Andrew Kole, Andrew Delaplaine and Scott Kasdin
Starring: Jeffrey Tambor, Jesse Plemons, Melinda McGraw, Yvonne Zima and William Morgan Sheppard
Described as an affectionate homage to the screwball comedy genre, Malcolm Mowbray’s “Meeting Spencer” is to screwball comedy what fat Elvis impersonators are to the King: a tragic reminder of the worst rather than an admirable tribute to the best.
Jeffrey Tambor plays Harris Chappell, a chastened stage director returned to Broadway following a Hollywood flop. The story centers on Chappell’s comeback play-in-the-making, the plans for which unravel over the course of an evening at Theatre Row hangout Frankie & Johnnie’s. Faced with ever-greater obstacles to success, Chappell and friends become increasingly desperate as they strive to keep their plans afloat.
Key to the success of “Meeting Spencer” is that as the desperation rises, so does the pitch of the comedy.
- 4/19/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Network
Reviewed by Chris Allsop
(April 2011)
Directed by: Malcolm Mowbray
Written by: Andrew Kole, Andrew Delaplaine and Scott Kasdin
Starring: Jeffrey Tambor, Jesse Plemons, Melinda McGraw, Yvonne Zima and William Morgan Sheppard
Described as an affectionate homage to the screwball comedy genre, Malcolm Mowbray’s “Meeting Spencer” is to screwball comedy what fat Elvis impersonators are to the King: a tragic reminder of the worst rather than an admirable tribute to the best.
Jeffrey Tambor plays Harris Chappell, a chastened stage director returned to Broadway following a Hollywood flop. The story centers on Chappell’s comeback play-in-the-making, the plans for which unravel over the course of an evening at Theatre Row hangout Frankie & Johnnie’s. Faced with ever-greater obstacles to success, Chappell and friends become increasingly desperate as they strive to keep their plans afloat.
Key to the success of “Meeting Spencer” is that as the desperation rises, so does the pitch of the comedy.
(April 2011)
Directed by: Malcolm Mowbray
Written by: Andrew Kole, Andrew Delaplaine and Scott Kasdin
Starring: Jeffrey Tambor, Jesse Plemons, Melinda McGraw, Yvonne Zima and William Morgan Sheppard
Described as an affectionate homage to the screwball comedy genre, Malcolm Mowbray’s “Meeting Spencer” is to screwball comedy what fat Elvis impersonators are to the King: a tragic reminder of the worst rather than an admirable tribute to the best.
Jeffrey Tambor plays Harris Chappell, a chastened stage director returned to Broadway following a Hollywood flop. The story centers on Chappell’s comeback play-in-the-making, the plans for which unravel over the course of an evening at Theatre Row hangout Frankie & Johnnie’s. Faced with ever-greater obstacles to success, Chappell and friends become increasingly desperate as they strive to keep their plans afloat.
Key to the success of “Meeting Spencer” is that as the desperation rises, so does the pitch of the comedy.
- 4/19/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Magazine
Sneak Peek the new poster supporting the upcoming comedy feature "Meeting Spencer", starring Jeffrey Tambor ("Arrested Development"), Melinda McGraw ("Mad Men") and Jesse Plemons ("Friday Night Lights").
"...After a series of Hollywood flops, famed director 'Harris Chappell' (Tambor) returns to New York to relaunch his Broadway career. But Chappell's triumphant comeback begins to spiral out of control into a wild night of comic misadventure after meeting struggling actor 'Spencer' (Jesse Plemons) and his old flame 'Didi' (Melinda McGraw)..."
Directed by Malcolm Mowbray, "Meeting Spencer" is written by Andrew Kole, Andrew Delaplaine and Scott Kasdin, co-starring Caroline Aaron as 'Nancy Diamond', Julian Bailey as 'Emerson Todd' and Marcello Cacioppo as 'Nicholas'.,
"Meeting Spencer" was produced by George G. Braunstein, Phillip J. Braunstein, Chien Ya Chin and Bruce Wayne Gillies for George G. Braunstein Productions.
The film will screen in a limited release April 8, 2011.
Click the images to enlarge and...
"...After a series of Hollywood flops, famed director 'Harris Chappell' (Tambor) returns to New York to relaunch his Broadway career. But Chappell's triumphant comeback begins to spiral out of control into a wild night of comic misadventure after meeting struggling actor 'Spencer' (Jesse Plemons) and his old flame 'Didi' (Melinda McGraw)..."
Directed by Malcolm Mowbray, "Meeting Spencer" is written by Andrew Kole, Andrew Delaplaine and Scott Kasdin, co-starring Caroline Aaron as 'Nancy Diamond', Julian Bailey as 'Emerson Todd' and Marcello Cacioppo as 'Nicholas'.,
"Meeting Spencer" was produced by George G. Braunstein, Phillip J. Braunstein, Chien Ya Chin and Bruce Wayne Gillies for George G. Braunstein Productions.
The film will screen in a limited release April 8, 2011.
Click the images to enlarge and...
- 3/24/2011
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
See the trailer and poster for Meeting Spencer starring Jeffrey Tambor, Jesse Plemons, Melinda McGraw, and Yvonne Zima. Malcolm Mowbray (1990's Don't Tell Her It's Me) directs the comedy scripted by Andrew Kole, Andrew Delaplaine and Scott Kasdin, which opens April 8th in New York City. Also in the cast are William Morgan Sheppard, Mark Harelik, Jill Marie Jones, Markus Flanagan, Julian Bailey, Caroline Aaron and Ralph Martin. Meeting Spencer is a contemporary comedy that plays like a screwball farce while spying on the lives and entanglements of a coterie of Broadway insiders during one fateful night in Manhattan. Famed director Harris Chappell (Jeffrey Tambor) plans to relaunch his Broadway career after suffering a humiliating series of flops in Hollywood. He arrives at Frankie & Johnnie’s restaurant anxious to see his former flame Didi (Melinda McGraw) and meet a struggling young actor, Spencer West (Jesse Plemons), as a favor to an old friend.
- 3/23/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
See the trailer and poster for Meeting Spencer starring Jeffrey Tambor, Jesse Plemons, Melinda McGraw, and Yvonne Zima. Malcolm Mowbray (1990's Don't Tell Her It's Me) directs the comedy scripted by Andrew Kole, Andrew Delaplaine and Scott Kasdin, which opens April 8th in New York City. Also in the cast are William Morgan Sheppard, Mark Harelik, Jill Marie Jones, Markus Flanagan, Julian Bailey, Caroline Aaron and Ralph Martin. Meeting Spencer is a contemporary comedy that plays like a screwball farce while spying on the lives and entanglements of a coterie of Broadway insiders during one fateful night in Manhattan. Famed director Harris Chappell (Jeffrey Tambor) plans to relaunch his Broadway career after suffering a humiliating series of flops in Hollywood. He arrives at Frankie & Johnnie’s restaurant anxious to see his former flame Didi (Melinda McGraw) and meet a struggling young actor, Spencer West (Jesse Plemons), as a favor to an old friend.
- 3/23/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Paladin will release Malcolm Mowbray's "Meeting Spencer," a farce set in the world of theater, it was announced today. The film, starring Jeffrey Tambor, will open in New York on April 8. "'Meeting Spencer' is an upscale comedy that is downright funny, boasting the sort of snappy dialog and stylish visuals that are a rarity among independent films," said Paladin president, Mark Urman. "Jeffrey Tambor is just sensational in it, ...
- 2/14/2011
- Indiewire
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