Brilliant, just brilliant satire of Oxbridge traditions, set here in a Cambridge college famous for not caring about scholastic achievement to the point of the porter having arranged for poor but brilliant students to take the exams for prominent sons.
Along the way we're treated to a randy middle aged lady servant who keeps trying to seduce the student whom she serves, elderly dons who constantly encourage sex without really realizing it (maybe), Elizabethan-style feasts replete with stuffed swans, whole ox etc to the point of inducing strokes in the college masters, hence Porterhouse "blue." Ian Richardson plays the most recent master brought in to replace the recently deceased and he's brought to heel by his wealthy wife who conveniently provided him with a title. But as a reformer, she wants Porterhouse made coeducational + with prophylactics in machines throughout the college (hey, it's set in the 80's). Not one character is let off the satirical hook, including the presumed lower man on the totem pole, the loyal porter.
If you're of a certain age (even American like me) you'll likely recognize most of the players and laugh your head off. Best four hours I've spent in a long time.
Along the way we're treated to a randy middle aged lady servant who keeps trying to seduce the student whom she serves, elderly dons who constantly encourage sex without really realizing it (maybe), Elizabethan-style feasts replete with stuffed swans, whole ox etc to the point of inducing strokes in the college masters, hence Porterhouse "blue." Ian Richardson plays the most recent master brought in to replace the recently deceased and he's brought to heel by his wealthy wife who conveniently provided him with a title. But as a reformer, she wants Porterhouse made coeducational + with prophylactics in machines throughout the college (hey, it's set in the 80's). Not one character is let off the satirical hook, including the presumed lower man on the totem pole, the loyal porter.
If you're of a certain age (even American like me) you'll likely recognize most of the players and laugh your head off. Best four hours I've spent in a long time.