Decline and Fall... of a Birdwatcher (1968)

Decline and Fall is based on Evelyn Waugh's first published novel (in 1928), and tells the story of Paul Pennyfeather... See full synopsis »

Director:

John Krish

Writers:

Ivan Foxwell (adaptation), Alan Hackney (additional scenes),

Stars:

Robin Phillips, Michael Elwyn, Norman Scace

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robin Phillips	...	Paul Pennyfeather
Michael Elwyn	...	Alastair Vane-Trumpington
Norman Scace	...	Dean
John Glyn-Jones	...	Warden
Donald Layne-Smith	...	Bursar
John Cater	...	Blackall
Kenneth Griffith	...	Mr. Church
Donald Wolfit	...	Dr. Augustus Fagan
Colin Blakely	...	Solomon Philbrick
Jonathan Collins	...	Clutterbuck
Robert Harris	...	Prendergast
Leo McKern	...	Capt. Grimes
Michael Newport	...	Lord Tangent
Patience Collier	...	Flossie Fagan
David Macalister	...	Peter Beste-Chetwynde

Storyline

Decline and Fall is based on Evelyn Waugh's first published novel (in 1928), and tells the story of Paul Pennyfeather... See full synopsis »

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

M

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 January 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Decline and Fall

Filming Locations:

Knebworth House, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ivan Foxwell Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Last film of Sir Donald Wolfit.

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Connections

Referenced in Brewster McCloud (1970)

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Soundtracks

"Rule Britannia"
(uncredited)
Music by Thomas Augustine Arne

User Reviews

"Decline and (definitely a) Fall..."

I'd missed this when it was given a U.S. theatrical release and, considering its cast, thought I'd give it a whirl when it was shown today on the FOX Movie Channel. But, as it unreeled, the recollection of its lukewarm-to-poor reviews came vividly to mind. It's a thorough disappointment in lots of ways, beginning with a script that has barely a hint of what was, no doubt, a good example of novelist Evelyn Waugh's acerbic social satire. The production design, typical of most films then, British and American, is colorfully garish. And the waste of the acting talent of a phalanx of the best British character actors is awesomely prodigious, attributable, I'm sure, to the slack direction of one John Krish, whose meager filmography is testament to his utter mediocrity. I should have been forewarned by the psychedelic colors swirling under the main credits (Well, the year of production WAS 1968, after all.) and the soupy music of Ron Goodwin, whose syrupy strains inappropriately underline most of the film's unfolding. Worst of all was the misuse of the elegant Genevieve Page, an actress perfectly capable of playing a lady of privilege and breeding, who seems, in this one, to be an inexperienced amateur attempting a role for which she is almost entirely unsuited. What a pity!