Sir Henry at Rawlinson End (1980)

Director:

Steve Roberts

Writers:

Steve Roberts (writer)
Vivian Stanshall (writer)

Release Date:

7 November 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The very eccentric English peer Sir Henry Rawlinson attempts, with the help of his mad family & servants, to exorcise the ghost of his brother Humbert. |

Plot Keywords:

Eccentric | Ghost | English Countryside | Drunkenness | Prisoner Of War

Cast

Trevor Howard	...	Sir Henry Rawlinson
Patrick Magee	...	Rev. Slodden
Denise Coffey	...	Mrs E - housekeeper
J.G. Devlin	...	Old Scrotum - butler
Harry Fowler	...	Buller Bullethead
Sheila Reid	...	Lady Florrie Rawlinson
Vivian Stanshall	...	Hubert Rawlinson / Narrator
Suzanne Danielle	...	Candice Rawlinson
Daniel Gerroll	...	Ralph Rawlinson
Ben Aris	...	Lord Tarquin of Staines
Liz Smith	...	Lady Phillipa of Staines
Jeremy Child	...	Peregrine Maynard
Susan Porrett	...	Porcelain
Gary Waldhorn	...	Max
Simon Jones	...	Joachim

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 (video rating) | UK:AA (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Gloucestershire, England, UK

Company:

Charisma Films

Trivia:

Vivian Stanshall was reportedly drunk most days when making this project.

Quotes:

Sir Henry: I never met a man I didn't mutilate.

Archetypal English retired General seeks destruction of ghost and supporting the traditional values of the landed gentry

Sir Henry, a bigot, unfit father, drunkard, thug, commandant of his personal prisoner of war camp 40 years post world war two, one of Trevor Howards best parts and reminiscent of his part as Lord Cardigan in Charge of the Light Brigade. The rest of the cast is excellent although not 'Big' names. Viv Stanshell directs and appears as Sir Henry;s younger brother, coincidentally Viv died on the same day of the year as the real Sir Henry Rawlinson. Explaining the stream of consciousness that makes up this film is difficult to explain to the uninitiated but Rawlinsons End is haunted by the ghost of Sir Henrys brother, enter erstwhile exorcist the Rev Slodden and cockney wideboy partner hoping to benefit financially. At the same time a family gathering for a drunken viking orgy of violence. This film needs the understanding of the English class system and 1500 years of oppression to fully appreciate so I would not expect much of an American audience to truly understand the finer graining but give it a try and have a limey friend on hand to explain. However still the funniest film you are likely to see. Favourite Line. "Silence, if I want your opinion I'll thrash it out of you!" BACK OUT ON DVD, POUNCE NOW BEFORE THEY GO!