P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang. (1982) (TV)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Michael Apted

Writer:

Jack Rosenthal (written by)

Release Date:

3 November 1982 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The plot of one the early Channel Four films is sweet and simple. Boy likes girl at school, but is too embarrassed to confront her...

Plot Keywords:

Cricket | Corporal Punishment | Caning | Beating | Use Of Bloody As Epithet

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

John Albasiny	...	Alan Duckworth
Abigail Cruttenden	...	Ann Lawton
Maurice Dee	...	Geoffrey Whitaker
Alison Steadman	...	Miss Land
Mark Brailsford	...	Abbo
Christopher Karallis	...	Shaz (as Chris Karallis)
Frances Ruffelle	...	Eunice
Robert Urquhart	...	Headmaster
Garry Cooper	...	Tommy
Maurice O'Connell	...	Gym Teacher
Tim Seeley	...	French Master
Richenda Carey	...	Botany Teacher
Peter Dean	...	Police Officer
Dave Atkins	...	Fish Shop Owner
Eric Richard	...	Road Worker

Also Known As:

First Love: P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang (UK) (TV title)
Kipperbang

Runtime:

UK:80 min | USA:85 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | USA:PG | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Cardinal Vaughan School, Addison Road, Kensington, London, England, UK

Company:

Channel 4 Television Corporation

Trivia:

First film of 'Ailson Steadman'.

Quotes:

[Abbo and Shaz are helping Alan learn his lines. They come to the line where Alan's character kisses Ann's character]
Alan: [quoting line from play] "I have seen the light of truth in what's happened and the light of love in your fiancée's eyes - love for me."
Abbo: Then you stride over to her, take her in your arms and... bleeeeugh!
[Abbo pretends to vomit]
Shaz: Puke. Vomitude-inosty.
Abbo: Spewosity upthrow.
Alan: [echoing Ann's comment to him earlier] That's stupid, that. Long drivel words that don't mean anything.
[Alan walks off in disgust]
Shaz: He'd getting more like my Auntie Phyllis every day.
Abbo: It's the strain of learning his lines.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Followed by Experience Preferred... But Not Essential (1982)

Great atmosphere, iffy plot

An enjoyable movie, without a doubt, and very evocative of both its era and that very particular stage in any boy's 'rites of passage'. But I have to say that having read the very positive comments here, I was a bit disappointed. The period was captured, but the plot was desperately thin. The whole thing revolves around the most egregious bit of miscasting in the history of school plays. The idea that quack quack would ever be chosen to play not only one of only three star turns, but a philanderer, is risible. And without that, nada. The sub-plots bore no relation that I could see to the main plot - all of them could be removed in their entirety without in any way affecting the main story - which surely suggests a fundamental flaw. When all your sub-plots look like padding, you know a central idea is being stretched beyond its limits. Nevertheless, it's a benign movie with its heart in the right place, there are some fine performances, and you just get the feeling that everyone involved felt deflated at the final 'cut!' That good feeling permeates the film. And that has to count for something. A flawed really quite good movie. 7 out of 10.