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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Alan Bennett (story) &
Malcolm Mowbray (story) ...
more
Release Date:
11 March 1985 (USA) more
Plot:
1947 in a small town in England. The war has been won two years ago, but there's still rationing of meat... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Won 3 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win & 2 nominations more
User Comments:
A very good, typical British comedy more (18 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Michael Palin | ... | Gilbert Chilvers |
 | Maggie Smith | ... | Joyce Chilvers |
| Denholm Elliott | ... | Dr. Charles Swaby |
| Richard Griffiths | ... | Henry Allardyce the Accountant |
| Tony Haygarth | ... | Leonard Sutcliff the Farmer |
| John Normington | ... | Frank Lockwood the Solicitor |
| Bill Paterson | ... | Morris Wormold the Meat Inspector |
| Liz Smith | ... | Joyce's Mother |
| Alison Steadman | ... | Mrs. Allardyce |
| Jim Carter | ... | Inspector Noble |
 | Pete Postlethwaite | ... | Douglas J. Nuttol the Butcher |
| Eileen O'Brien | ... | Mrs. Sutcliff |
| Rachel Davies | ... | Mrs. Forbes, Wormold's Landlady |
| Reece Dinsdale | ... | P.C. Penny |
| Philip Whileman | ... | Preston Sutcliff (as Philip Wileman) |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
94 min | USA:93 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The German title of the movie is 'Magere Zeiten', which translates roughly as 'Lean Times' (or 'Hard Times'): the film is set during a period when food was heavily rationed in the United Kingdom. more
Quotes:
Dr. Charles Swaby: In Westminster Abbey tomorrow morning, a young couple are getting married of a purity and a nobility scum like you just can't comprehend. more
Movie Connections:
References "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969) more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (18 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for A Private Function (1984)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| No pig! No pig! | cgd3207 |
| She's 74 | SissyGoforth |
| Brilliantly done... | HarrietZ |
| Harrison voice cameo! | rickmojo |
| Unique credit | uisliu |
| Depressing but good | Kissmyface |
Recommendations
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| Rat | Shrek 2 | Something for Everyone | Valley Girl | The Miracle of Morgan's Creek |
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IMDb User Rating:
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Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| IMDb Comedy section | IMDb UK section | Add this title to MyMovies |
This movie already had everything to please me before I even started watching it. Knowing that this was a British comedy, was already enough for me to decide that I wanted to see it, but that it was situated in the first post-WWII years, only made it even more interesting for me. I'm very interested in that time period, but in my opinion there aren't enough good movies about it. However, it's not because I think that I'll like a movie, that I'll automatically give it a good rating. I still need to watch it first.
"A Private Function" is situated in a small town in England in 1947. Even though the war is over for about two years, there still is a rationing of meat and more in particular of pork. The butchers and farmers are severely controlled in order to prevent the start of a black market, but the rules aren't always obeyed. When Princess Elizabeth is going to marry, a local group of businessmen and notables are organizing a party to impress the local government. They have a pig illegally raised and want to slaughter it for the event. But just before the party, the pig is stolen by Gilbert Chilvers on the instigation of his wife and his mother-in-law, who can't live with the idea that they no longer belong to the notables of the community and therefore can't get more meat...
If you like the typical British humor, than this is definitely a movie you shouldn't miss. Especially when they keep the pig in their own house, you can be sure of some hilarious scenes. One reviewer said that you shouldn't watch it when you don't like toilet humor. I'm afraid I can't follow him in that opinion. I don't like that kind of humor at all, but it never was shown in this movie either. It's just insinuated and that's why I could live with it without any problem. Another good reason why you should give this movie a try is the acting. Michael Palin is excellent as the somewhat quiet, but lovable husband who does everything his wife - Maggie Smith plays that role really very well - wants him to do. But the other actors, even though most of them aren't very famous, are very good and interesting to watch.
All in all this is a comedy that deserves a lot more attention than what it has received so far. I really enjoyed watching it and regularly had a good laugh. What more can you possibly want from a comedy? A good story and some fine acting? They are all in it as well and that's why I give this movie a 7.5/10.