Personal Services (1987)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Terry Jones

Writer:

David Leland (writer)

Release Date:

15 May 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The story of the rise of a madame of a suburban brothel catering to older men, inspired by the real experiences of Cynthia Payne. |

Plot Keywords:

Female Nudity | Dominatrix | Prostitution | Independent Film

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win

Cast

Julie Walters	...	Christine Painter
Shirley Stelfox	...	Shirley
Alec McCowen	...	Wing Commander Morten
Danny Schiller	...	Dolly
Tim Woodward	...	Timms
Victoria Hardcastle	...	Rose
Dave Atkins	...	Sydney
Ewan Hooper	...	Edward
Alan Bowyer	...	David Painter
Antony Carrick	...	Edgar
Beverley Foster	...	Elizabeth
Leon Lissek	...	Mr. Popozogolou
Peter Cellier	...	Mr. Marples
Benjamin Whitrow	...	Mr. Marsden
Stephen Lewis	...	Mr. Dunkley

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 (nf) | Ireland:(Banned) | Canada:R

Company:

British Screen Productions

Trivia:

Another film from writer David Leland was also based on Cynthia Payne. That film, Wish You Were Here (1987) was based on Payne's childhood, this film was based on her life as an adult.

Quotes:

[at the police station after the raid on the brothel, police officers Lennox and Timms are planning to charge Christine]
Lennox: We're looking to make several charges - including possessing obscene articles for gain, selling liquor without a licence, running a disorderly house and keeping a brothel.
Christine Painter: I just perform a service.
Timms: You *will* go down for this.
Christine Painter: I only go down for a price, dear, and I doubt if you could afford it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Comedy Connections: Ripping Yarns (#6.4)" (2008)

Witty and Well-done

Very funny movie, one of my favorites. The entire cast was great but Julia Walters was excellent, as always. "Popazokaloo" should have become a household word, apparently not enough people saw the movie. The scene in the loo will make you laugh till you cry. I find it interesting that the men I know that have seen the movie don't find it as amusing as the women who have viewed it do. (Watch it and draw your own conclusions about my observation.)