Dancing Queen (TV 1993)

One of three hour long dramas that Rik Mayall did for ITV in the summer of 1993. Dancing Queen concerns Neil who is at his batchelor party. A stripper called Pandora performs her dance and ... See full summary »

Director:

Nick Hamm

Writer:

Nick Vivian

Stars:

Rik Mayall, Helena Bonham Carter, Serena Gordon

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Rik Mayall	...	Neil
Helena Bonham Carter	...	Pandora / Julie (as Helena Bonham-Carter)
Serena Gordon	...	Sophie
Dorothy Tutin	...	Margaret
Nathaniel Parker	...	Nigel
Martin Clunes	...	Donald
Bill Cashmore	...	Policeman
Judith Barker	...	Ticket Lady
Peter Martin	...	Ticket Man
Rosalie Williams	...	Lily
Rod Arthur	...	Ticket Collector
Tony Peers	...	Taxi Driver
Philippa Howell	...	Restaurant Manageress

Storyline

One of three hour long dramas that Rik Mayall did for ITV in the summer of 1993. Dancing Queen concerns Neil who is at his batchelor party. A stripper called Pandora performs her dance and Neil's mates load him on a train as a last gag. Neil awakes on the train, Pandora's there and at the stop where his mates are to pick him up, the train doesn't stop. Neil and Pandora walk around one of Northern England's premier seaside towns as he frets over the utter chaos his marriage day has turned out to be and tries to get back. All the while, Pandora is going on carnival rides and just generally moping around listening to Abba's Dancing Queen.

---

Plot Keywords:

train | stripper | abba | practical joke | scarbrough | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 June 1993 (UK)

Also Known As:

Rik Mayall Presents Dancing Queen

Filming Locations:

Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

First Choice, Granada Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

51 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)"
Performed by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

User Reviews

A Favourite

There is something about this movie that makes it great.

The storyline is a typical Cinderella story in the present day. The wealthy and successful Neal, played by Rik Mayall, is to marry a spoilt snob in the south of England. His friends mess up his Stag Party prank and Neal ends up stranded in the once-famous north England coastal town of Scarborough. His desparate situation leave him at the mercy of Julie's will.

The film is made humourous by the colourful personalities that are only slightly larger than life than most of the people you might meet in the UK. His priveleged background, arrogant manner make him an unlikeable central character who is rescued by the heroine Julie played by Bonham-Carter. The comic style of Mayall brought on by the stress of the situation absolves his character of being totally disliked.

Julie, despite her low-class ways, is endearing and compassionate and her strong role supports the fairy-tale notion that social class and position are irrelevant to love. Perhaps a more unique underlying plot is that the pursuit of wealth creates a greed and snobbery that stand against real love whilst poverty, respect for the individual and community breeds love and a greater awareness of life... perhaps