Derek and Clive Get the Horn (1979)

Russell Mulcahy (of "Highlander" fame) films British comedy luminaries Peter Cook and Dudley Moore recording their last comedy album featuring two of their most beloved characters, lavatory... See full summary »

Director:

Russell Mulcahy

Writers:

Peter Cook, Dudley Moore

Stars:

Dudley Moore, Peter Cook, Richard Branson

Cast

Credited cast:
Dudley Moore	...	Derek
Peter Cook	...	Clive
Richard Branson	...	Man With A Beard
Nicola Austin	...	Lady Who Came In And Took Her Clothes Off (as Nicola Austine)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Judy Huxtable	...	Judy Cook

Storyline

Russell Mulcahy (of "Highlander" fame) films British comedy luminaries Peter Cook and Dudley Moore recording their last comedy album featuring two of their most beloved characters, lavatory attendants Derek and Clive. Booze, drugs, strippers and practical jokes (sometimes bitter and sick on the part of Cook) are provided. Throughout the recording, Moore has to weather the abuse and disdain of his longtime partner in the wake of his success in the American market (with films like '10' (1979) and Foul Play (1978)). The film marked the last appearance of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore together as a team and the end of their partnership which began with "Beyond the Fringe" in 1959. The men discuss "getting the horn" (i.e. getting "in the mood") at the most unlikely times, improvise songs filled with obscenities (Cook's two-note piano opus entitled "Dutch Bitch" is coarse and hilarious to those who are not easily offended) and work out their aggressions toward one another in the strangest ...

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Plot Keywords:

british comedy | joke | double act | mock documentary | broadcasting | 

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Taglines:

Warning: This film is only suitable for those people rich enough to have paid admission. Do not show it in the presence of others!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1979 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Virgin Studios, Goldhawk Road, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was rejected for a UK cinema certificate in 1980 by the BBFC for "abusive overuse of the swear words 'fuck' and 'c**t'". It was eventually passed fully uncut in 1993 and released on the Polygram video label.

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Quotes

Clive: I tell you something. That, that religious singing reminded me of something. Did you, did you see that, er, TV coverage of the, er, Pope when he was lying in state? The, the last Pope, you know, John Paul.
Derek: Yeah.
Clive: Lying in state, on that catafalque? In those robes. It didn't half give me the horn, that. Him lying there. He looked so fucking vulnerable, didn't he? I mean, like I, I couldn't prevent myself, you know, having a wank immediately cos he looked, he looked vulnerable, he looked at, at ...

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Crazy Credits

Peter Cook and Dudley Moore stand behind a chalkboard with "THE END" hand-written on it. Cook makes a joke about touching Moore's behind while hiding behind the chalkboard.

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Connections

Featured in 50 Most Shocking Comedy Moments (2006)

User Reviews

Extraordinary comic non-anachronism

Derek and Clive is for those who love that feeling you have at 3am when there is only half an inch left from the Tesco's scotch, and 8 fags left from your 100 regal. Basically, this is Pete and Dud on booze and hash, the performers Peter Cook and Dudley Moore reach a career and cultural high point as political correctness and taboo are dismissed by characters you probably would not like to encounter in real life though you can imagine the kind of individuals they are mocking; the kind of individuals who are running and ruining the world today. The essence of the performance is to simply combine the liberating effects of alcohol (which is consumed before and throughout the recording, concealed in coffee mugs) with their own vocal talents, creating an imaginary 'radio play' type world full of filthy perverts and leering homosexuals. The improvised feel of the film accommodates the many anarchic digressions and cutaway scenes, though largely the comedy is generated in improvised skits where the two assume characters (Usually Cook as the intellectually and physically dominant, and Moore as an inferior.) Cook, although in top form seems to be continuing some sort of personal attack on Moore, although this may simply be a key to outlining the chemistry between the two, which eventually moves from the stool in front of the mikes and over to the piano and drum kit, where Moore the piano virtuoso improvises a mock opera.

A little slow to begin with but working up to genius and a strong sense of fraternity between the performance and viewer,' Derek and Clive get the horn' will continue to astonish it's viewers for as long as a film with such normally unacceptable behaviour and dialogue remains as it is, a hidden gem, which when discovered, provides a magic tonic for both the intellect and the frustrations and contrivance of political correctness.