Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Rita Tushingham | ... | Penelope | |
Dudley Moore | ... | Police Sergeant | |
Harry Secombe | ... | Shelter Man | |
Arthur Lowe | ... | Father | |
Roy Kinnear | ... | Plastic Mac Man | |
Spike Milligan | ... | Mate | |
Ronald Fraser | ... | The Army | |
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Jimmy Edwards | ... | Nigel |
Michael Hordern | ... | Bules Martin | |
Peter Cook | ... | Police Inspector | |
Ralph Richardson | ... | Lord Fortnum | |
Mona Washbourne | ... | Mother | |
Richard Warwick | ... | Alan | |
Frank Thornton | ... | The BBC | |
Dandy Nichols | ... | Mrs. Ethel Shroake |
Set in post-nuclear-holocaust England, where a handful of bizarre characters struggle on with their lives in the ruins, amongst endless heaps of ash, piles of broken crockery and brick, muddy plains, and heaps of dentures and old boots. Patriotically singing "God Save Mrs. Ethel Shroake, Long Live Mrs. Ethel Shroake", they wander through this surrealistic landscape, forever being warned by the police to "keep moving", and prone to the occasional mutation into a parrot, cupboard, or even, yes, a bed sitting room with "No Wogs" scrawled in the grime on its windows. In particular, this story revolves around the odd "love story" of a girl who lives with her parents in one compartment of a London Underground train, the commuter in the next compartment, and the doctor they meet after returning above ground in search of a nurse for the heavily pregnant girl. Written by Sonya Roberts <sonya_roberts@geocities.com>
For some strange reason, I recorded this movie one afternoon when it aired and my brother still has it on tape. Hilarious. Ralph Richardson, MIcheal HOrdern, Dudley Moore and Peter cooke were incredibly funny, but Mona Washburne as Mother had us laughing mostly, such as when nurse marty Feldman informed her she had died while she was still very much alive. "Well, you can't argue with it. There it is in black and white." and especially when she was throwing the dishes and was called a 'slut'. "Get out of here, ya slut." too funny! Rita Tushingham gets a bit irritating as the youthful voice of reason, possibly what hurts this movie most, but Peter Cooke's dialogue is priceless. Absolutely priceless. Then of course, we have to pay homage to our Royal Family. Or as close as we can get. Mrs. Ethel Stronk, was it?