The Bed Sitting Room (1969)

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, ... See full summary »

Director:

Richard Lester

Writers:

John Antrobus (screenplay), Charles Wood (adaptation)

Stars:

Rita Tushingham, Ralph Richardson, Peter Cook

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

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
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

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

absurdism | post holocaust | london england | world war three | mutants | 

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Taglines:

"The Great Nuclear Misunderstanding Lasted 2 Minutes And 28 Seconds (including the peace treaty)"

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Genres:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Closing credits: All characters and events in this film are fictitious. Any similarity to actual events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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Quotes

Nurse Arthur: We should have asked ourselves, "Is it really necessary for people to leave the womb nowadays? That's when most of the trouble seems to start in this wicked world."

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Crazy Credits

In the opening credits, cast members are listed in order of height.

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Connections

Featured in Things They Said Today (2002)

User Reviews

It Haunts me too!

There must be some-one out there with some idea how fans of this classic can get to see it.Whenever I read a message concerning this movie it seems to come from an area in that persons mind reserved for The Bed Sitting Room. Relating scenes of a movie no-one you know has ever seen or is ever likely to see can be embarrassing. This movie has become an obsession ever since my first and only viewing in Sydney circa1970.Can someone help myself and others end this frustrating search. Regards and "keep moving"

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 March 1970 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Bed Sitting Room

Filming Locations:

Chesil Bank, Dorset, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Oscar Lewenstein Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1