The Best House in London (1969)

In Victorian London, the British Government attempts a solution to the problem of prostitution by establishing the world's most fabulous brothel.

Director:

Philip Saville

Writer:

Denis Norden

Stars:

David Hemmings, Joanna Pettet, George Sanders

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Hemmings	...	Benjamin Oakes / Walter Leybourne
Joanna Pettet	...	Josephine Pacefoot
George Sanders	...	Sir Francis Leybourne
Dany Robin	...	Babette
Warren Mitchell	...	Count Pandolfo
John Bird	...	Home Secretary
William Rushton	...	Sylvester Wall
Bill Fraser	...	Inspector MacPherson
Maurice Denham	...	Editor of 'The Times'
Wolfe Morris	...	Chinese Trade Attache
Martita Hunt	...	Headmistress
Arnold Diamond	...	Charles Dickens
Hugh Burden	...	Lord Tennyson
George Reynolds	...	Lord Alfred Douglas
Jan Holden	...	Lady Dilke

Storyline

In Victorian London, the British Government attempts a solution to the problem of prostitution by establishing the world's most fabulous brothel.

---

Plot Keywords:

hot | sex scene | sexy | farce | prostitute | 

---

Taglines:

This movie is the best fun in town!

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

X

Did You Know?

Trivia

The last feature film of Martita Hunt.

---

Quotes

Sir Francis Leybourne: [the Attache is sobbing] I thought you people were supposed to be inscrutable?
Chinese Trade Attache: Please, Sir Francis, China doesn't want any more opium.
Sir Francis Leybourne: Oh, do be sensible. You chaps have already lost one war with Great Britain about this.
Chinese Trade Attache: But to force us to buy it...
Sir Francis Leybourne: Well, you signed a treaty agreeing to!
Chinese Trade Attache: Your gunboats were right up our Yangtze!
Sir Francis Leybourne: No use getting hysterical, Mr Feng.
Chinese Trade Attache: Then let me appeal to our friendship; those happy weekends I used to spend at your townhouse; your late wife was always so kind to me. More ...
[...]

---

Connections

Referenced in The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart (1970)

---

Soundtracks

MY LITTLE PUSSY
by Ronnie Cass and Peter Myers

User Reviews

Thoroughly enjoyable

Like a great deal of British comedy of the time, The Best House In London ends up degenerating into wacky silliness toward the end. But then, when you've referenced just about every other British literary genius and comic of the last two centuries, failing to give an enthusiastic nod and bow to the Goons would be rude. And rude just will not do.

Some may consider films such as these "bad", and theoretically I guess they'd be right. But if you're even a passing fan of the British comedy tradition, this movie brings together an intelligent and funny script by the brilliant Denis Norden, and a large cast of inspired and famous British comics. Its outrageous premise offers scope for first-class humour, great inter-textual pedantry, and witty social commentary. In the tradition of the Goons, the film is a biting and staggeringly funny indictment of Victorian moralism and piety, which was as apt in the post-war decades as it is in the politically-correct eco-religious world of today.

If you object to seeing middle-class hypocrisies (not to mention none-too-innocent maidens) skewered, don't see it. Otherwise, I can heartily recommend it.

If you're a fan of British humour, you need this in your collection, alongside the Goons, the Pink Panther, Blackadder, Monty Python, Spitting Image and the collected writings of Oscar Wilde, Spike Milligan and PG Wodehouse.

Grand stuff.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 1969 (UK)

Also Known As:

A legjobb ház Londonban

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bridge Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1