Till Death Us Do Part (1968)

The film version of '""Till Death Do Us Part" (1965)'. tells the story of Alf Garnett and his family living through the London Blitz.

Director:

Norman Cohen

Writer:

Johnny Speight (original story and screenplay)

Stars:

Warren Mitchell, Dandy Nichols, Anthony Booth

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Warren Mitchell	...	Alf Garnett
Dandy Nichols	...	Else Garnett
Anthony Booth	...	Mike Rawlins (the boyfriend)
Una Stubbs	...	Rita Garnett
Liam Redmond	...	Mike's Father
Bill Maynard	...	Bert
Brian Blessed	...	Sergeant
Sam Kydd	...	Fred
Frank Thornton	...	Valuation Officer
Ann Lancaster	...	Woman at Block of Flats
Michael Robbins	...	Pub Landlord (Fred)
Pat Coombs	...	Neighbour
Kate Williams	...	Sergeant's Girlfriend
Shelagh Fraser	...	Mike's Mother
John D. Collins	...	RAF officer at Tube Station

Storyline

The film version of '""Till Death Do Us Part" (1965)'. tells the story of Alf Garnett and his family living through the London Blitz.

---

Plot Keywords:

london blitz | year 1968 | soccer | football | world cup | 

---

Taglines:

With acknowledgment to Mr. John Lennon and his pioneering work in the field of display

---

Genres:

Comedy | War

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 January 1969 (UK)

Also Known As:

Alf 'n' Family

Filming Locations:

Stepney, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated London Films, British Lion Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film opens with the BBC Radio announcement by Neville Chamberlain of the commencement of WWII (3rd September 1939). It takes in his 10th May 1940 resignation speech; the Dunkirk troop withdrawal of June 1940; the US joining the war on 8th December 1941; Victory in Europe Day (8 May 1945); and the 6th August 1945 bombing of Hiroshima. We move forward 21 years to the March 1966 UK General Elections, the England/West Germany World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on 30th June 1966, and anti-Vietnam rioting.

---

Goofs

When Alf and Mike go into the pub before the 1966 World Cup, the car outside has the registration PGX392E, which means it was registered between 1st January 1967 and 31st July 1967.

---

Connections

Follows Till Death Us Do Part (1965)

---

Soundtracks

God Save the Queen
(uncredited)
Traditional

User Reviews

Superior television spin-off

One of the first television situation comedies to get the cinema treatment, 'Till Death…' avoids the trap of being just an extended television episode which befalls many other adoptions, by opening out the story. It is more a prequel than merely being the 'film of the show', showing us the history of the Garnett family, from just before the start of the Second World War to the 'present day' of 1969, taking in the 1966 World Cup on it's way.

It is the wartime sequence of the movie (it roughly takes up the first 45 minutes of the film) which for me is the highlight of the picture. You really do get a proper sense of time and place. The credit mainly goes to the director, Norman Cohen, who gives what could have been a static television-style play, a real cinematic treatment.

The script by Johnny Speight is generally excellent and (as far as I know) isn't just a re-packaging of old television material. Ironically the movie falters when it moves 'twenty or so years later' and moves into the more familiar setting of the series That said, Rita's wedding is a memorable set-piece, moving between drama and comedy (and very uncomfortable viewing at times, due to Garnett's racism).

It's Mitchell's movie, of course. It's a credit to the actor's talents that that you can't help liking Alf, despite the fact that Speight's script constantly under-cuts and mocks the character.

It's an oddly bitter-sweet movie, as a community which had survived the Blitz is eventually disbanded, with the Garnett family exiled to a bleak modern concrete tower block. There is a real sense of loss here and it is this which places it a few notches up from the normal television spin-off. It's a pity that this movie will always be over-shadowed by its more controversial small screen incarnation, as it deserves a wider audience. It also showcases a rather brilliant title song, by Ray Davies, which any fan of The Kinks should check out.