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Privates on Parade

  • 19831983
  • RR
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
4.8/10
937
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
John Cleese and Denis Quilley in Privates on Parade (1983)
Trailer for Privates On Parade
Play trailer2:51
1 Video
10 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • War
The members of S.A.D.U.S.E.A. (Song and Dance Unit South East Asia) fall in and out of love while trying to dodge Malayan Communist bullets in the late 1940s. Not only that, they have to con... Read allThe members of S.A.D.U.S.E.A. (Song and Dance Unit South East Asia) fall in and out of love while trying to dodge Malayan Communist bullets in the late 1940s. Not only that, they have to contend with Bible bashing Major Giles Flack (John Cleese), who creates far more danger than ... Read allThe members of S.A.D.U.S.E.A. (Song and Dance Unit South East Asia) fall in and out of love while trying to dodge Malayan Communist bullets in the late 1940s. Not only that, they have to contend with Bible bashing Major Giles Flack (John Cleese), who creates far more danger than any of the jungle inhabitants. Only gay Acting Captain Terri Dennis (Denis Quilley) seems ... Read all
IMDb RATING
4.8/10
937
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Michael Blakemore
  • Writer
    • Peter Nichols(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Patrick Pearson
    • Michael Elphick
    • Joe Melia
Top credits
  • Director
    • Michael Blakemore
  • Writer
    • Peter Nichols(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Patrick Pearson
    • Michael Elphick
    • Joe Melia
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Privates On Parade
    Trailer 2:51
    Privates On Parade

    Photos10

    John Cleese, Michael Elphick, Joe Melia, and Denis Quilley in Privates on Parade (1983)
    John Cleese, Bruce Payne, and Denis Quilley in Privates on Parade (1983)
    Simon Jones, Joe Melia, and Denis Quilley in Privates on Parade (1983)
    John Cleese in Privates on Parade (1983)
    John Cleese, David Bamber, and Michael Elphick in Privates on Parade (1983)
    David Bamber, Michael Elphick, Simon Jones, Joe Melia, Bruce Payne, and Patrick Pearson in Privates on Parade (1983)
    John Cleese, Michael Elphick, Joe Melia, and Denis Quilley in Privates on Parade (1983)
    John Cleese, Michael Elphick, Joe Melia, and Denis Quilley in Privates on Parade (1983)
    John Cleese and Denis Quilley in Privates on Parade (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Patrick Pearson
    • Sergeant Steven Flowersas Sergeant Steven Flowers
    Michael Elphick
    Michael Elphick
    • Sergeant Major Reg Drummondas Sergeant Major Reg Drummond
    Joe Melia
    Joe Melia
    • Sergeant Len Bonnyas Sergeant Len Bonny
    John Standing
    John Standing
    • Captain Sholto Savoryas Captain Sholto Savory
    Nicola Pagett
    Nicola Pagett
    • Acting Lieutenant Sylvia Morganas Acting Lieutenant Sylvia Morgan
    Simon Jones
    Simon Jones
    • Sergeant Eric Young-Loveas Sergeant Eric Young-Love
    David Bamber
    David Bamber
    • Sergeant Charles Bishopas Sergeant Charles Bishop
    Bruce Payne
    Bruce Payne
    • Flight Sergeant Kevin Cartwrightas Flight Sergeant Kevin Cartwright
    Robin Langford
    • Electricianas Electrician
    Denis Quilley
    Denis Quilley
    • Acting Captain Terri Dennisas Acting Captain Terri Dennis
    Neil Pearson
    Neil Pearson
    • Pianistas Pianist
    Steve Dixon
    • Drummeras Drummer
    Jasper Jacob
    • Bass Playeras Bass Player
    Leonard Preston
    • Trombonistas Trombonist
    Peter Hutchinson
    • Trumpet Playeras Trumpet Player
    Neil Phillips
    • Woodwindas Woodwind
    John Cleese
    John Cleese
    • Major Giles Flackas Major Giles Flack
    Vincent Wong
    • Chengas Cheng
    • Director
      • Michael Blakemore
    • Writer
      • Peter Nichols(screenplay) (play)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The character Terri Dennis was inspired by Barri Chatt.
    • Quotes

      Acting Captain Terri Dennis: [dressed as Carmen Miranda, singing] Come and spend a week-a / Down in Costa Rica! / Come and lose / Your heart in Veracruz! / Think how you would bragua / In lovely Nicaragua! / That's the way to chase away the blues! / Down in old Havana, / Everything's 'manana'! / No-one work and everybody play! / How could you resist a / Weekend with Batista / The Latin American way!

    • Alternate versions
      An alternate TV version includes some additional musical bits such as "Mad About the Boy", sang by Dennis Quilley, in the same outfit as Marlene Dietrich in "The Blue Angel", after being refused access with his sailor of the evening to the Raffles Hotel. It also has a longer end sequence (before the dance on the parade deck) about "business as usual in Singapore".
    • Connections
      Referenced in High Hopes: Privates on Parade (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      Eastern
      (uncredited)

      Music by Peter Yorke

      Chappell Recorded Music Library

    User reviews13

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Great film, well made, just good fun
    I have seen this film about 4 or 5 times now and it gets better each time I see it. The acting is better than superb, and the plot line is well told. The colour and just the good fun of the film is a joy. When you think of the difficultly of what these "boys" had to do you must wonder in orr at how good they were. To say that this film is a gay film is just silly, everyone can enjoy it. You get a feel for all the people and when the action gets going (and you will know what I mean when you see the film) it is quiet a shock to the sytem. British flaking at its very best. I could watch this film many times and never get fed up with it.
    helpful•5
    2
    • jerbar2004
    • Mar 7, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 18, 1983 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Handmade Films Website
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hey, Soldat - dein Täschchen brennt
    • Filming locations
      • Malaya
    • Production companies
      • HandMade Films
      • Paragon Entertainment Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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