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Privates on Parade (1983)

R | | Comedy , Drama , War | 18 March 1983 (UK)
Privates on Parade Poster
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The members of SADUSEA (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 ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Blakemore

Writers:

Peter Nichols (screenplay), Peter Nichols (play)

Stars:

Patrick Pearson, Michael Elphick, Joe Melia | See full cast & crew »
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Videos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Patrick Pearson Patrick Pearson ... Sergeant Steven Flowers
Michael Elphick ... Sergeant Major Reg Drummond
Joe Melia ... Sergeant Len Bonny
John Standing ... Captain Sholto Savory
Nicola Pagett ... Acting Lieutenant Sylvia Morgan
Simon Jones ... Sergeant Eric Young-Love
David Bamber ... Sergeant Charles Bishop
Bruce Payne ... Flight Sergeant Kevin Cartwright
Robin Langford Robin Langford ... Electrician
Denis Quilley ... Acting Captain Terri Dennis
Neil Pearson ... Pianist
Steve Dixon Steve Dixon ... Drummer
Jasper Jacob Jasper Jacob ... Bass Player
Leonard Preston Leonard Preston ... Trombonist
Peter Hutchinson Peter Hutchinson ... Trumpet Player
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

The members of SADUSEA (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 a loony, bible bashing Major who creates far more danger than any of the jungle inhabitants. Only gay captain Dennis Quilley seems capable of coping with him but even he isn't aware of the cowardly Michael Elphick selling arms to the natives. Written by Rhino <rhino@blueyonder.co.uk>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

political satire | singapore | gay soldier | nudity | drag | See All (13) »

Taglines:

Malaysia, 1947. Some fought. Some danced.

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | War

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
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Details

Official Sites:

Handmade Films Website

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 1983 (UK) See more »

Also Known As:

Angyalbőrben See more »

Filming Locations:

Malaya See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

HandMade Films,Paragon Entertainment Corporation See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

When Bonney and Bishop do their duet, they're impersonating Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen, down to their costumes. See more »

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!
See more »

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". See more »

Connections

Referenced in Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film (2006) See more »

Soundtracks

English Country Garden
(uncredited)
Traditional
Arranged by Denis King
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Great film, well made, just good fun
7 March 2010 | by jerbar2004 – See all my reviews

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.
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