Privates on Parade (1983)

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

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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	...	Electrician
Denis Quilley	...	Acting Captain Terri Dennis
Neil Pearson	...	Pianist
Steve Dixon	...	Drummer
Jasper Jacob	...	Bass Player
Leonard Preston	...	Trombonist
Peter Hutchinson	...	Trumpet Player

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.

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Plot Keywords:

political satire | singapore | gay soldier | nudity | drag | 

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Taglines:

Malaysia, 1947. Some fought. Some danced.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | War

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Handmade Films Website

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 1983 (UK)

Also Known As:

Angyalbőrben

Filming Locations:

Malaya

Company Credits

Production Co:

HandMade Films, Paragon Entertainment Corporation

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Adaptation of the play written by Peter Nichols.

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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!

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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".

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

Mazurka
(uncredited)
Music by Franz Lehár

User Reviews

Jolly ho, blokes!

Like "M*A*S*H" and "Good Morning, Vietnam", "Privates on Parade" shows soldiers making the best of their wartime service. In this case, a gay British platoon in 1940s Malaya messes with the rules while under orders to fight Communist insurgents. John Cleese plays their very heterosexual, very militaristic commander. In some ways, the whole movie seems like an excuse for a series of flamboyant skits, but you shouldn't find them boring. As it is a war movie, there are of course some rather disturbing scenes of battles, but the zany skits overshadow that. If only wars involved more of this! Oh, and since this is a John Cleese movie, prudish people (or anyone who does not wish to hear Jesus' name used "in vain") should avoid this movie at all costs.