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IMDbPro

Privates on Parade

  • 19831983
  • RR
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
4.8/10
950
YOUR RATING
John Cleese and Denis Quilley in Privates on Parade (1983)
Trailer for Privates On Parade
Play trailer2:51
1 Video
12 Photos
ComedyDramaWar
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
950
YOUR RATING
    • Michael Blakemore
    • Peter Nichols(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Patrick Pearson
    • Michael Elphick
    • Joe Melia
    • Michael Blakemore
    • 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
    Watch Privates On Parade

    Photos12

    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)
    Privates on Parade (1983)
    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 Flowers
    Michael Elphick
    Michael Elphick
    • Sergeant Major Reg Drummond
    Joe Melia
    Joe Melia
    • Sergeant Len Bonny
    John Standing
    John Standing
    • Captain Sholto Savory
    Nicola Pagett
    Nicola Pagett
    • Acting Lieutenant Sylvia Morgan
    Simon Jones
    Simon Jones
    • Sergeant Eric Young-Love
    David Bamber
    David Bamber
    • Sergeant Charles Bishop
    Bruce Payne
    Bruce Payne
    • Flight Sergeant Kevin Cartwright
    Robin Langford
    • Electrician
    Denis Quilley
    Denis Quilley
    • Acting Captain Terri Dennis
    Neil Pearson
    Neil Pearson
    • Pianist
    Steve Dixon
    • Drummer
    Jasper Jacob
    • Bass Player
    Leonard Preston
    • Trombonist
    Peter Hutchinson
    • Trumpet Player
    Neil Phillips
    • Woodwind
    John Cleese
    John Cleese
    • Major Giles Flack
    Vincent Wong
    • Cheng
      • Michael Blakemore
      • Peter Nichols(screenplay) (play)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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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
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    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.
    helpful•9
    4
    • lee_eisenberg
    • Aug 8, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 18, 1983 (United Kingdom)
      • United Kingdom
      • Handmade Films Website
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Malaya
    • Production companies
      • HandMade Films
      • Paragon Entertainment Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 47 minutes
      • Color
      • Mono

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