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Margery and Gladys

  • TV Movie
  • 20032003
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
254
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Margery and Gladys (2003)
  • Comedy
  • Drama
Haughty, recently-widowed Margery Heywood and her cleaner Gladys Gladwell go on the run after mistakenly believing that they have killed a teenage burglar, holding up a post office for Glady... Read allHaughty, recently-widowed Margery Heywood and her cleaner Gladys Gladwell go on the run after mistakenly believing that they have killed a teenage burglar, holding up a post office for Gladys' money, and giving petty crook Terry Mason a lift, they are pursued by the police. Their... Read allHaughty, recently-widowed Margery Heywood and her cleaner Gladys Gladwell go on the run after mistakenly believing that they have killed a teenage burglar, holding up a post office for Gladys' money, and giving petty crook Terry Mason a lift, they are pursued by the police. Their uneasy alliance is made uneasier when Margery learns that her late husband Eric had a 20-... Read all
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
254
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Geoffrey Sax
  • Writers
    • John Flanagan
    • Andrew McCulloch
  • Stars
    • Penelope Keith
    • June Brown
    • Alan David
Top credits
  • Director
    • Geoffrey Sax
  • Writers
    • John Flanagan
    • Andrew McCulloch
  • Stars
    • Penelope Keith
    • June Brown
    • Alan David
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

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    Top cast

    Edit
    Penelope Keith
    Penelope Keith
    • Margery Heywoodas Margery Heywood
    June Brown
    June Brown
    • Gladys Gladwellas Gladys Gladwell
    Alan David
    Alan David
    • Gordon Thompsonas Gordon Thompson
    Marcia Warren
    • Jean Thompsonas Jean Thompson
    Matthew Lockwood
    • Scott Wilkinsas Scott Wilkins
    Tilly Vosburgh
    • Mrs Wilkinsas Mrs Wilkins
    Roger Lloyd Pack
    Roger Lloyd Pack
    • D.I. Woolleyas D.I. Woolley
    • (as Roger Lloyd-Pack)
    Martin Freeman
    Martin Freeman
    • D.S. Stringeras D.S. Stringer
    Adam Godley
    Adam Godley
    • Graham Heywoodas Graham Heywood
    Peter Vaughan
    Peter Vaughan
    • Troy Gladwellas Troy Gladwell
    Heather Tobias
    • Mrs Hewlettas Mrs Hewlett
    Ken Morley
    • Bill Nightingaleas Bill Nightingale
    Kulvinder Ghir
    Kulvinder Ghir
    • Mr. Singhas Mr. Singh
    Ivana Basic
    Ivana Basic
    • Nina Kovacsas Nina Kovacs
    Diane Beck
    • Hotel Receptionistas Hotel Receptionist
    Richard Ridings
    Richard Ridings
    • Terry Masonas Terry Mason
    Paul Chapman
    Paul Chapman
    • Arthur Penfoldas Arthur Penfold
    Jane Nash
    • Nurseas Nurse…
    • Director
      • Geoffrey Sax
    • Writers
      • John Flanagan
      • Andrew McCulloch
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Haughty, recently-widowed Margery Heywood and her cleaner Gladys Gladwell go on the run after mistakenly believing that they have killed a teenage burglar, holding up a post office for Gladys' money, and giving petty crook Terry Mason a lift, they are pursued by the police. Their uneasy alliance is made uneasier when Margery learns that her late husband Eric had a 20-year affair with Gladys and the discovery profoundly affect Margery's son Graham. A further shocking revelation takes the pair to Blackpool where another truth is revealed, leading to a genuine friendship and an end to their troubles. —don @ minifie-1
    • police
    • on the run
    • cleaning lady
    • killing
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Goofs
      When Margery wakes up in the car, she can be seen wearing contact lenses. In previous and later scenes, she can be seen occasionally wearing glasses.
    • Crazy credits
      The George Formby impersonators in Blackpool sing Formby's hit "Leaning on a Lamp Post" several times and also during the closing credits along with his "My Little Stick of Blackpool Rock." Although Penelope Keith mentions "the George Formbys," his soundtracks are not used and he gets no screen credit.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Comedy Connections: To the Manor Born (2006)

    User reviews9

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Biddy baddie buddies
    'Margery and Gladys' was transmitted by ITV1 on 21 September 2003. This TV film is a comedy, but it's inspired by a deadly-serious news event. In 1999, a Norfolk farmer named Tony Martin (not the American singer) shot dead a teenage burglar who broke into his property. Because the intruder was attacked from behind, a controversial court decision found Martin guilty of homicide; he served 18 months in prison before the conviction was changed to manslaughter and he was released with time served. The case still inspires angry debate.

    Screenwriters Flanagan and McCulloch combined the Tony Martin incident with another real-life news item about two elderly ladies who committed a series of minor robberies across England, incurring bills at hotels and petrol stations and then bunking without paying. The British tabloid press called these women "Hell's Grannies" (after a Monty Python sketch). In this case, Hell's Grannies plus the Tony Martin affair equal hilarity.

    The chief appeal of 'Margery and Gladys' is the first-ever teaming of two actresses who have been beloved mainstays on Britain's television screens for many years. Penelope Keith (classy as ever) has played society matrons and snobbish beldames in several long-running sitcoms. (In real life, Penelope Keith recently spent a year as the ceremonial High Sheriff of Surrey!) June Brown has had a long stint as chain-smoking whinger Dot Cotton on 'EastEnders': unlike Ms Keith, in real life June Brown *is* a great deal like her most well-known role.

    Ms Keith plays Margery, a tetchy suburban matron -- recently widowed -- who attends a Neighbourhood Watch meeting that leaves her paranoid about burglars. Ms Brown plays Gladys, Margery's cleaning lady. The two women are an odd couple with (they think) little in common, until an intruder enters Margery's house and she coshes him (from behind) with her Waterford crystal vase. Believing that Margery has killed him, both women recall the Tony Martin case and they now realise that they can be charged with murder! Naturally, they must now go on the lam, as fugitives.

    'Margery and Gladys' is (among other things) an intentional parody of 'Thelma and Louise', with two unlikely matrons as female outlaws. Instead of Texas highways, their getaway takes Margery and Gladys across the secondary B-roads of the Midlands, en route to sanctuary in (wait for it) Milton Keynes. There are some bizarre incidents, as the two women must commit other crimes to obtain funds and medications.

    This TV film is quite funny, although it's a gentle character-driven humour of a typically British variety that doesn't play well in the rest of the world. The interplay between these two veteran actresses is delightful ... especially as they learn they have more in common than they'd suspected. Unfortunately, towards the end the dialogue gets all 'meaningful' in a manner more typical of American TV scripts. I laughed throughout 'Margery and Gladys', and I rate this TV movie 7 out of 10.
    helpful•12
    4
    • F Gwynplaine MacIntyre
    • Sep 23, 2003

    Details

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    • Release date
      • September 21, 2003 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • England, UK
    • Production company
      • Carlton Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

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