Overly long, controversial comedy with plenty of tragedy mixed in, this was adapted by the playwright, Peter Barnes, for the screen and might have benefitted from some disinterested pruning. It is nevertheless a vigorous, and sometimes wildly funny, assault on classbound British mores.
Andrews, a peer, accidentally loses his life while performing what seems to be a nightly ritual: he dons long underwear, a tutu, and a Napoleonic hat, puts a silken noose around his neck, and dangles contentedly. Peter O'Toole, the family lunatic, gets the peerage and estate; manservant Lowe gets
30,000 pounds; the rest of the family gets stiffed. The formerly servile Lowe begins ...
Released:
1972
Rated:
R
Length:
148 mins