The Bed Sitting Room (1969)

The Bed Sitting Room (1969) (Blu-Ray) (*)

Out of Stock

Screened, competed or awarded at:
Berlin International Film Festival
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital Stereo )

Product Origin/Format:
Australia ( Blu-Ray/Region A/B/C )

Running Time:
90 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.85:1)

Special Features:
Cast/Crew Interview(s)
Interactive Menu
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Short Film
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 1969 and produced in:
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )

Directed By:
Richard Lester

Written By:
John Antrobus

Actors:
Rita Tushingham ..... Penelope
Ralph Richardson ..... Lord Fortnum of Alamein
Peter Cook ..... Inspector
Harry Secombe ..... Shelter Man
Dudley Moore ..... Sergeant
Spike Milligan ..... Mate
Michael Hordern ..... Bules Martin
Roy Kinnear ..... Plastic mac man
Jimmy Edwards ..... Nigel
Richard Warwick ..... Allan
Arthur Lowe ..... Father
Mona Washbourne ..... Mother
Ronald Fraser ..... The Army
Dandy Nichols ..... Mrs Ethel Shroake
Frank Thornton ..... The BBC

Synopsis:

It's been three or four years since the end of WWIII, which in and of itself only lasted 2 minutes 28 seconds. The war included a nuclear bomb dropped on London, which turned the city into a wasteland. Most of the few surviving Londoners, who live among what little concrete remains and who may be affected physically and/or mentally by the nuclear fallout, try to live life like nothing extraordinary has happened to them or the world. They include: a BBC commentator who reports the news from each broken down television one at a time; Mrs. Ethel Shroake, a civilian who is next in line for the throne (hence the current lyrics for 'God Save Mrs. Ethel Shroake'); and Lord Fortnum of Alamein, who believes that he is turning into a bed sitting room for which he will have a very strict occupancy policy. The Frerdin family live solely underground on a still functioning subway train on the Circle Line. The Frerdin daughter, Penelope, is seventeen months pregnant, the unborn baby's father being a young man named Allan who lives on one of the commuter lines. Allan and the Frerdins decide they have no choice but to venture above ground to find any health care practitioner to deal with Penelope's pregnancy. Above ground, they don't know what the future holds for them.

Set in post-nuclear-holocaust England, where a handful of bizarre characters struggle on with their lives in the ruins, amongst endless heaps of ash, piles of broken crockery and brick, muddy plains, and heaps of dentures and old boots. Patriotically singing "God Save Mrs. Etheyl Shroake, Long Live Mrs. Etheyl Shroake", they wander through this surrealistic landscape, forever being warned by the police to "keep moving", and prone to the occasional mutation into a parrot, cupboard, or even, yes, a bed sitting room with "No Wogs" scrawled in the grime on it's windows. In particular, this story revolves around the odd "love story" of a girl who lives with her parents in one compartment of a London Underground train, the commuter in the next compartment, and the doctor they meet after returning above ground in search of a nurse for the heavily pregnant girl.

In the hazy aftermath of World War III, the fallout from a 'nuclear misunderstanding' (which lasted two minutes and twenty eight seconds, including the signing of the peace treaty) is producing strange mutations amongst the survivors, and the noble Lord Fortnum finds himself transforming into a bed-sitting room. This vividly imagined, darkly satirical filmic version of a post apocalyptic England, directed by Richard Lester (A Hard Days Night, How I Won the War, The Knack) is based on the highly regarded play by Spike Milligan and John Antrobus. It also boasts great performances by the cream of 60s British comedy and acting talent: Rita Tushingham, Ralph Richardson, Peter Cook, Harry Secombe, Dudley Moore, Spike Milligan, Michael Horden, Roy Kinnear, Arthur Lowe, Dandy Nichols and Marty Feldman.

This product was added to our catalog on Friday 16 November, 2012.

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