From Our Vaults: Maggie Smith
Malcolm Mowbray directed A Private Function, a uniquely eccentric British comedy, starring Michael Palin, Maggie Smith, and Liz Smith.
Grade: B (***1/2* out of *****)
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Theatrical release poster
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In a small town in Northern England in 1947, the citizens must endure food rationing. When some local businessmen wish to hold a party to celebrate the royal Wedding of Princess Elizabeth to Prince Philip, they illegally decide to raise a pig for that festive occasion.
However, the pig is stolen by Gilbert Chilvers, encouraged to do so by his greedy yet practical wife, Joyce (Maggie Smith).
Meanwhile, the local food inspector is determined to stop–to no avail–all activities that circumvent the food rationing.
To give the comedy authentic rural feel, the comedy was predominantly shot in Ilkley and Ben Rhydding, in West Yorkshire.
Truly funny, with believably grounded characters in convincing situations, this uniquely British comedy delved into the eccentric folly and light absurdist madness that prevail just beneath a veneer of respectability.
Some later-day critics noted that A Private Function recapturing the spirit of the great Ealing comedies of the 195os like no other feature in the 198s.
Alongside the leads, the entire ensemble is superb, especially Liz Smith, as Joyce’s mother (no relation in real life), who steals every scene she is in by her sheer presence and physical gestures that accentuate the uniquely British sense of humor.
Also notable are Denholm Elliot, who would achieve professional fame beyond the U.K. the following year, in Merchant-Ivory’s 1985 comedy of manners, A Room with a View, also starring Maggie Smith.
Critical and Commercial Response
The film won three BAFTA Film Awards: Best Actress for Maggie Smith, Best Supporting Actress for Liz Smith, and Best Supporting Actor for Denholm Elliott. It was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay (Alan Bennett) and Best Film.
The film had a Royal charity premiere on 21 November 21, 1984 before screening at the London Film Fest a day later, and opening theatrically on November 30. The film made £1,560,000 in the UK.
It was also screened in the Un Certain Regard series of the 1985 Cannes Film Fest.
Curio Facts (Trivia)
The three pigs in the film were all named Betty. Producer Mark Shivas followed the advise of Intellectual Animals UK that the pigs should be female and six months old so as to not be too large or aggressive.
However, in reality, the pigs were unpredictable and often quite dangerous. During one of the kitchen scenes, Maggie Smith was hemmed in by one of the pigs and needed to vault over the back of it in order to escape.
Recycling:
A musical based on the film opened in the West End in April 2011 under the title “Betty Blue Eyes,” starring Reece Shearsmith as Gilbert and Sarah Lancashire as Joyce. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, it ran for several months at the Novello Theatre.
Cast
Michael Palin as Gilbert Chilvers
Maggie Smith as Joyce Chilvers
Denholm Elliott as Dr. Swaby
Richard Griffiths as Allardyce
Tony Haygarth as Sutcliff
John Normington as Lockwood
Bill Paterson as Wormold
Liz Smith as Mother
Alison Steadman as Mrs Allardyce
Jim Carter as Inspector Noble
Pete Postlethwaite as Nuttal
Reece Dinsdale as P.C. Penny
Don Estelle as Barraclough, the butcher
Credits:
Directed by Malcolm Mowbray
Written by Alan Bennett, Mowbray
Produced by George Harrison, Denis O’Brien, Mark Shivas
Cinematography Tony Pierce-Roberts
Edited by Barrie Vince
Music by John Du Prez
Production: HandMade Films
Release date: Nov 9, 1984 (UK)
Running time: 94 minutes
Budget £1.2 million
Box office $2,527,088
Personal Note:
I first saw this comedy at the 1985 Cannes Fest (my second edition), and then had a chance to revisit it while in Paris, dubbed for TV viewers. Though Bennett’s dialogue is superb, Royal Function was genuinely enjoyable, without perfect command of French language (my case),
