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A Private Function (1984)
Starring: Maggie Smith , Michael Palin
Directed by: Malcolm Mowbray
Produced by: Mark Shivas
Written by: Alan Bennett , Malcolm Mowbray
In this outrageous, star-packed comedy of manners, a scheming couple (Dame Maggie Smith and Michael Palin) kidnap the VIP (Very Important Pig) destined to be the entrée at a feast celebrating the 1947 royal wedding. But look out! The pig has a few unpleasant surprises for its kidnappers.
Item Number: 16119
- Format:
- DVD Widescreen
- Region:
- 1 - More Details
- Run time:
- About 1 1/2 Hours
- Number of Discs:
- 1
- Closed Captions / Subtitles:
- This Product has English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired
In this outrageous, star-packed comedy of manners, a scheming couple (Dame Maggie Smith and Michael Palin) kidnap the VIP (Very Important Pig) destined to be the entrée at a feast celebrating the 1947 royal wedding. But look out! The pig has a few unpleasant surprises for its kidnappers. Winner of three BAFTAs® for Dame Maggie, Denholm Elliot and Liz Smith. Screenplay by Alan Bennett.
| Gilbert Chilvers | --- | Michael Palin |
| Joyce Chilvers | --- | Maggie Smith |
| Dr. Charles Swaby | --- | Denholm Elliott |
| Henry Allardyce the Accountant | --- | Richard Griffiths |
| Leonard Sutcliff the Farmer | --- | Tony Haygarth |
| Frank Lockwood the Solicitor | --- | John Normington |
| Morris Wormold the Meat Inspector | --- | Bill Paterson |
| Joyce's Mother | --- | Liz Smith |
| Mrs. Allardyce | --- | Alison Steadman |
| Inspector Noble | --- | Jim Carter |
| Douglas J. Nuttol the Butcher | --- | Pete Postlethwaite |
| Mrs. Sutcliff | --- | Eileen O'Brien |
| Mrs. Forbes, Wormold's Landlady | --- | Rachel Davies |
| P.C. Penny | --- | Reece Dinsdale |
| Preston Sutcliff | --- | Philip Whileman |
| Medcalf a Butcher | --- | Charles McKeown |
| Mrs. Dorcus Medcalf | --- | Susan Porrett |
| Dorcus' Father | --- | Donald Eccles |
| Grand Hotel Manager | --- | Denys Hawthorne |
| Barraclough a Butcher | --- | Don Estelle |
Directed by Malcolm Mowbray
Written by Alan Bennett, Malcolm Mowbray
Produced by Mark Shivas
Executive Produced by George Harrison, Denis O'Brien
Original Music by John Du Prez
Cinematography by Tony Pierce-Roberts
Film Editing by Barrie Vince
Costume Design by Phyllis Dalton
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.
Three supposedly docile pigs named Betty were used in the film. When one became aggressive during a kitchen scene, Dame Maggie had to vault over its back to escape.
