The highlight has to be the final dinner sequence. In typically English fashion Sir Sidney decides to have dinner despite a full scale assault being launched on the mansion. During this sequence some of the highlights are, Joan Sims delivering the line:‘I seem to be a little plastered’
...after being hit post falling masonry
Peter Butterworth remarking on the ‘terrible noise’ to which Sid James replies…
’yes it’s dreadful – they’re not a first class orchestra – mind you they’re doing their best’
To someone who has not seen the film or has but isn’t British these lines will not doubt be lost – but for straight forward no holes barred slapstick comedy – boy was it ahead of its day.
Many have commented on the overtly ‘patriotic’ rising on the flag at the end on the movie which says ‘I’m backing Britain’ – well hey sue me, but at least someone was proud to be British then – well done Gerald. Our present prime minister would have several focus groups on the issue and then decide on a comprise along the lines of:
‘I think in principal we can endorse, at least the concept, of a semi inclusive backing – reliant on further investigation’
I wonder how you would get that all on a flag tony...
