A Private Function

Dir: Malcolm Mowbray

1984

****

A Private Function, based on the script by Malcolm Mowbray and Alan Bennett, is a Handmade Productions classic. The humour is gentle with occasional outbursts of raucousness, it isn't an overtly obvious work of Alan Bennett but he's definitely there, particularly in Dame Maggie Smith's character. The story takes place in a small Yorkshire town in 1947 where the local residence still endure food rationing following the Second World War. A small group of wealthy local businessmen (including greats; Denholm Elliott as the town Doctor, Richard Griffiths as its accountant, Tony Haygarth as a farmer and John Normington as  such as a Solicitor) decide to hold a party to celebrate the royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth to Prince Philip and illegally decide to raise a pig for that occasion (with a corrupt Butcher played by Pete Postlethwaite waiting to perform the necessary), knowing it would hold them in high regard with the upper classes. However, after being pushed out of his chiropodist practice by the group of businessmen and partly due to always being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Gilbert Chilvers (played by Michael Palin), who was encouraged to do so by his wife Joyce (played by Dame Maggie Smith), decides to steal the pig himself and profit from its meat. Meanwhile a food inspector (played by Bill Paterson) is determined to stop activities circumventing the food rationing, which all comes to a beautifully funny climax when Gilbert can't quite bring himself to slaughter his stolen hog. The wonderful Liz Smith plays Joyce's elderly mother, forgetful and honest, she is almost as much as a handful as the giant pig in their kitchen. Made very much in the same vein as the old Ealing Comedies, A Private Function is gentle throughout but really strikes the funny bone when necessary. Malcolm Mowbray said in a 2008 article in  The Independent, that actress "'Maggie Smith found herself obliged to vault over the back of one porker when she was hemmed in during one kitchen scene, and everyone on set was traumatized by their earthy nature". He then went on to say that the pigs used in the movie were "unpredictable and often quite dangerous". It's the stuff of classic British comedy greatness. Some of the lines are brilliant, as you'd expect from Bennet. After a mini-victory for Gilbert and his wife, the rather prudish Joyce turns quite unexpectedly to Palin and states "I think sexual intercourse is in order, Gilbert." My favourite line of all though comes quite early on when a couple are being searched for illegal meat:

P.C. Penny: [upon spotting a single, solitary banana] Mrs Medcalf, are you wanting that banana?

Mrs. Dorcus Medcalf: I am, love; I'm planning a trifle.