Tweet
Released by: MGM Limited Edition Collection
Released On: December 6, 2011.
Director: Richard Lester
Cast: Dudley Moore, Peter Cook, Ralph Richardson, Arthur Lowe, Mona Washbourne, Rita Tushingham, Roy Kinnear, Frank Thornton
Year: 1969
Purchase From Amazon
The Movie:
Richard Lester's 1969 adaptation of Spike Milligan and John Antrobus' The Bed Sitting Room was a massive critical and commercial flop when it first landed on screens, but after a special edition release in the UK from the BFI and now a domestic release from MGM's Limited Edition Collection maybe it'll find some new fans.
The film takes place in a post apocalyptic Britain where those who survived the atomic bomb dropped on them by the Chinese are doing their damndest to remain proper British citizens. The film follows an elderly couple (Arthur Lowe and Mona Washbourne) who live in the subway with their daughter, Penelope (Rita Tushingham), now seventeen months pregnant thanks to the efforts of her boyfriend, Allan (Richard Warwick). They decide to head above ground and their world collides with the rather insane Lord Fortnum of Alamein (Ralph Richardson), who believes himself to be in dire need of medical attention to prevent himself from turning into a bed sitting room. A nurse (Marty Feldman) runs about trying to keep things in check while The Army (Ronald Fraser) keeps England safe.
All the while, a pair of police officers (Dudley Moore and Peter Cook) patrol the area in a hot air balloon to prevent people from staying in one place for too long - their reasoning being that if they become sedentary then they'll become easy targets. Frank Thornton (best known for Are You Being Served?) provides the news for the various survivors by popping his head out of an empty television set and letting everyone know that, well, there really is no news.
As everyone's story intermingles and the various subplots tie-in together, Lester's film paints a truly bizarre portrait of a post apocalyptic England that isn't nearly as funny as it seems to be on the surface. Visually similar to Jodorowsky's El Topo by way of Monty Python's Flying Circus and Fellini's Satyricon, there's definitely a humorous streak to the film but the comedy is very black and when you stop and think about it, it's all rather depressing and sad.
The film's roots as a stage play are obvious and at times the film feels more like a series of loosely connected sketches rather than a cohesive narrative whole, but it all (sort of) makes sense by the time the end credits start rolling. The cast make the most of the absurdity and all turn in spot on performances. A fun cameo from Spike Milligan as a postal worker is noteworthy but it's the pop-eyed Feldman who steals ever scene he's in. Lowe and Washbourne are perfect in their portrayals of an aging couple unsure of where they're headed while Cook and Moore play their police officers with a wonderful sense of playful maliciousness.
It's not always an easy film to get your head around and it's certainly not a picture that's going to appeal to the masses but this is worth seeing for the incredible art direction on its own. Throw in some brilliant writing, excellent performances and a fair bit of food for thought and The Bed Sitting Room turns out to be as impressive as it is scathingly sarcastic.
Video/Audio/Extras:
The Bed Sitting Room looks pretty good on this MOD DVD-R from MGM's Limited Edition Collection. Presented in its proper 1.85.1 anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio there's only minor print damage present and colors look pretty solid. Black levels are decent if not reference quality and detail is fine. This transfer isn't on the same level as the Blu-ray presentation that the BFI gave the film awhile back (which included a load of extras not on this disc) but it looks decent.
The English language Dolby Digital Mono audio track offers clean and clear dialogue with no noticeable issues. There are no alternate language options or subtitles provided.
Extras include a static menu, chapter selection and the film's theatrical trailer.
The Final Word:
A criminally underrated film, The Bed Sitting Room is an incredibly well made picture that really makes you think once you stop laughing. Lester claims the film isn't a comedy, and he's right, despite the presence of some brilliant humor as there's a very somber tone throughout the picture that's impossible to ignore. MGM's DVD-R looks pretty good and includes the trailer, and if it can't compare to the excellent Blu-ray release that the BFI gave the film a while back it's a decent version for those who haven't gone Blu and who only care about a decent presentation of the movie.
