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Film & TV on DVD - John Doe News & Reviews

Greetings Film Fiends and welcome to John Doe's Film Blog. 30 years of dedicated celluloid obsession has meant that I have seen a few films. Drawing attention to some of the lesser discussed gems that I love. Cult classics, obscure curios and quality genre pictures. This blogs purpose is to translate some of my passion for these films and with luck, inspire you the reader to go check em out.

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Film & TV on DVD - September 2007

Withnail and I (1986) - Trailer & Footage Included

September 28th 2007 01:21

Withnail & I

In my humble opinion Withnail and I is the cleverest comedy ever written. It’s also the wittiest, shrewdest, and most poignant. In fact, I’d be bold enough to say it is one of a handful of screenplays I regard – regardless of genre – as pitch perfect. I think it should be studied in film courses (perhaps it is, I know if I was teaching I’d be thrusting it upon my students, stating emphatically; “This is a masterpiece of screenplay writing, which just so happens to be a masterpiece of filmmaking.”

One of the most important elements of Withnail and I which makes it work so brilliantly as a comedy, is that there are no obvious gags. As writer/director Bruce Robinson reiterated time and time again to frustrated executives who’d been disappointed by the dailies/rushes, it’s not meant to be immediately funny, the comedy is cumulative. And therein lies its subtle, yet deeply resonating sense of humour; it is through the characters and the situations they find themselves in that the audience discovers the comic brilliance.

Withnail and I Paul McGann and Richard E Grant

Paul McGann as Marwood and Richard E. Grant as Withnail

It’s London, 1969. Withnail and his friend Marwood are unemployed actors, wasting their time getting blitzed on pills and booze. They decide they need to rejuvenate. A weekend in the country at Withnail’s uncle’s cottage by themselves presents itself, so they gun the old Jag and head out of town. Of course Murphy’s Law is there to greet them, and a comedy of errors unfolds.

Withnail and I Richard E Grant and Richard Griffiths

There is you'll agree a certain je ne sais quoi, oh so very special about a firm ripe carrot

Bruce Robinson originally wrote Withnail and I as a novel in the 70s, based on his own experiences as an out-of-work actor sharing a run-down flat in Camden Town, London, with an eccentric alchoholic man named Vivien. He based the character of Withnail on Vivien (who died before the film was made). Robinson passed the manuscript around friends, and it eventually landed in the lap of George Harrison who co-owned Handmade Films.

I want something's flesh!

Not only was the movie green-lit swiftly, but Robinson, with no film directing skills whatsoever, was given the opportunity to direct his own screenplay. Unprecedented, and yet, oh, so insightful, as Robinson – having been an actor himself - was the only man who could coax the required performances out of his superbly cast film.

Withnail and I Michael Elphick as Jake the poacher

I've been watchin' you, prancin' like a tit, you need workin' on!

Richard E. Grant as Withnail. Grant was a teetotaler, and yet, amazingly, he delivers, arguably, the finest performance of a drunk ever put to celluloid. Paul McGann as Marwood (his name is never mentioned in the film, the end credits list him simply as “… and I”). McGann plays the matinee idol good looking quiet achiever to Withnail’s belligerent chip-on-the-shoulder wastrel. Richard Griffiths as Uncle Monty. Possibly one of the finest characterisations of an aging thespian queen ever put to film; “It's true I crept the boards in my youth, but I never had it in my blood, and that's what so essential isn't it? The theatrical zeal in the veins. Alas, I have little more that vintage wine and memories.”

You look like a couple of farm hands! Here go and buy some rubber boots!

The movie’s dialogue is endlessly quotable. My best buddy and I are forever throwing lines from the movie at one another in times of mirth and merriment. There’s even a drinking game concocted, I believe, by staff at the UK lads mag Loaded. Fairly straight forward: whenever a character drinks on screen, you have to drink what they’re drinking. You’ll be blotto before the halfway mark. Trust me.

Monty arrives unexpectedly ... My boys! My boys!

And for the potheads there’s the infamous Camberwell Carrot, expertly packed and rolled by the film’s other memorable character; the dirty drug-addled hippie Danny; “I don't advise a haircut, man. All hairdressers are in the employment of the government. Hairs are your aerials. They pick up signals from the cosmos, and transmit them directly into the brain. This is the reason bald-headed men are uptight.” Ralph Brown apparently turned up to auditions dressed just as he is in the movie. Bruce Robinson was suitably impressed and he got the part.

Withnail and I Ralph Brown and Paul McGann

Ralph Brown as Danny sullying Marwood's bed

The movie is gorgeously photographed by Peter Hannan, with an equally stunning score from David Dundas and Rick Wentworth, bookmarked by the excellent use of two Jimi Hendrix tracks (All Along the Watchtower and Voodoo Chile (Slight Return). The art direction is bang on the money, despite period goofs when they’re driving along the English motorway (contemporary signs, etc). All up, the production of the film is hand in glove with Robinson’s attention to detail.

'53 Margaux, best of the century ...

Thank God this film hasn’t been ruined by some poor excuse for a sequel (one which might’ve followed Marwood’s acting career, or Withnail’s further slide) or, dare I even mention it, a remake. The film is such a beautifully encapsulated date stamp and case study of male friendship I can’t fathom how any filmmaker could even attempt to take the baton and run with it. I hope Robinson has something to do with that, although apparently he’s received no royalties whatsoever from the movie’s cult success. He got a nominal writer and director’s fee and that was that; a tragedy in itself.

But let’s not dwell on poor Bruce, he’s forever hounded by Withnail fans in pubs (he’s battled alcoholism most of his adult life) and on the street throwing lines at him, “Perfumed ponce!” Oh, to be able to write a screenplay as sharp and insightful, rich in character in dialogue, and as damn bloody funny as Withnail and I.

I toast you Bruce Robinson, you fucking legend!

Here's the frightfully English trailer:

And here's the famous Penrith tearooms scene:

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: Comedy

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Comments

6 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by KylieW

September 28th 2007 01:47

Celebrity Obsession

You know, I have never actually seen this movie, but it's one that I'm dying to see. Everyone I know who has seen the movie raves about it.

One Sunday I'm going to track it down and watch it. I love Richard E Grant too.

And yes, I've heard of the infamous drinking game. Never heard of anyone making it through the movie playing it though

Kylie

Comment by Bryn

September 28th 2007 05:40

Horrorphile

Kylie, you will love this film. Love it.

Comment by Cibbuano

October 3rd 2007 04:25

20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak

absolutely brilliant.

'I mean to have you, even if it must be burglary!'

Comment by JohnDoe

October 3rd 2007 04:28

Film & TV on DVD

I would have been surprised if you didn't review this one Bryn, a brilliant comedy that I dig, but am aware you love.

Comment by Bryn

October 5th 2007 16:52

Horrorphile

Cheers JD ... Am drunk right now. Been a looooong week. This film is part of my soul.

Comment by Bryn

October 5th 2007 16:53

Horrorphile

Cibby ... possibly one of the film's most infamous lines!!! And the funniest!!!

[ Previous - An Australian Film Geek in LA or Imbibed adventures on Hollywood and Sunset. ]

[ Next - At Close Range (1986) - Trailer & Footage Included ]

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