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Peter O'Toole,
Peter O'Toole,
Alastair Sim,
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:
Peter Medak,
Peter Medak
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: Criterion
: Foreign, Black Comedy, UK, Criterion Collection
: 154 min.
: English
: English
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An institutionalized schizophrenic with a Messiah complex inherits the position of an English Earl in this cutting satire of British society, based on a play by Peter Barnes. The film's irreverent tone is established with the disturbingly hilarious death of the thirteenth Earl of Gurney during a bizarre attempt at auto-erotic asphyxiation. To the dismay of the earl's family, the title passes to his son Jack (Peter O'Toole), who has been locked away for eight years after claiming to be the second coming of Jesus Christ. Mad but harmless, Jack is released to assume his seat. However, his embrace of Christianity proves incompatible with a position of power in "normal" society, where peace and love are considered serious weaknesses, and a somewhat unhinged psychiatrist is called to help him adjust. Meanwhile, Jack's scheming uncle, Sir Charles (William Mervyn), works on developing a complex scheme to trick Jack out of his position. Loaded with idiosyncratic touches from eccentric camera angles to unexpected outbursts of song, the film creates an experience nearly as inspired and mad as O'Toole's brilliantly hilarious central performance. The film's devilish invention may at times seem overloaded, but most drawbacks are redeemed by the sharpness of the satire, particularly during the memorably disturbing finale. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
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| the circus hasn't left town yet
by rarcher
September 15, 2003 - 10:55 AM PDT
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2 out of 3 members found this review helpful
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this movie revels in sheer freakery
psychosis, violence, incest
and once in a while it turns into a musical
this film is SOOO over the top
and the script kills
has some of the greates quotes i've ever heard in a movie
just WAITING to be sampled |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 6.69)
80 Votes
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