Stiff Upper Lips - Film - British Comedy Guide (original) (raw)

Stiff Upper Lips. Image shows from L to R: Aunt Agnes (Prunella Scales), Horace (Peter Ustinov), Emily (Clare Woodgate), Hudson Junior (Frank Finlay), George (Sean Pertwee), Cedric (Robert Portal), Edward (Samuel West)

Genre

Film

Released

1998

Creator

Paul Simpkin

Stars

Peter Ustinov, Prunella Scales, Clare Woodgate, Samuel West, Brian Glover, Frank Finlay, Robert Portal, Richard Braine and more

Writers

Paul Simpkin, Gary Sinyor, Stephen Deitch and Richard Sparks

Director

Gary Sinyor

Producers

Jeremy Bolt, Gary Sinyor, Nigel Savage, Simon Hardy, Simon Scotland, Keith Richardson, Bobby Bedi, Ricky Posner and more

Bawdy romp deliciously spoofing the fertile ground of stiff-upper-lipped period dramas.

Having already turned down the advances of the local vicar for his altogether far too bushy eyebrows, 22 year-old Edwardian aristocrat Emily Ivory finds herself subject next to the attentions of one of her brother Edward's best friends, Cedric. However, although intelligent, reasonably attractive and certainly of a suitable social class, he is frightfully boring.

Accidentally falling into a lake whilst spying on Edward and Cedric talking about her, Emily's life is saved by a local peasant, George. The two find an instant chemistry, but love cannot cross such a gaping social chasm.

Under the care of their aunt Agnes, Emily and Edward - plus Cedric, and hiring George as a more able (and amiable) butler than their own servant at Ivory Hall, Hudson - head to Italy: Agnes hopes that the more exotic location, beautiful scenery and temperate weather will inspire the blossoming of love between Emily and Cedric.

However, it is not long before Cedric's meek manner is exposed once more, and again it is George who rushes to Emily's rescue. As the party extend their trip to Imperial India, even Agnes appears to fall subject to the spell of romance in warmer climes. But it remains to be seen whether love will win out or whether strict social divisions still rule the day.

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Additional details

UK certificate

15

Duration

95 minutes

UK release

Friday 12th June 1998

Produced

1996

Production

Location

Camera set-up

Single camera

Picture

Colour

Broadcast details

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