Saturday, October 20, 2007

A new one for BBC fans

I say 'new' - it's new to us. Originally produced in 1987, Porterhouse Blue is an over-the-top satire of the prestigious British university system. Based on a novel by Tom Sharpe, the film is set at an august British university (a barely-disguised version of Oxford) and involves the efforts of a progressively-minded new master, played by Ian Richardson. The turbulent 1960's are in full swing outside the gates of the school, but inside the gates time stands still. Students seem to spend most of their time drinking, carousing, and being pompous twits, and their academic success is predicated on their lineage, not their intelligence. Richardson's attempts to introduce reforms into the financially-troubled school are met with resistance from faculty and staff, particularly the head porter (David Jason), who has managed to compile an impressive inside knowledge of the students and faculty in his 45-year tenure. A subplot involving a randy graduate student and his housekeeper manages to inject a bit of 'Benny Hill' humor into the story, as all the plot threads come together into a big, explosive (literally) ending.
This isn't exactly high art, but if you like British humor you will enjoy the story, and you can't go wrong with two talented actors like Ian Richardson (House of Cards) and David Jason (Darling Buds of May). The setting is beautiful, the characters are archetypal upper-class Brits, and it's a nice change from reality TV.

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