Are You Being Served? (film)

Are You Being Served? is a 1977 British comedy film directed by Bob Kellett and written David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd,[3] based on the 1972–85 BBC sitcom of the same name, which follows the staff of the men's and women's clothing departments of the London Grace Brothers department store.

Are You Being Served?
British quad poster
Directed byBob Kellett
Screenplay by
Based onAre You Being Served?[1]
by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft
Produced byAndrew Mitchell[1]
Starring
CinematographyJack Atcheler[1]
Edited byAl Gell[1]
Music byRonnie Hazlehurst
Production
company
Anglo-EMI[1]
Distributed byEMI[1]
Release date
  • 31 July 1977 (1977-07-31)[2]
Running time
95 minutes[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom[1]
LanguageEnglish

The story is adapted from the successful stage production of the show, which played at Winter Gardens, Blackpool. The film features the performers from the television series, including Mollie Sugden, John Inman, Frank Thornton, Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, Wendy Richard, and Nicholas Smith.

Plot

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As Grace Brothers undergoes redecorations, the management sends the staff on a paid holiday to the resort of Costa Plonka, on the Spanish coast. On the first night they think they are allocated seven "penthouses" but it is in fact "tent-houses" outside the hotel – save for Mr Harman, who is given one of the hotel's luxury suites, much to the chagrin of the others.

After various misfortunes and misunderstandings, the staff narrowly survive a gunfight between the revolutionaries and government troops. They are rescued by a group of tanks that arrive on the scene; revealed to have been commandeered by Young Mr Grace, who wanted to visit his beleaguered underlings, but was unable to find a taxi.

Cast

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Production

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Filming

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Filming took place at Elstree Studios and London Gatwick Airport.

Release

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The film opened in British cinemas from 31 July 1977 onwards.[2]

Reception

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In a contemporary review, John Pym of the Monthly Film Bulletin gave the film a negative review, stating that "The humour consists mainly of a withering selection of patent British puns; an inflatable brassiere, some let's-insult-the-Germans jokes and a rickety thunder-box which bolts from the outside are thrown in for good measure."[1]

In a retrospective review, DVD Verdict's Michael Stailey regards it as a film that is "guilty of violating almost every law of comedy and film."[4] The film is widely considered to be lacking in originality, plot, and focus. At present, the film holds a 60% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes; the cutoff for a positive rating is 59%.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Pym, John (1977). "Are You Being Served?". Monthly Film Bulletin. 44 (516). London: British Film Institute.
  2. ^ a b "John Inman & Mollie Sugden". Art & Hue.
  3. ^ "Are You Being Served?". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  4. ^ "DVD Verdict Review – Are You Being Served? The Movie". DVD Verdict. 6 September 2002. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  5. ^ "Rotten Tomatoes: Are You Being Served/". Rotten Tomatoes.
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