Displaying items by tag: Lee Montague

THE BEST PAIR OF THE LEGS IN THE BUSINESS

UK, 1973, 88 minutes, Colour.

Reg Varney, Diana Coupland, Lee Montague, Jean Harvey, David Lincoln, George Sweeney, Geoffrey Chater, Jane Seymour.

Directed by Christopher Hodson.

A little-known British film of the early 1970s. 21st century audiences looking through lists of titles on streaming services and noting this title might decide to neglect it (or indulge a little prurient curiosity). And, reading the cast list and seeing the name, Reg Varney, at the top, and remembering his very broad popularity on British television in the 1960s and 1970s, The Rag Trade and, especially, On the Buses (and the three Buses movies at this time) might decide to give it a miss, considering it just a variation on these television programs.

But, surprisingly, it is not.

It is based on a television played by Kevin Lafan, now broadened out for the big screen. And, it has a surprising plot, some humour, some moments of pathos, some tragic moments.

It is the story of an entertainer – and many of the critics and commentators noted the similarity to Laurence Olivier,  the film version of John Osborne’s The Entertainer. Varney is Sherri Sheridan, more than 20 years into the entertainment business, neglected by his agent, a vain man trying to survive, playing at a summer camp, song and dance routines, and some female impersonation. He does have a following at the camp but it is a mixed group of British holidaymakers who take it for granted to go to the club for some evening’s entertainment and a drink.

Sherri Sheridan tries very hard, is playing to the gallery and to the manager of the camp (Lee Montague). But, there is his long-suffering wife, played by Diana Coupland (at the same time as on television she was playing Sid James’s wife in Bless This House). There is also an alienated son who appears later in the film, avoiding his father, embarrassed by him, about to be married to a Minister’s daughter (in fact, Jane Seymour in a very early role).

The wife, patiently looking after her husband for so many years, is in love with the camp manager and wants to leave with him. When it is revealed, Sherri has an emotional collapse, and her son, and with a connection to the church, is disappointed and disapproving. And a tough partner has come in to take over the camp.

The film offers Reg Varney an opportunity for a lot of entertainment pieces which he relishes. But, he is an unlikeable character, an emotional conman, prone to anger and outbursts, angry with his son, eventually going to the afternoon tea to meet the religious parents –  so an emotionally confronting sequence where he plays himself up, more and more angry, defying the religious parents, an emotional collapse.

Which means that, despite the title and its reference to summer camp competitions for judging best legs, male and female, there is a great deal to reflect on in this unexpected drama.

1. The tone of the title and its impact? Audience expectations? The reputation Reg Varney in the 1960s and 1970s, television, On the Buses, popular and lowbrow humour?
2. The surprise of the screenplay, the variation on the fading entertainer? Life and career in show business, hopes and ambitions, disappointments? Marriage, wife? Alienation of son? Relationship with employers? Surviving a kind of dead-end life?
3. The summer camp, the club, the entertainment space, the drinking space, offices, accommodation, caravans? Old British style for holidays?
4. The musical score, the range of songs, popular, familiar, created for the film?
5. Sherri Sheridan, a Reg Varney character, his age, experience, show business, song and dance, female impersonation, rapport with the audience? The scenes of performance? His relationship with his wife, taking her for granted, her falling out of love long since? His son, his neglect of him as a boy, his son’s alienation and avoiding him? Complaints about his agent, not getting bookings? Living in the past, and the royalty occasion and his magnifying it?
6. Mary, the marriage to Sherri, her son, the humdrum life, her supporting her husband, wanting to leave him, in love with the manager, preparing to leave? Her son’s visit and encountering his father? Going to the afternoon tea, Sherri making a fool of himself, the return, her son’s disappointment with his mother’s behaviour? The new manager, deliberately giving out the information, the repercussions?
7. The manager, his life, the camp, caravans, with Mary, the business aspect, the new partner coming in, ruthless, taking over, his plan to leave with Mary? The revelation? His stance?
8. The subplot of the young men, the young women, extraneous to the main theme, the style of the summer camp, the young men, attitudes to the girls, buying the condoms, their embarrassment, the young girls, enjoying the holiday, the entertainment, friendship with Sherri? Eager for the boys? But the boys making full of themselves, their rejection?
9. Future for Sherri, going to the caravan, his disappointment, the performance as Queen Elizabeth, the men setting on him, rescued by his son? What kind of future?