Porterhouse Blue [DVD]

The movie is a fair filmic version of Tom Sharpes humour in its original style.

I remember watching this on the television a long time ago and it was well worth buying. This is becoming a cult film.

A thing of joy - delicious, intelligent satire relished by old masters of British character acting. This is glorious stuff, a mixture of savage satire (and it is not the old buffers who get the worst of it), wild farce and a celebration of Latin. They don't make 'em like this any more, because the dead lack of humour of political correctness would not be able to laugh enough at the blinkered, truncated world of its creation. The author, Tom Sharpe, offers us a modern-day Aristophanes: merciless satire combining high intellect and low comedy to glorious effect. This adaptation just got everything right and the ensemble of actors, relishing their various roles and showing us how it's done, are all at the top of their talented games. Unfortunately, the passage of time and changes in technology mean that the picture isn't as comfortably sharp as we have become used to, but the dialogue certainly is, and that is what will reward repeated viewings. This series won huge plaudits and awards, and rightly so as it is superbly crafted as well as enormous fun. Everything from the orotund vowels to the music is cherishable.. For those who do not know the plot - an Oxbridge college rather better noted for the quality of its life than the quality of some of its students, gets a prissy and resentful new Master with a wife who embraces Issues. His plans for the College and the views of the staff do not coincide, and it is up to the long-standing servant, Skullion (David Jason in the role of a lifetime), who knows everything, to try to stop the destruction of everything they hold dear. No-one gets away unscathed in Tom Sharpe's work, but some attitudes are definitely more appealing than others.There are types still easily to be recognised today, and not just in academe. This series is rarely brought out for reshowing, so get your own copy to enjoy whenever you need to watch the forces of heedless modernity get their comeuppance (and to laugh out loud).

I haven’t found all Tom Sharpe novels entirely to my taste, but “Porterhouse Blue” made me laugh out loud when I read it as a student. The TV adaptation was first shown in 1987 on Channel 4 and I found that equally hilarious.I was, therefore, eager to purchase a DVD version of this production on Amazon, especially as I managed to pick one up at a bargain price, and was intrigued to see whether I would find it equally funny nearly 30 years on. The answer, I am pleased to report, is a resounding “yes”.This is a very classy production; it is well filmed and directed and features a clever and literate script by Malcolm Bradbury which if anything improves on Sharpe’s original. The main reason for the success of this DVD is, however, its extraordinary cast. “National Treasure” David Jason is not always my cup of tea, but he is on career-best form here as the irascible but strangely sympathetic head porter Skullion, while the ever-watchable Ian Richardson proves an implacable foe as the new Master of Porterhouse, Sir Godber Evans, backed up by Barbara Jefford, perfect as his battleaxe Lady Mary. We also have John Sessions as the hapless postgraduate Zipser, Paula Jacobs as his buxom bedder Mrs Biggs, Griff Rhys-Jones as the TV presenter Cornelius Carrington and one of my all time favourite voices, Charles Gray, as the splendidly named Sir Cathcart D’Eath. My personal favourites are, however, the marvelous roster of character actors of embody the various eccentric and grotesque members of the academic governing body. Headed by the inestimable Paul Rogers and John Woodnutt as the Dean and the Senior Tutor, they include Harold Innocent as the unctuous Bursar, Willoughby Goddard as the obese Professor Siblington and the opera singer Ian Wallace as the Praelector, whose orotund Latin utterances make me laugh out loud. Pride of place, however, must go to Lockwood West (father of Timothy) as the sex-obsessed Chaplain; he really is quite priceless!A great cast, then, and a splendid script. This DVD will give a lot of people a great deal of pleasure.

An excellent story of the man who wishes to change things and a man who is horrified at the very thought: however, it is something of a role reversal. Richardson and Jason are sublime as the leads. Well worth adding to your collection.

Classic interpretation of Tom Sharpe’s book!

One DVD disc containing four episodes.Easy watching and still relevant today 35 years after it first aired on TV.David Jason at his best.

Very funny indeed ! David Jason is brilliant !