Jabberwocky **** (1977, Michael Palin, Max Wall, Harry H Corbett, John Le Mesurier, Deborah Fallender, Warren Mitchell, Rodney Bewes, Bernard Bresslaw, Gorden Kaye) – Classic Movie Review 3536

Co-writer/director Terry Gilliam’s delicious 1977 fantasy adventure comedy proves ideal material for him, with its playful nods to Lewis Carroll’s nonsense poem Jabberwocky and a hint of Monty Python surreal lunacy. At the heart of its triumph, this medieval tale imbued with Pythonesque humour presents a superbly inventive, blackly comic vision of the Middle Ages that is both hilarious and disturbing.

Michael Palin makes his presence felt as a useful star, playing young peasant Dennis Cooper, the hapless hero who sets out to kill a dragon, a terrible monster called Jabberwocky that is on the rampage through the kingdom. Max Wall also stars as King Bruno the Questionable, with Deborah Fallender as The Princess, Warren Mitchell as Mr Fishfinger, John le Mesurier as The Chamberlain, Harry H Corbett as The Squire, Rodney Bewes as The Other Squire and Bernard Bresslaw as The Landlord.

Lashings of blood and muck, some tongue-in-cheek violence, a vintage comedy cast and much broad humour are all in the mix to make this a tasty medieval romp to savour.

A mysterious mention in the movie of a character called ‘Sister Winnert’ needs further investigation. A pre-’Allo, ’Allo! Gorden Kaye plays Sister Jessica. Terry Gilliam appears in a director cameo as Man with Rock.

Also in the lovely comedy cast are Annette Badland, Brenda Cowling, Alexandra Dane, Derek Francis, Peter Cellier, Frank Williams, Anthony Carrick, John Bird, Neil Innes, Paul Curran, Graham Crowden, Gordon Rollings, Glenn Williams, Bryan Pringle, Terry Jones (Poacher), Brian Glover, John Gorman, Julian Hough, Dave Prowse, Harold Goodwin, Tony Sympson, Simon Williams, Jerrold Wells and Anita Sharp-Bolster in her last film as Old Crone / Woman with Stone (uncredited).

Obviously, with its 1993 PG certificate in the UK, it is not intended for young children with its adult tone, and comedic violence and gore. Back in 1977, it was cut to get an A certificate in the UK.

Lewis Carroll was writing as the Reverend Charles Dodgson. Gilliam writes the screenplay with Charles Alverson.

The greatly loved Gorden Kaye.

The greatly loved British comedy actor Gorden Kaye died on 23 January 2017, aged 75.

Chubby-cheeked British comedy actor Rodney Bewes.

Chubby-cheeked Rodney Bewes died on 21 November 2017, aged 79.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3536

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more reviews: http://derekwinnert.com

A pre-’Allo, ’Allo! Gorden Kaye plays Sister Jessica.