The Missionary *** (1982, Michael Palin, Maggie Smith, Trevor Howard, Michael Hordern, Denholm Elliott, Graham Crowden, Phoebe Nicholls, Roland Culver, David Suchet) – Classic Movie Review 10,017

Director Richard Loncraine’s 1982 film The Missionary stars, and is written and produced by, Michael Palin, and finds room for a treasure trove of Brit performers.

Palin’s The Missionary is a fairly funny comedy, in which he plays an Edwardian vicar, the Reverend Charles Fortescue, back from Africa in 1906 with a new mission – to help the fallen women of London’s East End.

Soon the ladies of the hostel he has started have fallen further – for him.

If the screenplay is not always hilarious, some of the performances are: Maggie Smith as a rich lady ready to bump off her husband Lord Henry Ames (Trevor Howard) to be free for Palin, Michael Hordern’s doddery butler Slatterthwaite, and Denholm Elliott as the Bishop of London.

The film is made much more satisfying through meticulously careful attention to photography (by Peter Hannan), locations and period detail.

Also there are several other national treasures in the cast: Graham Crowden, Phoebe Nicholls, Roland Culver, David Suchet, Tricia George, Valerie Whittington, Rosamund Greenwood, Timothy Spall, Neil Innes, John Barrett, Tilly Vosburgh, Arthur Howard, Frank Mills, Derrick O’Connor, Janine Duvitsky, Julian Curry and Frances Barber.

The Missionary is directed by Richard Loncraine, runs 90 minutes is made by HandMade Films, is released by HandMade Films (1982) (UK) and Columbia Pictures (1982) (US), is written by Michael Palin, is shot by Peter Hannan, is produced by Michael Palin, Neville Thompson, George Harrison and Denis O’Brien, is scored by Mike Moran and designed by Norman Garwood.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,017

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com