"Play for Today" Brimstone and Treacle (1987)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Barry Davis

Writer:

Dennis Potter (written by)

TV Series:

"Play for Today" (1970)

Original Air Date:

25 August 1987

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Male Female Relationship

Cast

Denholm Elliott	...	Mr. Bates
Michael Kitchen	...	Martin
Patricia Lawrence	...	Mrs. Bates
Michelle Newell	...	Pattie
Paul Williamson	...	Businessman
Esmond Webb	...	Man with dog
Patricia Quayle	...	Woman in street
James Greene	...	Man in street

Directed by
Barry Davis

Writing credits
Dennis Potter		(written by)

Produced by
Kenith Trodd	....	producer

Cinematography by
Peter Bartlett

Film Editing by
Tony Woollard

Production Design by
Colin Shaw

Costume Design by
John Bloomfield

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Runtime:

Spain:87 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 (DVD rating)

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Originally scheduled for broadcast on 6 April 1976 as part of BBC1's Play For Today strand, but banned because it includes a rape scene. Eventually shown for the first time on 25 August 1987.

Quotes:

Martin: Eggs. You have any eggs?
Mrs. Bates: Eggs?
Martin: Oval spheroids deposited through the rectum of the domestic fowl.

Movie Connections:

Remade as Brimstone & Treacle (1982)

Disturbing, Profound and Very Entertaining

Dennis Potter was a unique and profound talent who wrote many great pieces of work for television. His work was entertaining, witty, satirical, innovative and challenging for both viewers and those involved in the television industry. Brimstone and Treacle is perhaps the most difficult piece he wrote which is reflected in the fact that the BBC banned it for 11 years. I recently watched it again and I found it to be as fresh and as shocking as ever. Viewed in the light of what British TV has become in the last 10 years it was particularly refreshing to be reminded of the quality it was once world famous for.

I really can't speak highly enough of this remarkable work. Firstly there are the superb performances of the three main leads. Michael Kitchen is breath taking to watch and Denholm Elliot was in his element playing a sleazy little man racked with guilt. Patricia Lawrence was also perfect as the downtrodden "mumsy". Dennis Potter's script was perfect and gave them wonderful lines. The story is disturbing and sick but at the same time incredibly funny. I couldn't help laugh at the demented sight of Michael Kitchen wheeling the mentally handicapped Patty around the living room before having his way with her. There was also what were at the time very innovative uses of lighting and camera which are still highly effective even today. There is also the Dennis Potter trade mark use of music.

What really offended people about this play, apart from the fact a mentally handicapped girl is raped, is a that demon comes into the lives of three people in a desperate situation and turns out to be their saviour. Not that he intended to or could care less about them but through his actions he saves Patty from her terrible state and frees "mumsy" from both the tyranny of her husband and having to look after Patty. The only one who comes worse is the father who as it turns out is the truly guilty one.

Early in the play a quote from Kierkegaard is shown on the screen, "There resides infinitely more good in the demonic than in a trivial man". Tom, Denholm Elliot's character, may not be evil but he is sentimental, dishonest, cowardly and racist. He has no real good in him and no real bad in him. He's an ineffective and frustrated little man and lacks the courage and conviction to be good or bad. This is why he is trivial. Martin, Michael Kitchen's character, is a thoroughly wicked demon but is far from trivial and lives a remarkable life. Perhaps the message from this is that it is better to be who you are with total conviction whether that is good or evil than to live a crippled pointless life in which you are neither.

However the exact meaning and message of this play could be debated for years and that is, at least in part, what makes a truly great and profound piece of work.