Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13505 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-11-06
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 73 minutes

Video Description
As complex as the mind of its creator, Vivian Stanshall, the plot of `Sir Henry at Rawlinson End' revolves around attempts to exorcise of the ghost of Humbert, the brother of Sir Henry (Trevor Howard). Humbert was accidentally killed in a drunken duck-shooting incident whilst escaping from an illicit tryst. Amongst the eccentric family members, mad friends and grudgingly loyal servants involved are the eternally knitting Aunt Florrie, the tapeworm-obsessed Mrs. E, Lady Phillipa of Staines, who enjoys the odd `small' sherry and the ever-present Old Scrotum, Sir Henry's wrinkled retainer.

Adding to the poetic shambles are the hapless Germans, long post-war, who populate the fearsome PoW camp that Sir Henry set up in the gardens of his estate, and his younger brother Hubert who fishes for hairdressers in a pond. Furnished with a stuffed mechanical bulldog, a champion billiard-playing horse and a marriage bed cruelly divided by sandbags and barbed wire, Rawlinson End is an endlessly mad, hilarious outpost of an England as it could have been...

Synopsis
An amusing story created by Vivian Stanshall which was successful on radio, stage and record. The film follows the antics of two brothers; one a drunk, the other a ghost. Soundtrack features music from Steve Winwood.

Review
It wouldn't be a million miles wide of the mark to call 'Sir Henry at Rawlinson End' a missing link between Monty Python and 'Withnail & I', but as the brainchild of Vivian Stanshall - pack leader of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band - it has a place in the pantheon of sophisticated English silliness all of its own. --Time Out

Customer Reviews

Can It Be True?
A DVD release for possibly the greatest and most hilarious British film of its era. Having watched a knackered old VHS copy for ages, and avoiding the usual ropey DVD pirate versions on ebay, I thought that the day would never come when Sir Henry would be available to watch again. The film has been virtually lost after getting a limited release on Tartan video in the early 90s, and since the tragic death of Vivian Stanshall, it has been caught up in wrangles over whether it could be released again...

A truly joyous day! Any fan of Vivian, The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and of course the original Sir Henry radio slots as broadcast by dear old Peel will HAVE to own this jewel. Similarly anyone who enjoys the seemingly random and instinctival comedy of Monty Python, The Mighty Boosh and Garth Marenghi's Dark Place should get a kick out of this film. Just don't expect a clear narrative, 'jokes' with punchlines or even sympathetic characters, best to just turn it on and let it take you with it.

As wonderous a celebration of Englishness, and to a certain degree eccentricity as 'A Matter Of Life And Death', 'Hope and Glory' and 'Withnail and I'. I would heartily recommend it, although its clearly not for everyone (beware the 'Bridget Jones' crew!) I watched it as a child- I felt enlightened and educated by it, and I have since loved each succesive viewing more and more...

Reflections upon a time long gone by!
Filmed in a Sepia tone this delightful tome to Vivian Stanshall's (Mr Standstill)legendary creativity, maniacally wends it way through a series of quite disjointed sketches which at first dont appear to be related, however when one watches this a few times and with the benefit of the director and actors comments it becomes better explained to the gullible old viewer.

Terrific performance by Trevor Howard (Sir Henry) is surpassed by scintillating demonstrations of comedy by Denise Coffey (Mrs E) and J G Devil as Scrotum (The wrinkled old retainer)

Devlins rendition of his song on the table outside the Fool and Bladder is truly memorable and you will wear this stretch of DVD out through constant playing - the closing credit also shows a doddery old Scrotum running across a field of Rye and throwing himself over a five bar gate.

As usual Stanshalls use of music and word wizardry is another highlight which will leave you warming to the tunes and lyrics instantly.

In closing I have to say that John Peel got it right when he said of Vivian Stanshall "you somehow know when your are in the presence of a genius, I fear that one of his better thoughts would blow my mind" go out and buy this and prepare to scowl and howl - that is after you have watched it twice!

All fly to the fool
This excellent film portrays the best of British comedy. All fly to the fool, which is the Fool and Bladder pub where Sir Henry drinks. The film abounds with classic lines like 'If I had all the money Ive spent on drink, I would spend it on drink' and 'Sir Henry hates water, he even brushes his teeth with rum'. If you liked the Urban spaceman you will like this mainly because the late great Vivian Stanshall was behind both. Buy this video whatever the price. If its not your cup of tea its your loss but you will probably be able to sell it again for a profit anyway. RIP MERV