Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #52260 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-08-22
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 105 minutes

Synopsis
Julie Walters gives a sterling performance in this riotous comedy which takes a look behind the scenes at the sex-life of the British. The story was inspired by the life of Cynthia Payne, the notorious Madam, who was cleared by the courts of brothel keeping.

Customer Reviews

Classic Julie Walters Comedy
A witty, if sometimes oddly coy attempt by director Terry Jones to re-create the eventful career of "luncheon voucher madam" Cynthia Payne. The wonderful Julie Walters was an ideal choice to play the role of Christine Painter, a prostitute who always has her eye on bigger and better things. Julie Walters puts in an extremley effective and enduringly fascinating performance as she displays different dimensions to her character. Walters heart was in the right place and carries the film convincingly. The fast, witty scripts race along with Walters always sparkling in every scene and is given superb support from Shirley Stelfox as Shirley and Danny Schille in the role of transvestite, Dolly. Its jolly approach almost encapsulates the naughty seaside postcard humour of the Carry On films and infact the last half hour of the film where the police begin raiding the brothel Walters is running could easily be titled Carry On Whoring. Whilst the sad aspects of prostitution is merley glossed over the film on the whole stands as an excellent comedy, packed with superb performances and fast, furious scripts. Cheerfully British!

Modern British classic
This film reminds me so much of my adolescence and reading the stories about Madame Cyn in the daily newspapers - OK - in The Sun. Julie Walters is brilliant in this movie showing a brashness and a tenderness towards the main role. This is proven in the wonderful wedding scenes when she confesses her day job to her Dad - great comedy moments and sadness combined.

Some of the lines in this film are so quick they leave you smarting and then laughing.

The film also sits along other brilliant british movies in the 80s - Educating Rita, Letter to Breshnev, Shirley Valentine etc but definitely one of the best.

Jolly little number
Fun to watch, does not plague you with morality yet the message is there. Needless to say Julie Walters is ever so excellent.