FOREIGN BODY

UK, 1986, 111 minutes, Colour.
Victor Bannerjee, Amanda Donohoe, Warren Mitchell, Geraldine Mc Ewen, Dennis Quilley, Anna Massey, Stratford Johns, Trevor Howard, Richard Wilson.
Directed by Ronald Neame.

Foreign Body is a generally enjoyable British comedy about an Indian coming to London, having difficulties, finding his feet and impersonating a Harley Street doctor with success. While far-fetched, the film carries itself fairly lightly.

Victor Bannerjee (Passage to India, Home and the World) has an engaging charm as Ram Das and gives some credibility to the fact that this character could pass himself off as a top doctor. There is excellent supporting performance by Warren Mitchell as his cousin. The cast includes Anna Massey as the doctor's secretary, Geraldine Mc Ewan as Lady Ammanford, Amanda Donohoe (Castaway) as Susan. Trevor Howard and Dennis Quilley have guest roles as an erratic, doctor and as the prime minister.

Direction is by Ronald Neame who worked with David Lean in the '40s and who moved into direction with such popular adventures and comedies as The Poseidon Adventure in the '70s.

1. Pleasing comedy, Indian dream? English themes and racist themes? Success?

2. The London settings, atmosphere, the buses and the streets, the houses, Harley Street, the world of the rich? Musical score and songs?

3. The title and the reference to Ram Das, the medical overtones? Race overtones?

4. Victor Bannerjee as Ram Das: personality and style, telling his story, the truth? A tall story? Arrival in London, trying to get a flat and the racist attitudes? his cousin, I.Q., at the men's toilets and his unctuous style? The possibilities of jobs, going for transport? Hectic work? Meeting Norah, attracted to her, going to the dance, to the meal, her father's racism and his punching him? Losing his job? Seeing Susan in the street, his care for her, being accepted as a doctor? Her response? I.Q. and his ideas about Harley Street? The plan, renting the rooms, furnishing them? Tilda and her work as secretary? Susan's consultation, her disappointment about the pill? Ram and his disappointment in Susan's relationship with Basil? Going to her aunt, liking her, the neck and her anger, his being ousted, his fear of the police and exposure, her apology, becoming great friends? Building up his clientele? The phone call from the Prime Minister, his going into traction, his enjoying the traction and praising Ram? The visit to Dr Stirrup, his advice, Eisenhower's traction machine? His taking the diagnosis of the Prime Minister, his having to go on the ledge? The traction machine and the girlfriend and the sex experience?

5. The other doctors in Harley Street? The meeting with Norah, her understanding what happened, buying the expensive bag, the going to his office, I.Q. impersonating the gangster? Lady Ammanford and the proposal of the trap? Her death? Her will and all the money? Relationship with Susan, telling her the truth, marry? His studying to be a real doctor? Shrewd and persuasive? Life in India, dreams, change in success? his philosophy? Warren Mitchell as I.Q.: his unctuous manner in the town, his way of life, sex and the landlady, writing a book, his cooking, drinking, discussions with Ram, the person with the gun, his being overwhelmed by the 50,000 pounds?

6. Norah on the bus, attraction, invitation to the dance, going to her parents, the fiasco of the dinner, the parents' return, her pregnancy, affair with the doctor, the blackmail with the handbag, wanting more money, the pressure of I.Q. as the gangster, signing her confession and her fear of her father?

7. Susan as model, her fall, Ram attending her, her gratitude and attraction, questions about the pill, the birthday party and meeting Basil, the break-off, her aunt, the plan of the trip, her aunt's death, the will? Relationship with Ram and marriage?

8. The satire on Dr Stirrup, his drinking his diagnosis, his machines? In the next room, on the ledge?

9. The Prime Minister and his briskness? Being treated?

10. Lady Ammanford and her hypochondria, her assistants and butler, apology, the trip, her death and her will?

12. Hilda and her devotion?

13. A blend of humour, satire, pretensions of the rich, British racial attitudes? Pleasant farce?