PORRIDGE

UK, 1979, 93 minutes, Colour.
Ronnie Barker, Richard Beckinsale, Fulton Mackay, Peter Vaughan.
Directed by Dick Clement.

An expanded version of a popular British television series starring Ronnie Barker. Barker, one of England's leading comedians, is at home in this story of a convict who enjoys being in prison, has a generally casual attitude towards prison life and the guards and has an amusing tongue. He is supported by Richard Beckinsale, who died soon after this film was made. The screen play by comedy team Ian la Frenais and Dick Clement, moves briskly and is constantly amusing if not hilarious. Clement directed the film.

There are many enjoyable shots at prison life, corrupt officials and over-serious officials, the prisoner who runs the prison and the ordinary men inside. There are amusing scenes in the daily routine of prison life, in a football match designed for an escape and for Ronnie Barker's Fletcher and Beckinsale's Len to have to break back into prison. Fulton Mc Kay is excellent as the head warder. Light British comedy-style entertainment.

1. An entertaining comedy? Its British style? For a British audience and interest? International audience?

2. The extension of a television series into feature film? As written for theatres in comparison with television? The same audience but different expectations? A 90 minute plot, the sustained humour, characterisation? The film as a Ronnie Barker vehicle? His presence, style, verbal humour, impersonations? How was he matched by the supporting cast? especially Len as his foil, Mc Kay and the other warders, Grout and his control of the prison?

3. Colour photography, the use of an authentic prison for interiors and exteriors? Musical score?

4. The plausibility of the plot and its adaptation for Ronnie Barker's comic style and audience expectations? British prisons, the way of life? Parody and satire? The presentation of the prisoners and the day to day living, difficulties, humour? The warders and their varied attitudes, strictness and feeling for the prisoners? The Governor? Prison corruption?

5. Ronnie Barker's characterisation of Fletcher? strengths, weaknesses? His presence in the prison, everybody taking notice, his manner of speaking? His getting on well with everyone? Sharing the cell with Len and their various discussions, Len's helping him, the football selection, the escape and the breaking back in? Fletcher's getting on well with Grout? His work with the pigs, his laziness, his various schemes to steal things? Grout forcing him to organise the football match, his training, the match itself? The humour of his being kidnapped, the various efforts to get back into the prison? The final vindication? A humorous British character type?

6. Len as a young man in prison, his friendship with Fletcher, his wanting to be in the football match, his concussion, coping with the escape and the break-in, his decision to go back in and be released later and freely?

7. The warders - Mc Kay and his caricature, though humorously, of the British warder and his pomposity - especially his not seeing what happened, his expectations of the prisoners, the Officers' Club? His being matched by Mr Barraclough and his concern for the prisoners and his miserable married life? The new warder and his severity and admiration for McKay? The Governor and his incompetence?

8. The minor characters in the prison - the various personalities, the interactions, the hierarchy of prisoners, Grout and his control, his plan for the escape, its execution?

9. Humorous sequences within the prison - the curry sequence in the kitchen, the build-up to the football match and the passing on of the ideas up the ladder, the football training, the match itself, the organised escape, the police investigation, Fletcher's various devices to get back in?

10. Observation of human nature with its strengths and weaknesses, the humour of human foibles?

11. The film's humorous comment on the prison system. men being isolated, their way of life, ordinary rights, the power of the warders and abuses, the criminals who dominate and exploit, a need for constant look on prisons by society for the sake of justice?