AN ENGLISHMAN ABROAD
UK, 1983, 63 minutes, Colour.
Alan Bates, Coral Browne, Charles Cray.
Directed by John Schlesinger.
An Englishman Abroad is a brief telemovie, but very effective in its themes, characterisations, insights and wit.
It is based on a real incident. Australian actress Coral Browne was touring in the Soviet Union in 1958 with Hamlet and encountered espionage defector, Guy Burgess. They talked, she had lunch with him, tried to understand something of him and he asked her to buy him suits and a hat and send them to Russia.
The telemovie was written by Edward Bennett, noted writer of films and television plays. It was directed by John Schlesinger, Oscar-winner for Midnight Cowboy and director of such films as Darling, Far From the Madding Crowd, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Day of the Locust, The Falcon and the Snowman, Pacific Heights.
Coral Browne impersonates herself, with an acerbic performance (25 years after the events). Alan Bates is perfect as Guy Burgess.
Filmed in Austria, the film has the atmosphere of Moscow and the Soviet Union in the late '50s, its oppression, scarcity of goods, use of surveillance. It highlights the contrast between Britain and the Soviet Union - and the question of patriotism and loyalties as well as punishment and reward. The screenplay has a number of comments about patriotism, about snobbery in England and the old school tie (literally presented), Britons and Russians - and the sardonic Australian.
Interesting and very entertaining.
1. The film based on a true story, audience interest, Guy Burgess, the KGB, life in Moscow, the encounter with a touring actress?
2. Coral Browne, her career, stage and screen presence? Her memoir? Re-enacting it?
3. The title and its tone, the use of Gilbert and Sullivan and the very English Guy Burgess? The writing skills of Edward Bennett? The work of John Schlesinger?
4. The background of the Soviet Union, espionage, the spate of British spies? Their fleeing to the Soviet Union? The film set in winter, the cold war - and the possibility of thaw?
5. The '50s, Moscow, Shakespeare, the performance, the city, drab?
6. Alan Bates as Guy Burgess, the facts of his defection, his work and espionage, his life in the Soviet Union, going to the play, walking out, drunk, in the toilet, whistling, his talking to the toilet attendant and her not understanding, vomiting in the basin, the dressing room discussion with Coral Browne, wanting to see his friend acting Hamlet? Stealing the soap, the drink? His invitation to Coral Browne? In the apartment building, reciting Tennyson's `Lady of Shallot'? His charm, sexual preference, his being confined in the apartment, needing permissions even to go out? His sole record, Jack Buchanan's `Who'? His discussion about dentures in the Soviet Union? Coral Browne asking him what he missed - and his memories of England? His wanting her to ring his `old mum'?
7. Coral Browne and her style, sharp manner of speaking and observation, in the dressing room, theatrical, her reaction to his behaviour, the performance, talking with Hamlet about Guy Burgess, the apartment in the hotel, bugged, the flowers, talking about the plug - and receiving it? The letter from Burgess, her attempts to get a taxi, asking directions, going to the embassy, the clerks and their disdain and patter, Tessa and her showing the map, the man asking for the scarf and giving her directions? Her explanation of herself, her approach, the Australian attitude, not being British? Detached about treason? Her being sorry for Burgess?
8. The sketch of the play, performance, the cast, the actor from Cambridge and his contact with Burgess, the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and their talk?
9. Atmosphere and life in Moscow, spies and surveillance, the concierges, the bugging and giving of the plug, Burgess being followed, the scarcity of food, the tomatoes and the grapefruit, phoned permissions to go out?
10. The lunch between Burgess and Coral Browne: the dirty glass and the drink, the burnt saucepan, tomato and grapefruit, his being hungry, his wanting gossip from England, literary acquaintances? His attitude towards McLean? and not liking him? Explanation of his homosexuality and his companion? Regrets? Moscow like Cambridge in the long vacation? Wanting the clothes, the measurement? Talking about sex, behaviour, playing `Who'? Playing the pianola? Discussion about his teeth? Coral Browne cleaning his stove and the room?
11. Burgess's reasons for spying, his attitude to England, sense of patriotism, socialism? Coral Browne and her embarrassment, Coral Brown and her assessment of England, its dullness, snobbery, class consciousness? Yet her perceiving Burgess an a charming conman?
12. Burgess's friend, the cigarettes and the lighter and Coral Brown's gift, playing the Gondoliers tune for her in the Russian apartment? Symbolism of the incongruous exile of Burgess?
13. Her visit to the Church, the icons, the beautiful choral music, Burgess weeping?
14. The return to England, Coral Brown and her chat with the actor? taking him out to lunch on Burgess? Her phone call to Burgess's Mother?
15. Her going to buy the clothes: the clothing shop, the memories of the attendant, the discreet references to Burgess and his behaviour, "Mum's the word"? Going to the shoe shop, the vast shelves of shoe models - and the attendant having removed Burgess's? Her going to buy the goods, the refusal of the firm to re-open the account and Coral Brown's comments on double standards of behaviour, their serving Burgess when he was drunken and homosexual? The people listening to her speech? The irony of her buying the Eton tie?
16. The finale, Burgess as the English gentleman, walking through the snowy streets of Moscow, well dressed in the English style and the Gilbert and Sullivan melody? Symbolising the experience of the British spies in Moscow?
