A collection of short films about the Seven Deadly Sins. Writers include Galton and Simpson, Spike Milligan, Barry Cryer and Graham Chapman
Avarice sees Bruce Forsyth as a chauffeur searching the sewers for a lost 50p, on his greedy employer's orders.
Envy stars Harry Secombe as a man trying to persuade a couple to sell their home to his pushy and pools-winning wife.
Does anyone like this film?
Not a lot. A very patchy affair.
This could be a contender for "Right Cast, Right Writer, Just Plain Wrong", just a short walk from this thread. I suppose they are above par sketches-the writers include Esmonde & Larbey as well as Barry Took and Marty Feldman.
The actors include Harry H. Corbett and some bloke called Stephen Lewis...
Yes I love it, very rewatchable and it is an overlooked little gem. You have the nostalgia or curiosity factor seeing life as it was 40 years ago, always good, plus a host of comic actors from that era doing their thing. And some of the best comedy writers of the day including Galton & Simpson with the best of the bunch, Pride, which is celebrated in its own right. There are some really fun ones too, and Leslie Phillips in particular is in top form in Gluttony.
On the rewatches you pick up all the little injokes and film references, this was apparently down to director Graham Stark wanting to show off, and I think it makes it a joy to watch for this alone. An under rated, over looked little British comedy IMO. If remade today, one or two sketches would be replaced with better ones and the production values would be better, but this is well worth a look as it is, and you can always next chapter it on DVD to skip the poorer sketches.
It has Geoffrey Bayldon in the Harry Secombe scene, so difficult to dislike. This film's good points have been discussed in other threads.
Quote: Aaron @ 27th June 2013, 1:01 AMA very patchy affair.
That's like saying Shakespeare's plays were patchy! They went from terrible to masterpiece. There are two stone dead classics in TMSDS, Lust and Pride. If these were sitcom episodes they'd be talked about in the same terms as The Radio Ham, The Germans, No Hiding Place, Happy Release, The Deadly Attachment, A Touch Of Glass etc.
In a way it's a shame no sitcom writer has thought of trying get permission to use these as episodes in their sitcom however tricky that may have been. They deserved a far wider audience than they got, although both Pride and third best sketch Gluttony were reworkings of Comedy Playhouse 'pilots' aired in the 60s. Pride could easily have been put into Hancock or more probably Steptoe & Son without any problem by the same writers! Oh well, not to be, but kudos to London Live for putting them out there again for comedy lovers to see some classic British comedy narratives, and for Aaron to watch again with his glasses on. Pride is a certified Classic and Lust is a neglected Gem, both brilliantly written comedy masterpieces, with Gluttony not far behind. <3
Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ 22nd October 2017, 12:53 PMkudos to London Live for putting them out there again for comedy lovers to see some classic British comedy narratives
It is available to buy, not merely on DVD but also on Blu-ray:
https://www.comedy.co.uk/film/7_deadly_sins/shop/1934/the_magnificent_seven_deadly_sins/
