Sir Henry, a bigot, unfit father, drunkard, thug, commandant of his personal prisoner of war camp 40 years post world war two, one of Trevor Howards best parts and reminiscent of his part as Lord Cardigan in Charge of the Light Brigade. The rest of the cast is excellent although not 'Big' names. Viv Stanshell directs and appears as Sir Henry;s younger brother, coincidentally Viv died on the same day of the year as the real Sir Henry Rawlinson. Explaining the stream of consciousness that makes up this film is difficult to explain to the uninitiated but Rawlinsons End is haunted by the ghost of Sir Henrys brother, enter erstwhile exorcist the Rev Slodden and cockney wideboy partner hoping to benefit financially. At the same time a family gathering for a drunken Viking orgy of violence. This film needs the understanding of the English class system and 1500 years of oppression to fully appreciate so I would not expect much of an American audience to truly understand the finer graining but give it a try and have a limey friend on hand to explain. However still the funniest film you are likely to see. Favourite Line. "Silence, if I want your opinion I'll thrash it out of you!" Stanshall himself was a product of an authoritarian upbringing his father being an RAF officer, Sir Henry is what he is a bigot and a stone cold killer the sort of person that made and ran the English empire and we need these examples to remind us of what has gone before and what can change, if you really have difficulty in understanding the concept of irony just cuddle up with your friends DVD boxset. BACK OUT ON DVD, POUNCE NOW BEFORE THEY GO!
