Comment

Mar 05, 2013BertBailey rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A fine made-for-TV film about John Mortimer's fictionalized recollections of his father. And he's really the shining star in this: if you know the Rumpole series and incline towards the testy but amusing, sometimes whacky take on things conjured there, or in 'Paradise Postponed' or his other work, written or playacted, you'll like this. Lawrence Olivier makes the most of his advanced age to turn out a delightfully cranky Dad. (If I read any more about Dustin Hoffman's Methodist misgivings about Sir Larry, this'll be recalled as counterevidence: he gets things across without all the self-torture.) Alan Bates is a bit old for his part here, but does well in a few key scenes in this secondary, not terrifically fulsome role. And Jane Asher - the who once taught Liverpudlian Macca about art and theatre and modern classical music - is unusually convincing in her role as a challenging, near-likeable worthy opponent to the opinionated Dad-in-law (her role, incidentally, was to become merely Mortimer's first wife). This should especially appeal to anyone who's spent time with relatives who are or have, with age, turned self-centred, pernickety, and assured about everything they say. What's refreshing is Mortimer's talent to remind us that we do retain affection, despite all. (Close captioned!) At under an hour-and-a-half long, this was time very well spent!