A Private Function

A Private Function

When a clandestine party goes wild, it's all about pork... and prestige.

R 1984 · 96 min · ★ 6.4 · Comedy

In the summer of 1947, Britain prepares to commemorate the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. To get around food-rationing laws, Dr. Charles Swaby, accountant Henry Allardyce and solicitor Frank Lockwood are fattening a black-market pig for the big day. Egged on by his wife, meek Gilbert Chilvers steals the swine, but the couple must conceal it from inspector Morris Wormold.

Directed by Malcolm Mowbray · Written by Alan Bennett

Your Rating

Where to Watch

Streaming

Cast

Michael Palin Gilbert Chilvers
Maggie Smith Joyce Chilvers
Denholm Elliott Dr. Swaby
Richard Griffiths Allardyce
Tony Haygarth Sutcliff
John Normington Lockwood
Bill Paterson Wormold
Liz Smith Mother
Alison Steadman Mrs. Allardyce
Jim Carter Inspector Noble
Pete Postlethwaite Nuttol
Eileen O'Brien Mrs. Sutcliff

Make it a double feature

3h 12m together

A Private Function

Cast a Deadly Spell

A close match in mood and era.

More from Malcolm MowbraySee all →

Pie in the Sky

Pie in the Sky · 1994

SeriesComedyDrama

Pie in the Sky is a British offbeat police comedy drama programme starring Richard Griffiths and Maggie Steed, created by Andrew Payne and first broadcast in five series on BBC1 between 13 March 1994 and 17 August 1997 as well as being syndicated on other channels in other countries, including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The series departs slightly from other police dramas in that the protagonist, Henry Crabbe, while still being an on-duty policeman, is also the head chef of the title restaurant set in the fictional town of Middleton and county of Westershire.

Objects of Affection

Objects of Affection · 1982

Objects of Affection

A series of plays written by Alan Bennett.

Cadfael

Cadfael · 1994

SeriesDramaCrime

Brother Cadfael is a twelfth-century Anglo-Welsh monk. A retired crusader disappointed in love, and now a herbalist in charge of the gardens of Shrewsbury Abbey, Brother Cadfael is often called on to solve murders and other crimes in and around Shrewsbury, Shropshire, in the border country where England meets Wales.

Monsignor Renard

Monsignor Renard · 2000

Monsignor Renard

Monsignor Renard was a four-part ITV television drama set in occupied France during World War II. It starred John Thaw as Monsignor Augustine Renard, a French priest who is drawn into the Resistance movement. The series was later shown in the U.S. as part of Masterpiece Theatre.

Playhouse

Playhouse · 1974

A one-hour anthology television series of one-off contemporary and classic dramas produced by the BBC.

Out Cold

Out Cold · 1989

MovieComedyDrama

Sunny is married to the butcher, Ernie, and their marriage is about to end as both of them have affairs. Thus Sunny hires Lester Atlas as private investigator in order to collect proof for the divorce. One evening drunken Ernie and his partner Dave have a fight in the butcher shop with Ernie getting knocked out in the fridge where he dies during the night. But it was not Dave's fault but intentional murder by Sunny. Only Lester has proof so Sunny kills him, too. Thus she only has to kill Dave to get rid of all witnesses, but he can free himself out of the fridge and wants to take revenge.

The Revengers' Comedies

The Revengers' Comedies · 1998

The Revengers' Comedies

MovieComedyCrime

After saving each other from jumping off a bridge, Henry Bell and Karen Knightly plot to avenge the people who drove them to suicide. Henry will ruin the life of the woman who married Karen's boyfriend, while Karen will work as a secretary for the man who took Henry's job. Whether revenge will be sweet – or bittersweet – is anyone's guess.

Don't Tell Her It's Me

Don't Tell Her It's Me · 1990

Don't Tell Her It's Me

MovieComedyRomance

Gus is a fat cartoonist that recently won a battle against cancer, which explains his baldness. But he is also lonely. Therefore, his caring sister tries to set him up with suitable woman. But to do so, she must turn him into an irresistible man. When he falls in love with Emily, Gus takes the identity of a mysterious biker from New Zealand.

Meeting Spencer

Meeting Spencer · 2010

Meeting Spencer

After a series of Hollywood flops, famed director Harris Chappell (Jeffrey Tambor) returns to New York to relaunch his Broadway career. But Chappell's triumphant comeback begins to spiral out of control into a wild night of comic misadventure after meeting struggling actor Spencer (Jesse Plemons) and his old flame Didi (Melinda McGraw).

Our Winnie

Our Winnie · 1982

Winnie is a mentally handicapped woman who lives with her elderly mother (Cora) and aunt (Ida). They visit the cemetery where Winnie’s father is buried. Also in the cemetery are two art students, one of whom (Liz) asks if she can take a photograph of the three women. She takes it while they are not prepared, making them look ridiculous (Cora is putting her make-up on, Winnie is staring at the camera with her mouth open). Cora is angry, and Liz takes another of them properly posed. But she enters the first photograph for a competition, where it wins a prize

Days at the Beach

Days at the Beach · 1981

Days at the Beach

In 1920 a trio of British soldiers have to guard an exploded mine washes up on a beach. Part of the BBC2 Playhouse strand.

Hanging Around

Hanging Around · 1978

How do you kill time when you're 15 years old, have no money and live in a dull London suburb? Rod, Kip and Mul may be short of cash, but not ideas.

The Virgin in the Ice

The Virgin in the Ice · 1995

The Virgin in the Ice

MovieTV MovieCrime

Dire deeds during a winter storm leave Brother Oswin beaten near to death, Sister Hilaria dead, and a pair of young siblings lost in the woods fleeing Lord Stephen's men.

More Like This

The Infidel

The Infidel · 2010

MovieComedyDrama

Based in a London suburb Mahmud Nasir lives with his wife, Saamiya, and two children, Rashid and Nabi. His son plans to marry Uzma, the step-daughter of Egyptian-born Arshad Al-Masri, a so-called 'Hate Cleric' from Waziristan, Pakistan. Mahmud, who is not exactly a devout Muslim, he drinks alcohol, and does not pray five times, but does agree that he will appease Arshad, without whose approval the marriage cannot take place. Shortly thereafter Mahmud, while going over his recently deceased mother's documents, will find out that he was adopted, his birth parents were Jewish, and his name is actually Solly Shimshillewitz.

Let It Snow

Let It Snow · 2019

MovieRomanceComedy

In a small town on Christmas Eve, a snowstorm brings together a group of young people. They soon find their friendships and love lives colliding, and come Christmas morning, nothing will be the same.

Cast a Deadly Spell

Cast a Deadly Spell · 1991

Cast a Deadly Spell

MovieTV MovieMystery

In a fantastical 1940s where magic is used by everyone, a hard-boiled detective investigates the theft of a mystical tome.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter