Till Death Us Do Part [Alf ‘n Family] *** (1968, Warren Mitchell, Dandy Nichols, Anthony Booth, Una Stubbs) – Classic Movie Review 6050

Director Norman Cohen’s 1968 hit comedy is the first spinoff from the hit BBC TV show Till Death Us Do Part.

Regular writer Johnny Speight’s original story and screenplay show how the famous London East End family the Garnetts got to be the way they were, tracing the story right back to 1939, and showing the family living through the London Blitz.

It takes the saga up to the late sixties, and includes the birth of Alf’s daughter Rita, Alf being called up for war service, the 1966 UK general election, the 1966 World Cup, and Rita’s wedding to Mike.

The original TV acting quartet of Warren Mitchell, Dandy Nichols, Una Stubbs and Anthony Booth memorably re-create their roles as the awful husband and wife Alf and Else, their daughter Rita and her boyfriend, later husband, Mike Rawlins.

Unfortunately, the film is not nearly as incisive as the TV show, but it is still well worthwhile for the game performances and some good jokes in creator Speight’s script.

Also in the cast are Liam Redmond, Bill Maynard (as Bert), Sam Kydd, Brian Blessed, Frank Thornton, Cleo Sylvestre, Ann Lancaster, Michael Robbins, Bob Grant, Jack Jordan, Edward Evans, Madge Brindley, Pat Coombes, Shelagh Fraser, Bill Ward, Lesley Noyes, Kate Williams, John D Collins and Brenda Kempner.

It runs 100 minutes, is released by British Lion, is shot in Eastmancolor by expert veteran Harry Waxman, is produced by Beryl Vertue and Jon Pennington, is scored by Wilfrid Burns and designed by Terry Knight.

The sequel, The Alf Garnett Saga (1972), stars Warren Mitchell and Dandy Nichols again but is without Anthony Booth and Una Stubbs.

Anthony Booth, known for The L-Shaped Room (1962), Till Death Us Do Part (1968), Brannigan (1975) and The Contender (2000), died on 25 September 2017, aged 85.

Bill Maynard (8 October 1928 – 30 March 2018).

RIP much-admired veteran English comedian and actor Bill Maynard (8 October 1928 – 30 March 2018).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6050

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