Consuming Passions (1988, Vanessa Redgrave, Freddie Jones, Jonathan Pryce, Tyler Butterworth) – Classic Movie Review 11,202

‘A tale of greed, lust and death by chocolate.’

Director Giles Foster’s 1988 British comedy Consuming Passions is taken from the play Secrets by Michael Palin and Terry Jones, and stars Vanessa Redgrave, Freddie Jones and Jonathan Pryce.

With all this top talent involved, it is a shock to find that this is a terrible black farce with Pryce miscast as a Cockney sweetie-maker who makes a hit with his formula of chemicals and human meat when a trio of workers fall into a tub of chocolate, accidentally knocked into the mixing vat by Ian Littleton (Tyler Butterworth) in his new job at Chumley’s Chocolates. The chocolates with the special ingredient are a hit with the customers, and Littleton must now obtain more of the ingredient.

This odd old thing entirely defeats these most seasoned British comedy players, and poor Redgrave is embarrassed as a randy widow, Mrs Garza.

Also in the cast are Tyler Butterworth, Sammi Davis, Thora Hird, Prunella Scales, William Rushton, John Wells, Timothy West, Bryan Pringle, Mary Healey, Deddie Davies, Wincey Willis and Andrew Sachs.

The screenplay is by Paul D Zimmerman and Andrew Davies.

It was shot at Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England.

Consuming Passions is directed by Giles Foster, runs 98 minutes, is made by Euston Films and The Samuel Goldwyn Company, is released by First Independent (UK) and The Samuel Goldwyn Company (1988) (US), is written by Paul D Zimmerman and Andrew Davies, is shot by Roger Pratt, is produced by William Cartlidge, is scored by Richard Hartley and designed by Peter Lamont.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,202

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