The Old Crowd ** (1979, John Moffatt, Isabel Dean, Philip Stone, Frank Grimes, Peter Jeffrey, Rachel Roberts, Jill Bennett) – Classic Movie Review 9810

The 62-minute 1979 London Weekend Television TV movie The Old Crowd was considered a failure. It was awaited with great expectation as a collaboration between writer Alan Bennett and director Lindsay Anderson, but was dismissed by angry viewers and waspish reviewers.

The Old Crowd has directorial touches, including shots of the director and technical crew, which infuriated many viewers. However, it is entertainingly written and well acted by a strong ensemble, even if it is a bit awkward, odd and uncomfortable. When Anderson found himself in the firing line, Bennett defended Anderson’s work.

John Moffatt and Isabel Dean star as middle-class English couple George and Betty, who are throwing a party to celebrate taking over a big Edwardian house in London. Though none of their furniture has arrived, three of their toilets don’t work and giant cracks are appearing in the ceiling, they still plan to have a good time.

Anderson finds roles for his good friends Rachel Roberts and Jill Bennett, as well as Philip Stone, Frank Grimes, Peter Jeffrey, Valentine Dyall, Cathleen Nesbitt, Elspeth March and Jenny Quayle. Yes, The Old Crowd, indeed.

Bennett said the much-quoted dialogue (‘Have you seen someone die before?’ – ‘Only at school’) was added by Anderson during rehearsal.

The constantly writing Bennett kept a diary detailing his work with Anderson on the script and the process of filming, published in his 1994 anthology Writing Home.

Bennett was so despairing at the perceived failures of The Old Crowd and then shortly after of his stage play Enjoy that he considered quitting. He felt that the critical mauling of The Old Crowd was partly because of its over-hyped promotion in interviews and reports from the set.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9810

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