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.
Acting
Smith's vicious social climbing is *chef's kiss*.
Writing
Alan Bennett's Yorkshire venom, perfectly aged.
Director
Malcolm Mowbray
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
Rachel Davies
Mrs. Forbes
Reece Dinsdale
P.C. Penny
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Written by Alan Bennett, the film captures his trademark obsession with northern England's quiet humiliations and class resentment.
The real 1947 royal wedding happened during brutal post-war austerity; food rationing actually tightened that year, making the black-market pig premise painfully plausible.
US
GB
