The Secret Policeman's Ball (1979 TV Movie) User Reviews

Still funny all these years later

[tonygillan · 8/10 · 25 September 2003]

The best bits of this show are still excellent, particularly the Cleese, Cook, Palin and Billy Connolly contributions. There is some fine music too from Pete Townshend and Tom Robinson.

Peter Cook's judge sketch is a notable highlight, although some of it may be lost on people unfamiliar with the Jeremy Thorpe trial (Thorpe was a British politician who was acquitted of murder after the judge had led the jury to an outrageous degree in his summing up. 'Now go and consider your verdict....of not guilty').

The 'Interesting Facts' sketch with Cook and Cleese is an all time classic, up there with anything by Monty Python, Harry Enfield, Marty Feldman, Saturday Night Live or anyone.

One note of caution. I bought the DVD box set and both of Billy Connolly's routines have been excluded. I have no idea why, but it is a pity as he is in top form on this show.

The Foundational Ball

[owen-watts · 8/10 · 15 December 2021]

Amnesty finally found their feet with their third benefit show in '79. Much more tonally consistent and with some rivetingly atmospheric music dotted throughout the inaugural Ball has a palpably anarchic and politically charged atmosphere - with Tom Robinson's still shockingly acerbic Glad to Be Gay and the lengthy scathing parody of the Jeremy Thorpe verdict from Peter Cook (used to great affect in the recent dramatization of the affair). The comedy sketches are pretty much all great and the very brilliant and the presence of a very young Rowan Atkinson acts as a semi-intentional baton-passing into the next decade of comedy. The only off point really seems to be the omission of the only-non-Oxbridge comedian, Billy Connolly, from the footage. Where's that gone?

Uneven but funny...

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 5 December 2009]

This film is on the same disk as PLEASURE AT HER MAJESTY'S--and both are benefit performances by various British comics on behalf of Amnesty International. Unlike PLEASURE, however, THE SECRET POLICEMAN'S BALL has the addition of a few musical performances--which, in my opinion, detract from the comedy--though I am sure some will love seeing and hearing them. Like PLEASURE, this film is of rather grainy quality and does not have any captioning of any sort--a definite minus for non-Brits and those who are hard of hearing (and I was screwed because I fall in both categories). Seeing a restored and captioned version would be wonderful, but as far as I know is not possible--especially since this DVD is part of a set that was just released.

As far as the comedy goes, it's a mixed bag. Some of the skits (particularly the ones written by the Pythons) were great and I did enjoy some of Peter Cooke's bits as well. New to the show was Rowan Atkinson, and sadly, his bits were among the worst on the show. However, he was still quite young and the more recent Amnesty International performances have been fantastic. Plus, he was excellent in filling in for Eric Idle in "The Old Codger Skit"--the best thing in the show. Other great Python bits that were recycled include the Cheese Shop and a Python-like skit that opened the show with Cooke and Cleese. But, for every very good bit, there seemed to be a flat one. Perhaps some of this is because Americans like myself are less familiar with the other comics and I had less of an emotional investment in their acts. Part of this also was because some things just weren't funny or the dialog was so hard to follow (without captions) that it was futile--particularly the long and deliberately rapid Shakespeare bit (which, to me, was the worst thing in the show--very tedious indeed). Still, for fans of British comedy, this is an excellent little stroll down memory lane--and worth seeing despite my reservations. And, it's a great deal better than the first film--especially since this film concentrated solely on the performances and not the unnecessary backstage action.

Deserves to be carved in stone

[hgallon · 9/10 · 23 November 2006]

It is perhaps a shame that Britain does not have something like the American Congress's official list of historically significant works of art. If there were, this show deserves framing as an iconic series of performances.

"The Secret Policeman's Ball" was the second benefit performance for the charity, Amnesty International. It followed the earlier "Pleasure at her Majesty's" in 1976. The Ball featured a most effective mix of old and new blood; from the old stable, several of the Pythons, Peter Cook at the height of his comic and satirical powers; from the new stable, Billy Connolly and Rowan Atkinson.

There were some old favourites among the acts (the "Four Yorkshiremen" and Python's "Cheese Shop"), but some of the new acts and sketches were inspired. In particular, Rowan Atkinson's sardonic "Schoolmaster", and Peter Cook's "Entirely a Matter for you", written specially for the occasion.

There is a minor musical landmark, with Pete Townsend (of the Who) reportedly forced to play acoustic rather than amplified for the first time in his life, alongside classical guitarist John Williams.

In later years, the subsequent Policeman's Balls were seen as a showcase for new talent with the result that several acts became over-the-top and hammed.

One of Cook's Brightest Moments...and Atkinson's First

[fieldofhats · 10/10 · 22 August 2008]

Out of all the Secret Policeman's Balls, this one is the most entertaining and funniest. This is usually the one I watch because it has my favorite comedians all together in top form. Eleanor Bron is great in the "Dear God" sketch, with her rambling dialog being very entertaining. "Cheese Shop" wasn't as good as the Python version, but you can't really expect that....they pull it off very nicely, though. The "Pregnancy" sketch is a nice short one. That Eleanor Bron is really good.

Notable praise goes to Rowan Atkinson, though. Considering that this was even before "Not the Nine O'Clock News" first being broadcast, this must have been a real important night for him. His "Schoolmaster" sketch is a delight. Also, him in Dudley Moore's shoes for the "End of the World" sketch makes it take off. For once, someone other than Peter Cook is the funniest part of a sketch! He also handled the "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch very well with other Pythons. Kudos for Rowan Atkinson; this is his breakthrough moment in comedy.

But you can't watch this and say that Peter Cook didn't steal the show because he quite simply steals every show! The "Interesting Facts" sketch really blew the whole thing open at the beginning. Cleese never laughs during a sketch, but Cook gets him to. Cook always leaves them in stitches. But, the real shining moment of the night is the "Entirely a Matter For You" sketch lampooning the Jeremy Thorpe case. If you don't know about the case before watching it, do the research. It'll actually make it funny. It's actually one of the funniest sketches ever made. It's sooooo perfect and Peter Cook is in top form during this. Just another reason of a million why Peter Cook was such a genius. You really don't know comedy if you don't know about Peter Cook.

Such a fantastic DVD that I watch constantly. It's brilliant, just brilliant!!!

Comedy gold

[annabrownie · 10/10 · 19 December 2008]

Moments of genius are somewhat expected when you are watching a show involving several of the Pythons, Peter Cook and Billy Connolly. Peter Cook is on superb form, even making the usually unflappable John Cleese laugh! One of the real breakout performances from this show, however, is Rowan Atkinson. At this point he was not especially well known, since Not The Nine O'clock News only started in that year and Blackadder was yet to come, but he delivers some superb performances. He joins three of the Pythons for the Four Yorkshiremen sketch, but it is his one-man performance as the Schoolmaster that truly showcases his talents. He begins by reading a register, and while some of the names are funny, it is his delivery that turns this simple premise into brilliant comedy. This whole show should be enshrined as a testament to the superb quality of British comedy in this period. I would agree with another reviewer that more recent editions of the show have become more hammy, as well as being less sketch-based. This is the original, and absolutely the best.