IMDb RATING
8.0/10
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At Miss Sophie's 90th birthday dinner, her butler James must fill in for her four departed friends - and that includes lots of drinks before every course.At Miss Sophie's 90th birthday dinner, her butler James must fill in for her four departed friends - and that includes lots of drinks before every course.At Miss Sophie's 90th birthday dinner, her butler James must fill in for her four departed friends - and that includes lots of drinks before every course.
- Directors
- Writers
- Peter Frankenfeld(uncredited)
- Freddie Frinton(uncredited)
- Lauri Wylie(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAt first, the program was only used as a filler on German TV. It was shown four times between 1963 and 1972 before it finally got its now famous regular airing on New Years Eve in 1972. It is so popular in Germany that it is shown multiple times on New Years Eve so that everybody can watch it, when it best fits their schedule. In 2003 it aired a total of 19 times on different stations in Germany.
- GoofsAfter James burps, Miss Sophie takes hold of her chair's armrests probably in anticipation of James almost tipping her chair backwards.
- Quotes
[last lines]
James: By the way... Same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?
Miss Sophie: Same procedure as every year, James.
James: [hesitates] Well, I'll do my very best!
[They rush up the stairs to the bedroom]
- Alternate versionsSeveral versions of this sketch were recorded/broadcast or released on DVD/video:
- the original B&W version with an audience as produced by Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) in 1963. 18 minutes
- a changed B&W version where an english spelling error in the intro narration was digitally removed. Shown on German TV since the end of the 90s.
- a changed B&W version without the audience sound. Shown by Danish TV who also omit the introductory narration, bringing the sketch to a 14 minutes runtime
- a computer colorized version produced by the NDR in 1999. Due to massive protest from fans this version is almost never shown
- an alternative B&W version as produced by Swiss TV. This version has no intro narration and misses some gags. This version can be recognized by the much simpler set decoration (no table cloth, smaller/simpler pictures on the walls, much smaller stairs). Released on DVD in Germany. Runtime 11 minutes. Has been shown on Swiss television since 1989 on New Years Eve.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Das Superweib (1996)
Featured review
Laughter is the best medicine and you can't do better than this
Miss Sophie (May Warden) believes that her birthdays should be celebrated even though she has outlived her dearest friends. So on her ninetieth the party becomes a fantasy and James the butler (Freddie Frinton) has to go along with the make-believe. With only two players, it is in my opinion one of the funniest short TV movies ever to hit the screen. I laugh even at the thought of it. Freddie Frinton does a superb job as the butler serving the three courses with the accompanying drinks. He not only impersonates each of the four imaginary guests (which he does in such admirable style that at the end we feel we know each of them so very well) but the arrangement is that he must quaff down all the drinks as well. His antics as the alcohol starts to take effect have to be seen to be believed. Miss Sophie, a lady of some standing(graciously played by May Warden although she doesn't look 90) seems to be totally unaware of her butler's inebriated condition. This contrast probably heightens the humour of the piece. She keeps insisting that the party should "proceed as usual". If by the end of the birthday party you have not fallen off your seat with uncontrollable laughter, then the very suggestive final punchline should do it. In short, a wonderful little movie and a lasting memorial to Freddie Frinton who died in 1968 just 5 years after the film was completed.
helpful•150
- raymond-15
- Jan 10, 2000
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- The 90th Birthday, or Dinner for One
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime18 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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